DIY Overhead Filter

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SMSChris

SMSChris

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 23, 2014
111
18
18
Earth
Hey everyone,

So today I had a bit of free time and decided to change the look of my tank a bit. I had two sheets of lighting diffuser covering 2/3s of the top, completely covered with pothos. But I was getting a bit tired of the overhanging roots, and they were getting pretty long. So enter my new DIY idea.

I bought a long plastic tray from Walmart along with a bag of lava rock from the landscaping department. I drilled in, added a bulkhead, and placed it over the top. I have an old pump pumping water into the tray, going through all the lava rock as well as all the pothos that used to be on that side, and exiting out through the bulkhead. Best part is that it all completely fits under the canopy.

So what do you guys think of it? Good idea for some extra filtration? Or should I be worried about the extra weight above the tank?
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Hey Chris! Your idea and execution looks great! I wouldn't be worried about the weight. I'm sure the weight of that full tray is basically nothing. At one point I had three 10g set on top of a 125g. They where full up to one inch from the top so maybe 9g of water each. Never had an issue. I would keep an eye on the pothos if you plan to close the lid on the canopy. They require very little light but may yellow or wilt from temps in the canopy.
 
Red_Man said:
Hey Chris! Your idea and execution looks great! I wouldn't be worried about the weight. I'm sure the weight of that full tray is basically nothing. At one point I had three 10g set on top of a 125g. They where full up to one inch from the top so maybe 9g of water each. Never had an issue. I would keep an eye on the pothos if you plan to close the lid on the canopy. They require very little light but may yellow or wilt from temps in the canopy.
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Thanks for the reply! Glad I don't have to worry about the weight of this really doing anything because I plan on doing the same to the other side of the tank. Already have the other tray set up and ready, just need to find a cheap pump to run it. For the pothos, I've actually had them there for many months now. These LEDs put out so little heat. They've been growing right up to the light with no wilting or yellowing that I've been able to see.

I'm actually planning on maybe keeping some ghost shrimp in the trays as well. Maybe get them to breed with some occasionally making their way to the main tank. I'm sure my rays and tarpon will have some fun with the random shrimp flying out of there.
 
viejafish said:
What you called an overhead dump filter is a common system in aquaponic except in the later, plant, not fish is the focus.

http://www.theaquaponicsource.com/product-category/full-systems/aquamini-tabletop-systems/

http://www.theaquaponicsource.com/product-category/full-systems/aquabundance-food-growing-systems/

http://www.theaquaponicsource.com/product-category/full-systems/aquaurban-modern-aquaponics-systems/
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I wasn't aware they made systems like that for above the aquarium for aquaponics, although I'm pretty familiar with the concept of aquaponics. I was actually thinking about trying to grow something else aside from just the pothos up there, but there are height limitations because of the canopy.
 
I am setting up an outdoor hydroponic system to grow vegetable this season. Not exactly aquaponic because I don't circulate fish water automatically to feed the vegetable, rather I store WC water in rain barrels and divert the water manually to outdoor pots to grow vegetable hydroponically. I found the cheapest source of DIY floating raft is foam swim noodle from dollar stores and cut up in pieces . The nice thing about floating raft system is that the plant move up and down with the water level so it won't get hung up or dried out. I've seen tomato, pepper and leafy green grow hydroponically but my first trial will be watercress and water spinach which are natural swamp plant. I need to add mosquito control fish in outdoor pots, which must be hardy enough to withstand temp range of 40 to 95 in my region. Please suggest fish that can tolerate that wide temp range: guppies, white cloud minnow, paradise fish?
 
Out of curiosity why do you have a pump on the container? Wouldn't it be more easier and cost effective to have one of your returns hooked up to this. It's the same thing but its cheaper and a cleaner look for the tank. I was thinking about doing this but I just do it via sump lol

If you have one return you can always tee it off and use a ball valve to control how much water goes in the container.
 
Ihsnshaik said:
Out of curiosity why do you have a pump on the container? Wouldn't it be more easier and cost effective to have one of your returns hooked up to this. It's the same thing but its cheaper and a cleaner look for the tank. I was thinking about doing this but I just do it via sump lol

If you have one return you can always tee it off and use a ball valve to control how much water goes in the container.
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Honestly that idea didn't even cross my mind. And it would make it look cleaner, although honestly you can barely notice the pump that I'm currently using since it's off in one of the corners. But I have been wanting to redo the piping since it's the original stuff that came with the tank, so I may just make this next weekend's project.
 
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viejafish said:
I am setting up an outdoor hydroponic system to grow vegetable this season. Not exactly aquaponic because I don't circulate fish water automatically to feed the vegetable, rather I store WC water in rain barrels and divert the water manually to outdoor pots to grow vegetable hydroponically. I found the cheapest source of DIY floating raft is foam swim noodle from dollar stores and cut up in pieces . The nice thing about floating raft system is that the plant move up and down with the water level so it won't get hung up or dried out. I've seen tomato, pepper and leafy green grow hydroponically but my first trial will be watercress and water spinach which are natural swamp plant. I need to add mosquito control fish in outdoor pots, which must be hardy enough to withstand temp range of 40 to 95 in my region. Please suggest fish that can tolerate that wide temp range: guppies, white cloud minnow, paradise fish?
Click to expand...
Guppies or white clouds should do a pretty good job at withstanding the temperature changes, although the Guppies probably won't tolerate it once it dips down into the 40s
 
SMSChris said:
Honestly that idea didn't even cross my mind. And it would make it look cleaner, although honestly you can barely notice the pump that I'm currently using since it's off in one of the corners. But I have been wanting to redo the piping since it's the original stuff that came with the tank, so I may just make this next weekend's project.
Click to expand...

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