Filter Design

This is probably a better question for alt.fishtanks, but I figure I know
you people better, and I live it here...

I am thinking of experimenting with a DIY filter for my 55gallon tank. I
figure working on small designs may yeild some fun project for the pond.
Anyway, does anyone care to discuss some designs?

My tank sits on a table of sorts and is 3 feet or so off the ground. There
is a staircase behind it so building a filter above it, and letting it
gravity feed back into the tank could be problematic. Letting the tank
gravity feed down to the filter and then pump back up to the tank would be
problematic (I think?) because then the tank can conceiveably drain.

So where do I go from here?

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

BenignVanilla wrote:
This is probably a better question for alt.fishtanks, but I figure I know
you people better, and I live it here...


My tank sits on a table of sorts and is 3 feet or so off the ground. There
is a staircase behind it so building a filter above it, and letting it
gravity feed back into the tank could be problematic. Letting the tank
gravity feed down to the filter and then pump back up to the tank would be
problematic (I think?) because then the tank can conceiveably drain.

So where do I go from here?

BV.
My indoor pond is 40 gallons. I use a slotted planting
basket set in a milkcrate. The pump in inside the milk
crate with a piece of pvc attached to the pump, it goes up
through the milk crate and then through a tower of lava
rock. The basket is filled with bioballs and surrounded
with blue furnace filter.
This is the second year I've used this setup and I'm happy
with the sound and the effectiveness. There are 2 large
fantails and 2 first year fantails in this pond. I do
weekly water changes. The only plant in the pond now is
a peace lily.
With you diy skills I'm sure you could dream up a nice
setup yourself.

--
Bonnie
NJ

"Bonnie" wrote in message
...
BenignVanilla wrote:
This is probably a better question for alt.fishtanks, but I figure I
know
you people better, and I live it here...


My tank sits on a table of sorts and is 3 feet or so off the ground.
There
is a staircase behind it so building a filter above it, and letting it
gravity feed back into the tank could be problematic. Letting the tank
gravity feed down to the filter and then pump back up to the tank would
be
problematic (I think?) because then the tank can conceiveably drain.

So where do I go from here?

BV.
My indoor pond is 40 gallons. I use a slotted planting
basket set in a milkcrate. The pump in inside the milk
crate with a piece of pvc attached to the pump, it goes up
through the milk crate and then through a tower of lava
rock. The basket is filled with bioballs and surrounded
with blue furnace filter.
This is the second year I've used this setup and I'm happy
with the sound and the effectiveness. There are 2 large
fantails and 2 first year fantails in this pond. I do
weekly water changes. The only plant in the pond now is
a peace lily.
With you diy skills I'm sure you could dream up a nice
setup yourself.

So is this sitting IN your pond?

BV.

BenignVanilla wrote:
"Bonnie" wrote in message
...

BenignVanilla wrote:

This is probably a better question for alt.fishtanks, but I figure I

know

you people better, and I live it here...


My tank sits on a table of sorts and is 3 feet or so off the ground.

There

is a staircase behind it so building a filter above it, and letting it
gravity feed back into the tank could be problematic. Letting the tank
gravity feed down to the filter and then pump back up to the tank would

be

problematic (I think?) because then the tank can conceiveably drain.

So where do I go from here?

BV.

My indoor pond is 40 gallons. I use a slotted planting
basket set in a milkcrate. The pump in inside the milk
crate with a piece of pvc attached to the pump, it goes up
through the milk crate and then through a tower of lava
rock. The basket is filled with bioballs and surrounded
with blue furnace filter.
This is the second year I've used this setup and I'm happy
with the sound and the effectiveness. There are 2 large
fantails and 2 first year fantails in this pond. I do
weekly water changes. The only plant in the pond now is
a peace lily.
With you diy skills I'm sure you could dream up a nice
setup yourself.


So is this sitting IN your pond?

BV.



Sorry, yes.

--
Bonnie
NJ

"Bonnie" wrote in message
...
snip
So is this sitting IN your pond?

BV.



Sorry, yes.
snip

Yeah, that won't work. I need to build something that the wife won't mind
having in the family room. LOL.

I am thinking if, I used a 6 gallon brew bucket with a sealed lid. One pipe
comes from tank into bucket. Another goes out of bucket into tank. A
submersible pump is inside the bucket with filter media on top. This way I
pump up to the tank, the water is gravity fed down to the bucket. I guess I
would need to prime this though, eh?

Theoretically, the sealed bucket would keep me from having a gravity mess.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

BV,

You may not need any external filter.About 1 1/2" of medium gravel, sub-sand
filter and good power heads will handle 2 12" oscars in a 70 gal tank. No
external filter needed for most 55 gal set ups. About every 6 mo to a year
you need to clean the sand. You can do it in the tank if you strip out
plants, etc, toss the gravel to lift the gunk, and use a small under water
pond pump pulling through a tupperware and filter sponge. I could send you
a pic of the tupperware setup. I have run my oscar tank for about eight
years now. Recently I added philadendron to pull out some nutrients and
decorate.

Jim

--
______________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net
______________________________________________
"BenignVanilla" wrote in message
...
This is probably a better question for alt.fishtanks, but I figure I know
you people better, and I live it here...

I am thinking of experimenting with a DIY filter for my 55gallon tank. I
figure working on small designs may yeild some fun project for the pond.
Anyway, does anyone care to discuss some designs?

My tank sits on a table of sorts and is 3 feet or so off the ground. There
is a staircase behind it so building a filter above it, and letting it
gravity feed back into the tank could be problematic. Letting the tank
gravity feed down to the filter and then pump back up to the tank would be
problematic (I think?) because then the tank can conceiveably drain.

So where do I go from here?

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

Similar to Bonnie's design I use a bucket filter in my patio pond in the
living room. When it comes to my tanks though, I love Fuval filters,
pricey, but my oh my they work so very well and quiet. ~ jan

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
.. .
BV,

You may not need any external filter.About 1 1/2" of medium gravel,
sub-sand
filter and good power heads will handle 2 12" oscars in a 70 gal tank. No
external filter needed for most 55 gal set ups. About every 6 mo to a
year
you need to clean the sand. You can do it in the tank if you strip out
plants, etc, toss the gravel to lift the gunk, and use a small under water
pond pump pulling through a tupperware and filter sponge. I could send
you
a pic of the tupperware setup. I have run my oscar tank for about eight
years now. Recently I added philadendron to pull out some nutrients and
decorate.
snip

Jim...I already have a hang on filter on the back of the tank although I
don't think it does much. The filters take about 4 months to get dirty. I
have a nice layer of substrate, and some bottom feeders and some plants. All
parameters are perfect. I can't explain how, they just are.

Anyway, the idea of this external pump is really two fold. 1) I am a geek
with no free time, so of course I am looking to make life difficult by
adding another project that I don't need. 2) I am thinking some day of doing
a reef tank, and for me to afford it, I'll need to be crafty with some DIY
stuff, so I figured I would experiment now....see item 1).

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

BV

Projects is a topic I recognize! So does Phyllis. Mine are about finding
which filter plants work best. Hers have to do with repainting the walls of
the hall or cleaning my mess in a back room. I have to swing my head around
to the project mode when I do hers. Mine are so much more fun for a
putterer...hers are appropriate and needed...but less fun for a putterer.
Enjoy your new filter...its sort of like my philadendron in the 70 gal Oscar
tank.

Jim

--
______________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net
______________________________________________
"BenignVanilla" wrote in message
...

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
.. .
BV,

You may not need any external filter.About 1 1/2" of medium gravel,
sub-sand
filter and good power heads will handle 2 12" oscars in a 70 gal tank.
No
external filter needed for most 55 gal set ups. About every 6 mo to a
year
you need to clean the sand. You can do it in the tank if you strip out
plants, etc, toss the gravel to lift the gunk, and use a small under
water
pond pump pulling through a tupperware and filter sponge. I could send
you
a pic of the tupperware setup. I have run my oscar tank for about eight
years now. Recently I added philadendron to pull out some nutrients and
decorate.
snip

Jim...I already have a hang on filter on the back of the tank although I
don't think it does much. The filters take about 4 months to get dirty. I
have a nice layer of substrate, and some bottom feeders and some plants.
All
parameters are perfect. I can't explain how, they just are.

Anyway, the idea of this external pump is really two fold. 1) I am a geek
with no free time, so of course I am looking to make life difficult by
adding another project that I don't need. 2) I am thinking some day of
doing
a reef tank, and for me to afford it, I'll need to be crafty with some DIY
stuff, so I figured I would experiment now....see item 1).

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
.. .
BV

Projects is a topic I recognize! So does Phyllis. Mine are about finding
which filter plants work best. Hers have to do with repainting the walls
of
the hall or cleaning my mess in a back room. I have to swing my head
around
to the project mode when I do hers. Mine are so much more fun for a
putterer...hers are appropriate and needed...but less fun for a putterer.
Enjoy your new filter...its sort of like my philadendron in the 70 gal
Oscar
tank.
snip

Well I started a remodel of the kitchen, it's at 90%, I still have to do the
toe kicks, moldings, handles, etc. I gutted the Master Bath...no end in
sight for that one. I replumbed the entire house with copper. I tore out 2
walls and am building a plyroom downstairs. Sounds to me like a new filter
that I don't need, is a good project for now.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com