Biological Filtration

[Paul]

I make my own "trickle" or biological filters for my tanks. It seems to be
somewhat of a lost art these days.. everyone has gone onto the canister
filters.

I think a homemade filter has the following benefits:

1. It's MUCH cheaper to build a high capacity home made filter than buy one
of the expensive canister filters.

2. You can "customise" your filter to your tank or tanks - it's easy to have
3 or four tanks running off the same filter (see point 1).

3. and most importantly, you have an extra dimmension to your enjoyment of
your hobby. It's very satisfying to build a filter and watch it work.,
keeping your fish happy. you don't need a huge amount of knowledge or
technical know-how.
If anyone is interested I could do up a "plan" of my filter and supply it
for others to build. there are so many different designs you can create.

[WD]

"Paul" > wrote in message
...
> I make my own "trickle" or biological filters for my tanks. It seems to be
> somewhat of a lost art these days.. everyone has gone onto the canister
> filters.
>
> I think a homemade filter has the following benefits:
>

Yep. They are, however, (IME, pls don't flame me) higher maintenance, more
likely to make a mess on the floor, and tend to make noise. Don't get me
wrong, They work great, I love the huge spaces into which I can stuff any
kind of media I desire. Plus there is the "wow" I get from non-aquarist
friends when I open the cabinet under the 75 and show them the big
wet/dry.<g>
As an OT aside, has anyone tried those new overflow units that don't use
'U' tubes? They have some kind of built-in channel. They look rather
interesting.

billy

[Paul]

>Get a couple feet of vinyl tubing, probably 3/8 in diameter. Insert it into
the hose. Play around with it for a couple days, eventually you with find
the "sweet spot".

I have no idea what you mean by this?!?!


Your design, however, even removes the danger of the pump being allowed to
>run dry. If I had a place to hide the sump above the tank, I'd prolly
change
>it over.

My design is totally designed for practicality, it's pretty ugly.. I don't
have the filter covered at all, it's just on a shelf above the tank. I
don't care much for asthetics. hehe

[WD]

"Paul" > wrote in message
...
> >Get a couple feet of vinyl tubing, probably 3/8 in diameter. Insert it
into
> the hose. Play around with it for a couple days, eventually you with find
> the "sweet spot".
>
> I have no idea what you mean by this?!?!
>
>

I'm speaking of the gurgling hose you mentioned. Get a length of 3/8"
tubing, (like air tubing only larger) and just slip it in the gurgling hose.
The tube you insert takes up the suction that causes the gurgle. make sure
one end stick out the top, and like i said...play with it for a couple days
to find the best spot that cancels the most gurgling. My overflow hose makes
almost no noise with this done.

[Paul]

WD wrote in message ...
>
>
>
>
>"Paul" > wrote in message
...
>> >Get a couple feet of vinyl tubing, probably 3/8 in diameter. Insert it
>into
>> the hose. Play around with it for a couple days, eventually you with find
>> the "sweet spot".
>>
>> I have no idea what you mean by this?!?!
>>
>>
>
>I'm speaking of the gurgling hose you mentioned. Get a length of 3/8"
>tubing, (like air tubing only larger) and just slip it in the gurgling
hose.
>The tube you insert takes up the suction that causes the gurgle. make sure
>one end stick out the top, and like i said...play with it for a couple days
>to find the best spot that cancels the most gurgling. My overflow hose
makes
>almost no noise with this done.
>
>
hey thanks for your help WD! I will give it a try.