Graham Ray
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2015
- Messages
- 8
The Borland (Mk . 1 ) K1 type mini filter
This filter was designed to be used in small aquarium used for livebearer fry that need separating from their mother, or for aquariums where a larger filter would take up too much space. The cost of making the filter is minimal and most parts are available in DIY or cheap stores. The project is easy to make and does not need any special skills. Your feedback would be appreciated.
I would gather together ALL your materials and tools before you start.
Good Luck.
List of Materials
• 400mm - 16mm thinwall Plastic Tube (Used for garden irrigation)
• 7+ - Drinking Straws
• 500mm 25mm ID Plastic Tube
• 1 - 50mm Paint Roller Sponge
• 4 - 25mm diameter Hair Curlers (With sponge inserts)
• Air Stone
• 1M- 6mm Airline tubing
• 2 - Bottle tops (from 300ml drinking water bottles)
• Plastic Sucker
• Air Pump
• Sand paper
List of Tools
• Pencil
• Electric hand drill
• 6mm Drill bit
• Old sharp knife (to cut K1 segments in 16mm tube)
• Means of heating a knife (gas ring or propane torch)
• 25mm Masking tape
• Craft Knife (to cut 25mm plastic tubing)
Method
• With the 16mm thin wall plastic tube rub the outside of the tube with sandpaper to abraid it. Cut the tube to approx. 200mm long.
• Take the drinking straws and push into the plastic tube (7 straws)
• Heat the knife and when hot cut the tube with straws inside into approx. 20mm slices. (K1 type filter media)
• Cut the 25mm ID Plastic Tube 25mm shorter than the Aquarium water depth.
• Put the masking tape around the tube at 25mm from one end.
• Drill 5 X 6mm holes around the top and bottom of the masking tape . Remove masking tape.
• Drill a 6mm hole 100mm from the end at an angle slightly facing downward toward the other holes.
• Drill a 6mm hole 25mm from the top of the tube for the plastic sucker to fit.
• Insert the air tubing and connect the air stone through the single hole. Pull the tubing through so the air stone is just above the 25mm tube bottom.
• Get the hair curlers and load with your homemade K1 filter medium. Make some type of wedge to stop the K1 filter from falling through the first curler if they don’t fit snug. Push the curlers down the 25mm tube until they are just above of the air tube.
• Cut the sponge paint roller 100mm long and increase the size of the hole through the middle to slide onto the 25mm tube to be flush with the bottom and cover the 10 -12 holes. (make sure the air stone tubing is not kinked , check by blowing down the air line
• Drill 5 or 6 - 6mm holes in one of the plastic caps, fit this to the top of the 25mm tube, fit the other cap to the bottom of the 25mm tube.
• Connect the airline to the Air Pump, put the filter in the tank and check for air bubbles at the top.
When using the filter the sponge filter will probably need washing/cleaning every 2-3 weeks. This can be done by washing under the cold tap. The K1 media inside the filter does not need cleaning !
This filter was designed to be used in small aquarium used for livebearer fry that need separating from their mother, or for aquariums where a larger filter would take up too much space. The cost of making the filter is minimal and most parts are available in DIY or cheap stores. The project is easy to make and does not need any special skills. Your feedback would be appreciated.
I would gather together ALL your materials and tools before you start.
Good Luck.
List of Materials
• 400mm - 16mm thinwall Plastic Tube (Used for garden irrigation)
• 7+ - Drinking Straws
• 500mm 25mm ID Plastic Tube
• 1 - 50mm Paint Roller Sponge
• 4 - 25mm diameter Hair Curlers (With sponge inserts)
• Air Stone
• 1M- 6mm Airline tubing
• 2 - Bottle tops (from 300ml drinking water bottles)
• Plastic Sucker
• Air Pump
• Sand paper
List of Tools
• Pencil
• Electric hand drill
• 6mm Drill bit
• Old sharp knife (to cut K1 segments in 16mm tube)
• Means of heating a knife (gas ring or propane torch)
• 25mm Masking tape
• Craft Knife (to cut 25mm plastic tubing)
Method
• With the 16mm thin wall plastic tube rub the outside of the tube with sandpaper to abraid it. Cut the tube to approx. 200mm long.
• Take the drinking straws and push into the plastic tube (7 straws)
• Heat the knife and when hot cut the tube with straws inside into approx. 20mm slices. (K1 type filter media)
• Cut the 25mm ID Plastic Tube 25mm shorter than the Aquarium water depth.
• Put the masking tape around the tube at 25mm from one end.
• Drill 5 X 6mm holes around the top and bottom of the masking tape . Remove masking tape.
• Drill a 6mm hole 100mm from the end at an angle slightly facing downward toward the other holes.
• Drill a 6mm hole 25mm from the top of the tube for the plastic sucker to fit.
• Insert the air tubing and connect the air stone through the single hole. Pull the tubing through so the air stone is just above the 25mm tube bottom.
• Get the hair curlers and load with your homemade K1 filter medium. Make some type of wedge to stop the K1 filter from falling through the first curler if they don’t fit snug. Push the curlers down the 25mm tube until they are just above of the air tube.
• Cut the sponge paint roller 100mm long and increase the size of the hole through the middle to slide onto the 25mm tube to be flush with the bottom and cover the 10 -12 holes. (make sure the air stone tubing is not kinked , check by blowing down the air line
• Drill 5 or 6 - 6mm holes in one of the plastic caps, fit this to the top of the 25mm tube, fit the other cap to the bottom of the 25mm tube.
• Connect the airline to the Air Pump, put the filter in the tank and check for air bubbles at the top.
When using the filter the sponge filter will probably need washing/cleaning every 2-3 weeks. This can be done by washing under the cold tap. The K1 media inside the filter does not need cleaning !
