I often use Pothos house plants as part of my DIY wet/dry filters made out of plastic drawer units. I drilled holes in the top of the pastic drawer unitl and put pothos plant cuttings in with the stems touching the dacron filter media. This works OK until the pothos roots block the drainage holes. With my recently acquired 225 gallon tank I decided to up my game with the the plant filters. With the help of my wife, Carrie the resident home horticulturist, we worked out a design I think will work. This is not a new design. I've seen it implemented before. I just thought I would do a step by step with pictures.
I started out with a 24" plastic window planter I bought at Home Depot. I drilled and installed two 1" bulkhead fittings in the bottom.
I then used plastic eggcrate diffuser, fiberglass window screening, and small zip ties to make a drainage grate in the bottom of the planter. It rests on two pieces of 1/2" CPVC pipes running along the sides.
I placed the planter toward the back of the tank over the middle access area.
I then constructed a spray bar using threaded 1/2" sprinkler riser pipes, PVC fittings, and a ball valve. The bottom of the spray bar has 1/4" holes spaced 1/2" apart. I tapped into the 2400 GPH pump that has two other outlets on the tank. I needed to spread out the return because my Frontosas didn't like the extra current.
After consulting with my wife, I decided to go with crushed coral for my planting media. She assured me that the plants would root just fine and the additional buffering would only benefit my fronts.
I planted one Pothos cutting. My wife wants to add Philodendron cuttings, etc...
I hung a net on the wall behind the tank and plan on attaching it to the ceiling. We are going for a plant grotto affect. The light conceals the planter. The next day the water cleared from the addition of the crushed coral. I don't care how long you rinse it, crushed coral always clouds the water initially.
I plan on adding two smaller containers on either side for other plants further decreasing the circulation from the 2400 GPH pump.
I started out with a 24" plastic window planter I bought at Home Depot. I drilled and installed two 1" bulkhead fittings in the bottom.
I then used plastic eggcrate diffuser, fiberglass window screening, and small zip ties to make a drainage grate in the bottom of the planter. It rests on two pieces of 1/2" CPVC pipes running along the sides.
I placed the planter toward the back of the tank over the middle access area.
I then constructed a spray bar using threaded 1/2" sprinkler riser pipes, PVC fittings, and a ball valve. The bottom of the spray bar has 1/4" holes spaced 1/2" apart. I tapped into the 2400 GPH pump that has two other outlets on the tank. I needed to spread out the return because my Frontosas didn't like the extra current.
After consulting with my wife, I decided to go with crushed coral for my planting media. She assured me that the plants would root just fine and the additional buffering would only benefit my fronts.
I planted one Pothos cutting. My wife wants to add Philodendron cuttings, etc...
I hung a net on the wall behind the tank and plan on attaching it to the ceiling. We are going for a plant grotto affect. The light conceals the planter. The next day the water cleared from the addition of the crushed coral. I don't care how long you rinse it, crushed coral always clouds the water initially.
I plan on adding two smaller containers on either side for other plants further decreasing the circulation from the 2400 GPH pump.
