Home Made Sump Filter for Large Tanks!!!

[mrliltank]

I have figure out, in my head, what I think will work:

I need a filter for a 55 gallon tank. THey range from $41 (plus $hipping), on up to $100+. I THINK i can build one from materials i have and will have.

MATERIALS:

• 8-10 gallon aquarium (go with glass, no need for poly unless you wanna build yourself and have some handy) - 10$
• A few sheets of that filter gauze/floss stuff (1/4" to 1/2" thick) to fit agains the sides and bottom of your filter tank. Must fit SNUG! - 10$
• 20' or so of tubing (match tubing to powerhead..) - 4$
• Powerhead...anything that flows 200gph on up should work - 25$ (i had one)
• A small box of BioBalls - 10$
• Some established gravel and water - Had it$
• Activated carbon - 5$?
• Tank dividers - 10$ or so
  This adds up to about 75 bucks, but you might have a lotta this stuff...liek carbon, dividers, a powerhead, etc...
  
  
  Basically, divide the tank into 5 or so sections. Then, add your gravel to the base of each section. Where the water is to ENTER, place a piece of that gauze agains this chamber's divider. This provides your first mechanical filter. In the second and third chamber, put in some bioballs...this could be one big chamber i guess. Fourth chamber- line both sides w/guaze, pour in activated charcoal. THis provides, along w/ BioBalls, some biological filtration. In the last chamber, place your powerhead, with variable flow control, with tubing back to tank. Set up, let run for a while. This might be incomplete, but i THINK it'll work.

[dattack]

You are going to need an overflow box or have the tank drill too.

[mrliltank]

Is this for when too much comes in and not enuff goes out? THere are some Eheim pumps (i think) that have variable water flow, this will limit the overflow effect...and what is a 'drilled tank'?

[dattack]

The easiest way to make your own filter is to have an overflow or a hole drilled on the back or the bottom of your tank.  If you do not want it drilled, then you can buy an overflow box.


Just make a sump (10 gallon tank) and you can put anything in your sump as filtration media.

Needed equipment:
Overflow box  $30
10 gallon tank or a rubber maid container $5-10
Return pump $20-$50
PVC or clear tubing $5-$20

Put anything in to the sump and it will be your biological filter.

[mrliltank]

Can't a siphon or small powerhead replace the drilling holes in tanks stuff? Once a siphon is started, it WILL NOT stop

[dattack]

From coralreeftank

[mrliltank]

I don't get it...WHAT IS the overflow box?

[dattack]

[quote author=mrliltank link=board=diy&num=1024446027&start=0#4 date=06/18/02 at 18:38:49]
Can't a siphon or small powerhead replace the drilling holes in tanks stuff? Once a siphon is started, it WILL NOT stop
[/quote]
What kind of siphon are you referring to?  An overflow box contains a siphon too.  If you do not have the box, your tank will continue to siphon and dump water onto your carpet.  You will need some kind of box with notches to prevent this.

[mrliltank]

So the box only feeds in water when the tank has enuff in it? the return pump should be fast enuff to compensate, and when perfectly (or at least CLOSELY) matched, voila...right?

[dattack]

http://www.galaxymall.com/animals/aquariumcrazyfish/filtwetdry.html

An overflow looks like this.  The siphon is in the box to prevent major floods and skim the surface of your tank.