Drawer Wet/Dry Filter

[CHOMPERS]

I needed to replace or modify an existing filter because it just wasn't user friendly. I needed to add a mechanical filter drawer, but instead I decided to start from scratch. I doubled the bio area and increased the mechanical about ten fold.

The finished filter:

 

[CHOMPERS]

It started as a drawer set and a matching storage bin.


BTW, I got them at Wally World. They have a color fetish going on right now (get them while you can).

 

[CHOMPERS]

And the eye sore that got replaced...

 

[CHOMPERS]

The top drawer got the royal treatment. It is the mechanical filtration and I wanted several features built in.

1. It can't over flow if I neglect to clean it.
2. It can't let the bio-media dry out if I forget to clean it.
3. I am lazy and forgetful, so it needs a long interval between cleanings. And I'm going to forget when I last cleaned it...which is why #1 and #2 are pretty important for a filter in my care (or lack there of).


Here's the top drawer. The basket takes care of #1 and #2. It is slightly shorter than the drawer and raised up off the drip tray. Being shorter than the drawer will allow water to flow into the bottom of the drawer without flowing over the sides of the drawer. Being raised up off the drip tray will allow water to flow freely across the drip tray in the event of water spilling over the edges of the media basket.

 

[CHOMPERS]

The media basket is made out of egg crate (lighting diffuser from HD or Lowes), and zip-tied together.

The odd shape/extra lengths on various sides is to hold the basket in position in the drawer (to keep it centered).

 

[CHOMPERS]

Plan A was to draw a grid on the bottom of the drawer with a grease pencil (cleans up with a paper towel), and to drill along the grid. But it quickly became apparent that the bottom was too flimsy to be a drip tray.

Plan B was to cut out the bottom and make a separate drip tray with some scrap acrylic.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Plan C was to draw a grid like I should have done in the first place.

The grid is drawn on the protective wrap with a sharpie.

 

[CHOMPERS]

By the way, the hole size and number was calculated before hand. The filter is supplied with a one inch pipe. I used the area of the pipe and then picked a drill bit that I felt would give clog free holes. Using the drill size, I calculated it's cross sectional area and used that with the pipe size to find the number of holes I needed (plus about 10% extra for wiggle room).

 

[CHOMPERS]

And the finished drip tray is looking mighty fine.

 

[TheCanuck]

nice i rigged a 200 micron filter sock in my top mech compartment.

300 scrubbies in the next

and 30 gallons of bio bale in the last compartment.


walmart works wonders