Do It Yourself FilteringDo It Yourself FilteringByBy

Chuck HawksChuck HawksA presentation for The Angelfish A presentation for The Angelfish

Society – October 2006Society – October 2006

DYI FILTERINGDYI 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 Overview Basic understanding of the proper conditions for Basic understanding of the proper conditions for

“good” bacteria propogation and holding are “good” bacteria propogation and holding are essential to construct and modify filters. Here are 2 essential to construct and modify filters. Here are 2 but there are many resources, the understanding of but there are many resources, the understanding of aquarium bacteria expands constantly, it’s a subject aquarium bacteria expands constantly, it’s a subject unto itself.unto itself.

The Nitrogen Cycle - Article at The Age of Aquariums The Nitrogen Cycle - Article at The Age of Aquariums - Tropical Fish- Tropical FishThe Skeptical AquaristThe Skeptical Aquarist

Some Key Points to Some Key Points to RememberRemember

BACTERIA REQUIRE PLENTIFUL OXYGEN TO CONVERT AMMONIA TO LESS HARMFUL BACTERIA REQUIRE PLENTIFUL OXYGEN TO CONVERT AMMONIA TO LESS HARMFUL PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY REMOVE WITH WATER CHANGES. PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY REMOVE WITH WATER CHANGES.

BACTERIA REQUIRE A STABLE SURFACE TO PROPOGATE AND THEY ARE NOT GREAT BACTERIA REQUIRE A STABLE SURFACE TO PROPOGATE AND THEY ARE NOT GREAT SCAVENGERS OF OXYGEN. THEY NEED YOU TO BRING THE OXYGEN TO THEM SCAVENGERS OF OXYGEN. THEY NEED YOU TO BRING THE OXYGEN TO THEM TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.

SPONGES AND FLOSS GREATLY IMPROVE THE SURFACE AREA TO WHICH BACTERIA SPONGES AND FLOSS GREATLY IMPROVE THE SURFACE AREA TO WHICH BACTERIA CAN ATTACH BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY NOT BECOME CLOGGED WITH CAN ATTACH BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY NOT BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS THAT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF NUTRIENTS (AMMONIA AND NITRITE), DEBRIS THAT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF NUTRIENTS (AMMONIA AND NITRITE), OXYGEN AND WATER THAT THEY NEED TO PROSPER.OXYGEN AND WATER THAT THEY NEED TO PROSPER.

THE SKEPTICAL AQUARIST ARTICLE SHOWS SOME INTERESTING RELATIONSHIPS THE SKEPTICAL AQUARIST ARTICLE SHOWS SOME INTERESTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PH AND AMMONIA TOXICITY, PH AND BACTERIA HEALTH, BETWEEN PH AND AMMONIA TOXICITY, PH AND BACTERIA HEALTH, TEMPERATURE AND AMMONIA TOXICITY AND TEMPERATURE AND BACTERIA TEMPERATURE AND AMMONIA TOXICITY AND TEMPERATURE AND BACTERIA HEALTH. I URGE YOU TO BECOME WELL AQUAINTED WITH THESE HEALTH. I URGE YOU TO BECOME WELL AQUAINTED WITH THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONSIDER THEM WHEN DESIGNING FILTERS, CYCLING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONSIDER THEM WHEN DESIGNING FILTERS, CYCLING TANKS, PLACING HEATERS, SETTING OUTLET DIFFUSERS, ETC.TANKS, PLACING HEATERS, SETTING OUTLET DIFFUSERS, ETC.

MaterialsMaterials

You can make a filter any way that You can make a filter any way that supplies oxygenated water flow to a supplies oxygenated water flow to a surface that can hold bacteria. surface that can hold bacteria.

The largest concern for DIY filters is The largest concern for DIY filters is using materials that are not using materials that are not impregnated with anti-bacteriological impregnated with anti-bacteriological agents (primarily sponges and agents (primarily sponges and adhesives) and do not decompose adhesives) and do not decompose rapidly (like cotton).rapidly (like cotton).

Used Aquarium PartsUsed Aquarium Parts

Used parts, frequently purchased very Used parts, frequently purchased very inexpensively or free, provide parts and inexpensively or free, provide parts and shortcuts. shortcuts. • Powerheads provide flow to construct Powerheads provide flow to construct

spongetype or trickle type filters. spongetype or trickle type filters. • Pond and fountain pumps can be used to move Pond and fountain pumps can be used to move

water to filter units or return it from sumps. water to filter units or return it from sumps. • Undergravel grids can be used for holding filter Undergravel grids can be used for holding filter

media or creating barriers and media or creating barriers and waterfalls/diffusers.waterfalls/diffusers.

Sponge FiltersSponge Filters

Use air to pull water Use air to pull water through the mediathrough the media

Provide large media Provide large media surface for bacteriasurface for bacteria

Oxygenate water as Oxygenate water as a byproducta byproduct

Best Biological FilterBest Biological Filter

Basic ToolsBasic Tools

Brass or Copper pipe Brass or Copper pipe sections, sharpenedsections, sharpened

Serrated Bread KnifeSerrated Bread Knife

Drill + 3/16 BitDrill + 3/16 Bit

Aquarium Silicone Aquarium Silicone (non-toxic)(non-toxic)

Sponge ConstructionSponge Construction

Heavy Base, ceramic Heavy Base, ceramic tile ~20 cents eachtile ~20 cents each

Non Floating PVC, Non Floating PVC, $2.00-$3.00/6 feet$2.00-$3.00/6 feet

Airline Tube (airstone Airline Tube (airstone optional)optional)

Media, Sponge non-Media, Sponge non-treated open-celltreated open-cell

SPONGE FILTER FROM SPONGE FILTER FROM SIMILAR PARTSSIMILAR PARTS

HOB FiltersHOB 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 modificationsHOB modifications

Intake Sponge Intake Sponge CoveringsCoverings

Round hole “drilled” Round hole “drilled” with sharpened with sharpened copper pipecopper pipe

HOB mods con’tHOB mods con’t

Backup Bacteria Backup Bacteria HoldingHolding

Sponge pad Sponge pad inserted in front inserted in front of filter cartridge of filter cartridge -- --

HOB mods con’tHOB mods con’t

Cartridge ModificationCartridge Modification

Penguin 160 cartridge Penguin 160 cartridge frame frame

• w/filter pad w/filter pad (WalMart nylon (WalMart nylon batting material) batting material)

• covered w/cut piece covered w/cut piece of needlepoint grid, of needlepoint grid,

• top and bottom held top and bottom held with lighting grid with lighting grid edgingedging

Wet/Dry Wet/Dry FilterFilter

It’s All in What You SeeIt’s All in What You See Plastic Plastic

Donut Box Donut Box and Small and Small Pump from Pump from Discount Discount BinBin

Becomes Becomes a a

Wet/Dry Wet/Dry FilterFilter

Box FilterBox Filter

Coke Bottle and PVCCoke Bottle and PVC

BecomeBecomes a Box s a Box Filter!Filter!

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!

The EndThe End