Transcript DoItYourselfFilters___low_res

Do It Yourself Filtering
By
Chuck Hawks
A presentation for The Angelfish
Society – October 2006
DYI FILTERING
WHILE SPECIFIC PLANS ARE NOT INCLUDED I HOPE THIS
PRESENTATION WILL STIMULATE THE VEIWER TO EXPLORE
THE POSSIBILITIES OF DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING
“CUSTOM” FILTERING OPTIONS FOR THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
MANY FINE DESIGNS ARE AVAILABLE ON NUMEROUS
WEBSITES, I ENCOURAGE YOUR TO EXPLORE THEM, BUT IN MY
OPINION THE TRUEST JOY IN CONSTRUCTING YOUR OWN
COMES FROM THE VISUALIZATION, DESIGN AND ACTUAL
CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE ENJOY!
CHUCK HAWKS
Basic Overview
Basic understanding of the proper conditions for
“good” bacteria propogation and holding are
essential to construct and modify filters. Here are 2
but there are many resources, the understanding of
aquarium bacteria expands constantly, it’s a subject
unto itself.
The Nitrogen Cycle - Article at The Age of Aquariums Tropical Fish
The Skeptical Aquarist
Some Key Points to Remember
BACTERIA REQUIRE PLENTIFUL OXYGEN TO CONVERT AMMONIA TO LESS HARMFUL
PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY REMOVE WITH WATER CHANGES.
BACTERIA REQUIRE A STABLE SURFACE TO PROPOGATE AND THEY ARE NOT GREAT
SCAVENGERS OF OXYGEN. THEY NEED YOU TO BRING THE OXYGEN TO THEM TO
BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.
SPONGES AND FLOSS GREATLY IMPROVE THE SURFACE AREA TO WHICH BACTERIA
CAN ATTACH BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY NOT BECOME CLOGGED WITH
DEBRIS THAT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF NUTRIENTS (AMMONIA AND NITRITE),
OXYGEN AND WATER THAT THEY NEED TO PROSPER.
THE SKEPTICAL AQUARIST ARTICLE SHOWS SOME INTERESTING RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN PH AND AMMONIA TOXICITY, PH AND BACTERIA HEALTH, TEMPERATURE
AND AMMONIA TOXICITY AND TEMPERATURE AND BACTERIA HEALTH. I URGE YOU
TO BECOME WELL AQUAINTED WITH THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONSIDER THEM
WHEN DESIGNING FILTERS, CYCLING TANKS, PLACING HEATERS, SETTING OUTLET
DIFFUSERS, ETC.
Materials
You can make a filter any way that supplies
oxygenated water flow to a surface that
can hold bacteria.
The largest concern for DIY filters is using
materials that are not impregnated with
anti-bacteriological agents (primarily
sponges and adhesives) and do not
decompose rapidly (like cotton).
Used Aquarium Parts
Used parts, frequently purchased very
inexpensively or free, provide parts and
shortcuts.
• Powerheads provide flow to construct spongetype or
trickle type filters.
• Pond and fountain pumps can be used to move water
to filter units or return it from sumps.
• Undergravel grids can be used for holding filter media
or creating barriers and waterfalls/diffusers.
Sponge Filters
Use air to pull water
through the media
Provide large media
surface for bacteria
Oxygenate water as a
byproduct
Best Biological Filter
Basic Tools
Brass or Copper pipe
sections, sharpened
Serrated Bread Knife
Drill + 3/16 Bit
Aquarium Silicone (nontoxic)
Sponge Construction
Heavy Base, ceramic tile
~20 cents each
Non Floating PVC,
$2.00-$3.00/6 feet
Airline Tube (airstone
optional)
Media, Sponge nontreated open-cell
SPONGE FILTER FROM SIMILAR
PARTS
HOB Filters
Hard to duplicate but extremely easy to modify.
Add sponge covers to intakes, increasing both mechanical and biological
filter area, increasing life of cartridges and providing easy cleaning also
protecting smaller fish and fry from being trapped in the filter.
Cartridges can be “deconstructed” providing framework for cheaper
and/or better materials saving money and time.
Leftover sponge pieces, bioballs, shredded plastic and filter material
placed or attached to HOB’s provide more bacteria holding surface and
useful post cartridge change bacteria backup.
HOB modifications
Intake Sponge
Coverings
Round hole “drilled”
with sharpened
copper pipe
HOB mods con’t
Backup Bacteria
Holding
Sponge pad inserted
in front of filter
cartridge --
HOB mods con’t
Cartridge Modification
Penguin 160 cartridge
frame
• w/filter pad (WalMart
nylon batting
material)
• covered w/cut piece
of needlepoint grid,
• top and bottom held
with lighting grid
edging
Wet/Dry
Filter
It’s All in What You See

Plastic Donut
Box and
Small Pump
from
Discount Bin
Becomes a
Wet/Dry
Filter
Box Filter
Coke Bottle and PVC
Becomes
a Box
Filter!
The End
THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES
AN UNDERSTANDING SPOUSE AND AN
ABUNDANCE OF “MATERIAL” AND TIME MAKES
THE POSSIBILITIES ENDLESS
IF IN VEIWING THIS PRESENTATION YOU
THOUGHT “I CAN DO THAT BETTER” YOU MIGHT
BE A DO IT YOURSELFER!!
PLEASE RETURN TO THE CHAT ROOM FOR
DISCUSSION, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT A PROJECT YOU MIGHT BE
CONSIDERING, PLEASE ASK, THERE ARE MANY
CLOSET DYI’S. I’M SURE YOU’LL GET HELP!