CichlidMomma
06-06-2013, 09:44 PM
I wanted a canister filter for my discus tank but the cost left me a little discouraged. After some research, I came up with this. I'm not going to lie and claim that I build this for $10.00. It was more like 30-40 by the time all was said and done.
I used a
30" tall 4" PVP 'sewage' pipe
1 end cap
1 4" rubber top cap (has a metal screw clamp on it to secure it tightly, like the kind on your radiator hose in your car) with two 1/2 inch holes drilled in top.
2 hose fittings
2 - 3 inch threaded pvc pieces
1 - 24 inch long 1/2 " pvc pipe
15' of hose (cut into two pieces)
aquarium safe silicone
3 lbs lava rock
20 or so plastic pot scrubbies (they are small)
2 green scrub pads
I am using a 320gph powerhead which is submerged in the tank, the powerhead is pushing water into the canister not sucking it out. An inline pump would be nicer so I dont have to see it in the tank but I wanted to use as much equipment as I had on hand.
The intake is at the top and the water will flow down through a green scrub pad, then about six inches of plastic pot scrubbies, then about 3 pounds of various sized lava rock, then another green scrub pad and finally about six more inches of pot scrubbies. The 1/2 inch PVC pipe is secured to the top and extends down to about six inches from the bottom of the canister. I drilled several small holes along the bottom few inches of pipe to allow more water flow up the pipe. The pipe is secured to an outlet hose which flows back into the tank (I made this hose a little longer so i can use it to pump water out of the tank when i need to.)
Before sealing the fittings with silicone I hooked it all up to see if I'm getting enough water flow and I was impressed with the results. Now its all siliconed up and waiting for a full cure before I give it a shot tomorrow.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/IMG_20130606_211427_zpsfe4103cd.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/IMG_20130606_211427_zpsfe4103cd.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1359170731861_zps15f940ba.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1359170731861_zps15f940ba.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1358788885594_zpseae3f7df.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1358788885594_zpseae3f7df.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1359170720129_zps6f27f993.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1359170720129_zps6f27f993.jpg.html)
Thoughts...comments?
I used a
30" tall 4" PVP 'sewage' pipe
1 end cap
1 4" rubber top cap (has a metal screw clamp on it to secure it tightly, like the kind on your radiator hose in your car) with two 1/2 inch holes drilled in top.
2 hose fittings
2 - 3 inch threaded pvc pieces
1 - 24 inch long 1/2 " pvc pipe
15' of hose (cut into two pieces)
aquarium safe silicone
3 lbs lava rock
20 or so plastic pot scrubbies (they are small)
2 green scrub pads
I am using a 320gph powerhead which is submerged in the tank, the powerhead is pushing water into the canister not sucking it out. An inline pump would be nicer so I dont have to see it in the tank but I wanted to use as much equipment as I had on hand.
The intake is at the top and the water will flow down through a green scrub pad, then about six inches of plastic pot scrubbies, then about 3 pounds of various sized lava rock, then another green scrub pad and finally about six more inches of pot scrubbies. The 1/2 inch PVC pipe is secured to the top and extends down to about six inches from the bottom of the canister. I drilled several small holes along the bottom few inches of pipe to allow more water flow up the pipe. The pipe is secured to an outlet hose which flows back into the tank (I made this hose a little longer so i can use it to pump water out of the tank when i need to.)
Before sealing the fittings with silicone I hooked it all up to see if I'm getting enough water flow and I was impressed with the results. Now its all siliconed up and waiting for a full cure before I give it a shot tomorrow.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/IMG_20130606_211427_zpsfe4103cd.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/IMG_20130606_211427_zpsfe4103cd.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1359170731861_zps15f940ba.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1359170731861_zps15f940ba.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1358788885594_zpseae3f7df.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1358788885594_zpseae3f7df.jpg.html)http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/kelly_clark1/1359170720129_zps6f27f993.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/kelly_clark1/media/1359170720129_zps6f27f993.jpg.html)
Thoughts...comments?