Pond filters are a much overlooked solution. You can get a large bucket filter for a fraction of the cost of an aquarium filter and no more than the DIY alternatives, you just need to supply your own pump.
Wow, 15 minutes a day!? Now I feel a complete slacker!
When the solids handling pump and backwashing filter are implemented the only maintenance I'll be doing will take 2 minutes every couple of weeks.
(If I could find a servo valve actuator that would fit I could avoid even that.)
Am spending a little time cleaning the front glass at the moment but a herd/flock/pack/shoal ???? (or whatever the collective is for aquatic snails) of freshwater Nerites will eventually sort that problem out as well.
