Info On Overhead Filtration?

[shookONES]

Browsing through these MFK books, I'm starting to fall in love with these overhead filters. Only problem is, I can't find much info online. The premise seems simple, but I'm curious to see examples of how water is pumped up, dispersed through the media, media choice, and eventually brought back into the tank. Anyone care to help me out with info, links, pics, etc?

 

[shookONES]

Anyone?

 

[switch]

Here's a link I found that might be able to help you a little bit. Hope the owner of the tank doesn't mind me using his link. http://www.arowanaclub.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2011

 

[meerak]

http://www.mypalhs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90739
http://www.mypalhs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83666

 

[Alexandrian]

I am with overhead filtration all the way
It works wonderful for me plus it is safer i don't need to worry about overflow at all as the water have one way only : Into the tank
I am keeping it simple- and cheap- by using one power head or more to get the water into a plastic container and the gravity will take it back to the tank
here how i did it in one of my tanks

 

[fhawk362]

I like the flowerpot ohf like this http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276115&highlight=flower+overhead place the pump in the tank, put the hose on the pump up to the flower pots then add your media to the flower pots, i've seen filter fiber used on top of a coarse media which covers the scrubbies (or other bio filtration of your choice) I really like the idea of these and being that the pump is in the tank it saves a lot of flow with the shorter head, downfall is they dont look that great but can be concealed with a canopy. I was going to make one but then got a great deal on a canister filter, These seem like the best diy filters in my opinion, have a little less bio filtration than wet/drys but are better at getting debris and mechanical filtration, plus you get better flow. Another downfall i hear about them is evaporation, but I feel like the pros of these are better than the cons, i hear they are popular in Asia but never caught on here in America.

 

[dogofwar]

I use them on tanks large and small. I use them as a cover for many tanks

basically start with a rubbermaid - I like the clear under the bed style

drill three holes in the bottom : one for input from a pump or powerhead (pushing water from the tank) and two for gravity drains.

Run flexible tubing from the pump in your tank through one of the holes. Water will drain back into the tank through the holes. I use 1" wood strips to suport the rubbermaid over the tank

if you have overhead room you can use a three drawer rubbermaid cntainer (with holes drilled in the drawers) or stack dollar store trays of media. I use fluff on the top one or two and bioballs, scrubbies, army men, etc in the rest. A clear tubbermsid makes it easy to see gunk accumulate and siphon it.

A big advantage - other than not having to use sn overflow or driller tank

 

[dogofwar]

With a dump filter you get all of the benefits of a sump and you don't lose a bunch of pump flow to gravity (head). A relatively small pump or powerhead works for a big tank

Matt

 

[shookONES]

I understand the basic premise of overhead filtration. My only concern is in the details, namely how to get the water back into the tank without making it sound like a monsoon in my living room.

 

[shookONES]

Sketched up my plans. The tank is a 4x2x2 120g. I'm planning on having a Fluval FX5, Eheim 2217 with UV, and the OHF. Let me know what you think of this...



As of now, I'm planning on constructing the whole thing out of glass or acrylic, using egg crate to seperate the compartments. For drains, I'm planning on having 3 bulkheads that extend slightly below water level (so I don't have to hear splashing). Comments? Criticism?