Is this possible? I think it is just making sure. When I get back from Florida me and my dad are planning to make a filter for the turtle tank. So I don't have to do water changes as much. It's a 110gl stock tank, with a 4" red ear slider and a 1-2" painted turtle. There will be goldfish and roseys in there(to get exersize and all go into a seperate tank for a month to make sure they are healthy). This will be the first filter I am making so I am looking for ideas on how to do it and what to use as media, also how to make it run without a pump if possible. So any idea's on how to do this? If need be we can get a pump to run it. We leave tomorrow so I won't be able to reply a whole lot but will reply when I can.
Gravity powered filter?
- Thread starter Silvertears
- Start date
I had the same thought. Luckily stock tanks are pretty easy to drill, then you just need to install some bulkheads and run some plumbing.
What would be the best media? Also can I see pics of some of your DIY filters to get an idea on how to do this one?
Hello; The best that you can likely expect is to make a filter system that uses the smallest power source possible. Some sort of power will be needed to move the water. There used to be air bubble operated filters available. The air pump would generate bubbles in a plastic tube. As the bubbles rise they lift some water with them and can carry a decent amount of water over the rim of a tank. The water would then flow thru some filter media in a box hung on the side of the tank. the box has high enough walls to contain the level of water pushed into it by the air and a lower level opening that allows the filtered water back into the tank. Ther were several variations of this type system made over the years, some siphoned water from the tank and the air pushed it back into the tank. I used them for decades with good results. They have a limited flow rate. The good thing was that they use air which I always like to run anyway, so that I could operate several tanks form one good pump. I have not looked for these style filters in a long time, but have a few survivors from decades ago. Being plastic, I have broken them over the years. Unless broken they are very reliable.
Somehow my write up got cleared when I attached the picture, but I now use a pump in the tank leading to the tupperware filled with media. I cut a slit in the tupperware so the water can reenter the tank after passing through the media I have in the tupperware which consists mostly of filter floss. You could also put the pump in the filter and have it suck in water into the tupperware, but this gives you less area for media
Hello; Interesting setup. There are three potential shock hazards in the picture. The animals could tip the popwer filter which may pose a shock hazard if the power unit is not sealed. Loose lights can be knocked into the water. Some dabs of silicone might secure the filter to the back glass.
A GFI wall outlet to plug this stuff into would make things much less deadly. Perhaps a power strip with GFI built in.
Yea, thats why I no longer use this set up, it got knocked into the water a few times and my surge protector had to shut it off. I could have secured it better like you said with silicone but it was temporary. Now I use a submersible pump so theres no risk