Would this DIY filter work?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

Rawimpact

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 2, 2008
169
0
0
Buena Park, CA
Hey guys, i am trying to work on a filter that stays above the tank because i don't want to deal with a overflow box.

Using google sketchup, can someone confirm if this would work?

To me, it seems plausable as long as the pump isn't pushin water in faster then it leaving the compartments.

It consists of three basic compartments, first would be the filter fiber and a pump to bring in the water, the second would be bioballs/ceramic rings and the third chamber would be for the water returning back into the tank.

image1wp7.jpg



I was thinking using a small desk chest such as the one below (it's $20, but can find it cheaper)
reg-11285.jpg


Good thing would be that we can make it as large as the one below ($30), but that would need the overflow + pump.
20264_bu.jpg


Ideas, suggestions, and questions would be great.

thanks
-Raw
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umm.....
so theres a Pump IN the tank to Pump it to the top and then it just flows out the bottom?
i dont know if the plastic will be strong enough
 
it will work just make sure the return hole doesnt get clogged or blocked.
 
I think it may leak from the sides of those chest.
 
I did something similar to that awhile ago with a rubber maid tub. I just had a bulk head on the pump inside the aquarium, then I had the filter floss, felt, sock, bio balls etc inside the rubber maid. It worked really well, I just hated the look of it.
 
should be fine, but i would look for where evaporation or water might stray out of the containers and drip out. I wouldn't let any of the compartments fill too much with water as the plastic may warp or crack. You can always go with a single tub and divied it up into different compartments too. It may be easier to balance and stabalize the unit if it stretches the length of the tank. For these OHF the concept is pretty simple, pump feeds the unit, gravity returns the water. Kind of opposite of a sump.
 
If you do it that way it'd be a good idea to put the bin in another container so that if it over flows you won't have water every where. I use the same setup but the opposite, my tank is drilled, and I'd had a few over flows. So it's better to be safe than sorry
 
im not sure if those drawers would hold water. ive seen them used in sumps where they are placed in a bigger container, but not as a stand alone unit. i would use one simple rubbermaid container. have the water into through the top via a spray bar (pvc pipe w/ holes drilled) and exit through the bottom through another pvc fitting. fill that thing up with pot scrubbies and place some poly filter on top, done!

this is sort of the same concept as many pond filters
 
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