How do I make a filter? Can someone give me an Idea?

[Jake_Df]

Im trying to make a cheaper DIY canister or sump style filter. I keep running into flaws on any idea i have. I have a 75g bowfront.

-If I make a fixed syphon for my water output line and the pump shuts off, the room will flood.

-If i do the same and the syphon somehow fails or falls off, my pump will fry or the room will flood.

-Does an overflow filter the whole tanks volume or just skim the surface?

-I see people put ball valves on the output of their pumps. wont restricting the output stress the pump?

-If debris gets into the pump wont it eventually break?

-When my sump/canister media becomes clogged with debris the flow will stop and either the syphon will flood the room or my pump will fry.

If somebody can answer at least some of these issues or explain to me their setup I would very much appreciate it.
Pictures and links are very helpful
thanks everyone
P.S I am against drilling holes simply because I do not have the resources.

 

[LukeOscar]

Anything against overhead sumps? Much easier and way less prone to disaster

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Jake_Df]

Anything against overhead sumps? Much easier and way less prone to disaster

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

No I just dont understand how they work. Ive never built a filter before so feel free to educate me.

 

[Jake_Df]

Ive got no idea where that link "water output line" came from in my post. Just ignore it I guess.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Im trying to make a cheaper DIY canister or sump style filter. I keep running into flaws on any idea i have. I have a 75g bowfront.

-If I make a fixed syphon for my water output line and the pump shuts off, the room will flood.

-If i do the same and the syphon somehow fails or falls off, my pump will fry or the room will flood.

-Does an overflow filter the whole tanks volume or just skim the surface?

-I see people put ball valves on the output of their pumps. wont restricting the output stress the pump?

-If debris gets into the pump wont it eventually break?

-When my sump/canister media becomes clogged with debris the flow will stop and either the syphon will flood the room or my pump will fry.

If somebody can answer at least some of these issues or explain to me their setup I would very much appreciate it.
Pictures and links are very helpful
thanks everyone
P.S I am against drilling holes simply because I do not have the resources.

1. make sure the intake is at a level that if your pump fails will only fill part of the sump and not dump the whole tank into the sump. Same goes for the return, either have the water volume in the sump less than the empty volume in the main tank. Believe me, you'd be glad if you just fried your return pump instead of flooding the entire room. An overflow is designed to take water in and drain it into the sump, and yes they are on the surface but if you have proper circulation in the tank, then all of the tank water is eventually cycled through the sump, they also serve as a fail safe if your return pump dies, since only the water in the overflow with drain into the sump, not the entire tank. Putting valves on the return lines can stress a pump out but most good pumps are designed to take the pressure from restricted flow, its similar to having a longer return line, the pump just has to push a little harder. Debris will scar your impeller and eventually cause them to fail, putting an intake sponge on the return pump helps mitigate this. If you let your sump media get THAT dirty that it kills the siphon...you don't need to keep fish.

 

[xraycer]

There's many ways/options of building filters. It would take a bit of a write up to explain any one particular method or style. Try checking out YouTube frst, just do a search using "diy aquarium filters". Once you have an idea of a direction you want to go, come back and get people's opinion and experience to guide you the rest of the way.

 

[Jake_Df]

Wow thanks a lot that answers all my questions. Im thinking I would prefer to do an overflow w/ sump setup If only there was a way to rig up an overflow system without drilling holes. It seems safer than a syphon. In the meantime Im gonna research overhead sumps.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Wow thanks a lot that answers all my questions. Im thinking I would prefer to do an overflow w/ sump setup If only there was a way to rig up an overflow system without drilling holes. It seems safer than a syphon. In the meantime Im gonna research overhead sumps.

there are several methods to doing sumps without drilling. You can create a pvc siphon or they sell external overflow boxes that hang on the back of your tank similar to a HOB filter.

 

[Jake_Df]

there are several methods to doing sumps without drilling. You can create a pvc siphon or they sell external overflow boxes that hang on the back of your tank similar to a HOB filter.

I just looked at pvc overflow rig on youtube. To me it looks like its defying the laws of physics but ill figure it out lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65yVr7DiDls

The overhead sump was cool I looked at some videos but for the amount of filtration I want I think it would be too heavy and too bulky.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I just looked at pvc overflow rig on youtube. To me it looks like its defying the laws of physics but ill figure it out lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65yVr7DiDls

The overhead sump was cool I looked at some videos but for the amount of filtration I want I think it would be too heavy and too bulky.

Its a simple siphon overflow. Easiest way to utilize a sump without drilling the tank.