DIY Filter Project - Aquarium Advice

tropicalfish · 10-15-2006, 08:57 PM

Hello All!
I am new to this forum.
I decided to share my work-in-progress project to get some "improvement" ideas. I am working on a two chamber canister filter which will be for my 10 gallon hex. This AquaClear in my tank is rated for 30 gallons and I will soon move that to the empty 30 gallon.
The containers are plastic and glass. They both have plastic screw on caps.

The first chamber is the filter chamber, which also contains the pump. Water will come down into the filter and flow upwards into the chamber, then get pumped to the second chamber. The second chamber, the glass jar, contains the heater, and water will spiral around it from the top back to the top. At the bottom of the jar are round clear glass marbles for weights. These two containers are clear.
The heater is a VISI-Therm 50 Watt.
Since I am working on this with no additional purchase, I will try to fit in the penguin powerhead 550. The impeller broke a while back, and I found an unneeded Top Fin 60 impeller that works perfectly. pictures next:

Note: Sorry for bad pic quality, camera broke so using webcam
[img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6149/picture86dx5.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7158/picture85ux1.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4409/picture84jj8.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2603/picture82tt0.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8753/picture80hm1.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8451/picture79yc8.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2125/picture78bm3.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7862/picture77pm0.th.jpg]

Forget the hole labeled "AIR IN" on chamber 2.

oops sorry the images didn't come out right. Will try to fix it next time...
just click the link thingies

DeFeKt · 10-15-2006, 11:02 PM

looks good, 1 thing.
I would put the thermometre in the tank, that way it won't depend so much on great amounts of flow to get a correct reading.

tropicalfish · 10-15-2006, 11:15 PM

okay. Should I keep the marbles in there? they seem to touch the base of the heater when they are in there.

DeFeKt · 10-15-2006, 11:24 PM

if they are not bouncing around hitting the heater i don't think they would pose to great a problem.

What is the extra weight actually for ?

tropicalfish · 10-15-2006, 11:28 PM

Hopefully to prevent tipping over on accidental bumping. Also, it looks better, because my stand does not have a back, and my bookshelf is RIGHT NEXT to the fishtank, so I am putting the chambers on one of the shelves.

tropicalfish · 10-17-2006, 06:20 PM

I changed a few things...
First chamber container
Pump

The pump was too big, and secondly, I broke it :O
The container was too small, and the screw on lid was too hard to use.
I am using a rubbermaid container which is rectangular shape, and much taller. Also, it has a pop-on/pop-off lid. I will use 4 binder clips to secure it.

Sorry about the offtopic pictures. I copied the whole list so some pictures must have gotten in.

tropicalfish · 10-20-2006, 07:00 PM

I was thinking.. Is it possible that I can stick two small metal rods in each container, then hook it up to a LED lamp and electrical source? Is it safe? If it is, should I use the positive side or the negative side?

zacusmaximus · 10-20-2006, 07:12 PM

Wait, what are you trying to do with metal rods, leds, and an electrical source in regards to your filter? I'm consused as to what the end-use/purpose is for those particular parts.

tropicalfish · 10-20-2006, 08:22 PM

Oh, It is just a quick indication that water is inside both chambers.

10-15-2006, 08:57 PM	#1
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	DIY Filter Project Hello All! I am new to this forum. I decided to share my work-in-progress project to get some "improvement" ideas. I am working on a two chamber canister filter which will be for my 10 gallon hex. This AquaClear in my tank is rated for 30 gallons and I will soon move that to the empty 30 gallon. The containers are plastic and glass. They both have plastic screw on caps. The first chamber is the filter chamber, which also contains the pump. Water will come down into the filter and flow upwards into the chamber, then get pumped to the second chamber. The second chamber, the glass jar, contains the heater, and water will spiral around it from the top back to the top. At the bottom of the jar are round clear glass marbles for weights. These two containers are clear. The heater is a VISI-Therm 50 Watt. Since I am working on this with no additional purchase, I will try to fit in the penguin powerhead 550. The impeller broke a while back, and I found an unneeded Top Fin 60 impeller that works perfectly. pictures next: Note: Sorry for bad pic quality, camera broke so using webcam [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6149/picture86dx5.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7158/picture85ux1.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4409/picture84jj8.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2603/picture82tt0.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8753/picture80hm1.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8451/picture79yc8.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2125/picture78bm3.th.jpg] [img=http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7862/picture77pm0.th.jpg] Forget the hole labeled "AIR IN" on chamber 2. oops sorry the images didn't come out right. Will try to fix it next time... just click the link thingies

10-15-2006, 11:02 PM	#2
DeFeKt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth australia Posts: 1,435 Images: 18	looks good, 1 thing. I would put the thermometre in the tank, that way it won't depend so much on great amounts of flow to get a correct reading. __________________ Dimidiochromis compressiceps, Astatotilapia latifasciata Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Labidochromis caeruleus Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue' Pseudotropheus acei 'Msuli Point' Aulunocara stuartgranti 'chipoka' Labidochromis freibergi Oreochromis mossambicus Etroplus suratensis

10-15-2006, 11:15 PM	#3
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	okay. Should I keep the marbles in there? they seem to touch the base of the heater when they are in there. __________________ --- 75 Gallon Rena FilStar xP3, Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 200W (2), Coralife 48" Aqualight 260W 6700K --- 10 Gallon Hexagon Hagen AquaClear 30, Visi-Therm Deluxe 50, DIY CF 20W 6500K CF, Hagen Natural CO2 System :: Bloodfin Tetra (1), Red-eye Tetra (3), Black Skirt Tetra (3), Harlequin Rasbora (6), Platy (1), Otocinclus Catfish (1) :: Rotala Indica, Hygrophila Difformis (Wisteria), Cabomba Carolinia ---

10-15-2006, 11:24 PM	#4
DeFeKt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth australia Posts: 1,435 Images: 18	if they are not bouncing around hitting the heater i don't think they would pose to great a problem. What is the extra weight actually for ? __________________ Dimidiochromis compressiceps, Astatotilapia latifasciata Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Labidochromis caeruleus Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue' Pseudotropheus acei 'Msuli Point' Aulunocara stuartgranti 'chipoka' Labidochromis freibergi Oreochromis mossambicus Etroplus suratensis

10-15-2006, 11:28 PM	#5
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	Hopefully to prevent tipping over on accidental bumping. Also, it looks better, because my stand does not have a back, and my bookshelf is RIGHT NEXT to the fishtank, so I am putting the chambers on one of the shelves. __________________ --- 75 Gallon Rena FilStar xP3, Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 200W (2), Coralife 48" Aqualight 260W 6700K --- 10 Gallon Hexagon Hagen AquaClear 30, Visi-Therm Deluxe 50, DIY CF 20W 6500K CF, Hagen Natural CO2 System :: Bloodfin Tetra (1), Red-eye Tetra (3), Black Skirt Tetra (3), Harlequin Rasbora (6), Platy (1), Otocinclus Catfish (1) :: Rotala Indica, Hygrophila Difformis (Wisteria), Cabomba Carolinia ---

10-17-2006, 06:20 PM	#6
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	I changed a few things... First chamber container Pump The pump was too big, and secondly, I broke it :O The container was too small, and the screw on lid was too hard to use. I am using a rubbermaid container which is rectangular shape, and much taller. Also, it has a pop-on/pop-off lid. I will use 4 binder clips to secure it. Sorry about the offtopic pictures. I copied the whole list so some pictures must have gotten in.

10-20-2006, 07:00 PM	#7
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	I was thinking.. Is it possible that I can stick two small metal rods in each container, then hook it up to a LED lamp and electrical source? Is it safe? If it is, should I use the positive side or the negative side? __________________ --- 75 Gallon Rena FilStar xP3, Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 200W (2), Coralife 48" Aqualight 260W 6700K --- 10 Gallon Hexagon Hagen AquaClear 30, Visi-Therm Deluxe 50, DIY CF 20W 6500K CF, Hagen Natural CO2 System :: Bloodfin Tetra (1), Red-eye Tetra (3), Black Skirt Tetra (3), Harlequin Rasbora (6), Platy (1), Otocinclus Catfish (1) :: Rotala Indica, Hygrophila Difformis (Wisteria), Cabomba Carolinia ---

10-20-2006, 07:12 PM	#8
zacusmaximus Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 196	Wait, what are you trying to do with metal rods, leds, and an electrical source in regards to your filter? I'm consused as to what the end-use/purpose is for those particular parts.

10-20-2006, 08:22 PM	#9
tropicalfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 325	Oh, It is just a quick indication that water is inside both chambers. __________________ --- 75 Gallon Rena FilStar xP3, Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 200W (2), Coralife 48" Aqualight 260W 6700K --- 10 Gallon Hexagon Hagen AquaClear 30, Visi-Therm Deluxe 50, DIY CF 20W 6500K CF, Hagen Natural CO2 System :: Bloodfin Tetra (1), Red-eye Tetra (3), Black Skirt Tetra (3), Harlequin Rasbora (6), Platy (1), Otocinclus Catfish (1) :: Rotala Indica, Hygrophila Difformis (Wisteria), Cabomba Carolinia ---

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