filter design

[jimboperu]

jimboperu: Shorter distance from the filtration system to the aquarium, thus less stress on the pump returning water to the aquarium, also being up top, maintenance is accessably easier. No crawling under the tank stand! This is a big reason why they are used.




jimboperu:

Perlon was invented in Germany back in 1932. It is a product similar to our American Nylon products. So "that white spongy thing", may be a white Nylon fiberous mat about 1/2" to 3/4 " thick you are referring to, used for mechanical filtration?

As for suggestions, questions and etc. I have a few.

1] Where is your pump going to be located?

2] Once the construction of this is completed, what will the entire filtration system weigh when it is empty of water, and when it will have water in it?

3] Is this filtration system going to be resting directly on the top of your tank? If so, will the aquarium be able to maintain the added empty or full weight of the filtration system on the aquarium walls?

4] Have you thought or considered placing the filtration above and behind your tank on a sturdy shelf, keeping unwanted pressure off of your tank walls?

5] Have you considered using your empty space for charcoal in a net bag, which has a drawstring on it so you can change the charcoal periodically when needed?

6] I have another idea with your design. Instead of having one small chamber for BIO MEDIA, use the EMPTY SPACE for BIO MEDIA as well -or- make both spaces into one space and have one giant space for BIO MEDIA.

7] Your HEATER SPACE. Why is it in the middle? Do you think it would work better if you switched places with the BIO MEDIA and EMPTY SPACE chambers with the HEATER SPACE? So to make it easier to understand the sequence would go, PERLON, SPONGE, GIANT BIO MEDIA SPACE and then your HEATER SPACE. I'm not trying to critsize your design, just curious.

8] Is it possible to make your box and baffel plates out of plexiglass instead of regular glass? Just thinking of the extra added weight issue on top of the tank regarding questions #2, #3, and #4.

Thanks for the replies and explanation on the perlon. The pump will be located inside the tank. The filter will be resting on a shelf behind the tank. Yeah i was actually thinking of making the extra space and the bio media into one big bio media. I originally put the heaters in the middle because i didnt have that last divider at the end of the filter and i wanted the heaters to be completely submerged but then i added the divider and i just left the design like that. I could swap them around it really doesnt matter. Here in lima its quite cheap to work with glass and i have a friend who knows this guy that can do it for really cheap.
But if the power goes out, wouldnt that just stop the powerhead and then the filter will drain (im leaving enough space in the tank for the water in the filter to go in the tank without overflowing)?

Flipstylex: i would obviously like an fx5 but theyre 1700 soles here which equials to about $600! I do have a canister filter that i might put in along with this filter, but its not nearly as good as an fx5.
Thanks for all the comments