3mtre x 600 x 600 filtration: strain your brain

My 3m is almost ready. I will house my fronts in there. fronts dont whant alot of current when they are spawning.
What filtration? Movney......I dont have? Sump is a no no no. We talking diy canisters, overhead filters, what ever diy, this is what I have: a old reagent 2000 submble pump, boyu 1400 submble pump. A old canister filter not working (could modify that). 2 wave makers. The other stuf I will need I can buy maybe at china town. We going very cheap hear. This is not a show tank hence the cheapness.
come-on Strain your brain. I have used my help line and my friend is out of town. Luckily TASA is always available.

 

I have to say that a sump is going to be the best and most cost effective option in the long run.

Since your budget is tight, look around for a second hand 4 foot for the sump and do a DIY overflow.

Another option is to get hold of some plastic drums or similar to make an overhead type trickle filter.

 

I would definitely also go for a sump if it is at all possible. (Perhaps pictures or reasons why you say no to a sump).
Easier to clean, very effective and cost effective.

Limited space = canister filters = moola.
On that size you probably want to run at least 2 top of the range cannister filters - something like Fluval FX5s.

 

Plastic bins from Pick & Pay and overhead filter.

 

If you have room for plastic bins you have room for a sump ...

 

2meter Idol marine sump tank available on Gumtree 2meter Idol marine sump tank available - other pets for adoption in Johannesburg Gauteng Free Classifieds


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I would suggest you go with an internal side filtration. I think this is the most cost efficient and effective method.
See attached .

 

the piping from the pump and the overhead spray bar can be 20 - 25mm pvc conduit, drilled at regular intervals. I normally make the holes in spray bar 3mm to create a nice jet-like spray on the water surface. make sure the holes are in a straight line and i prefer to angle the jets (holes) at a 45deg angle.

 

side filter internal is the best option you can even run the uplift with an airstone if need be , one at least 150mm wide asyou need to get your hand in it easy to clean it or better still one each end easy to clean and swop media as needed . Chat to all the old boys side filters were the go to option 20 years ago and still one of the best filtration options in a breeding tank set up.

 

just on a side note make your inlet for your filter at the bottom and your spray bar at top that way you got no dead spots and better water flow

 

agreed with the post above, just make sure that u can get ur hands in, and that u can fit a big enough pump into the space, once did pump measurement and did not account for bracing of the tank and ended up with half the flow i wanted.
you could do a filter on either side and as well to improve water flow and lesson dead spots as well

 

Howzit man,

The side filters sound like a good idea and they can pack quite a bit of filter media, but they take up valuable tank space.
What's wrong with the canister? Can you operate it above the tank?

Otherwise just pump water into a container suspended above the tank, put filter media in the container.
Cheap and effective as you've already got the pump/s.

I guess the only trick is to make sure the water is spread nice and even over the filter media, and possibly to keep a sponge on the intake for ease of maintenance.
It's my experience that these filters make a noise, it's just falling water so you might not mind at all.

For my 1m cube I use a length of 110mm PVC pipe with an end cap, the top of a 2l bottle, pipe that fits the pump and the opening of the 2l bottle and a bunch of filter media. DIY internal filter I guess one would call it.

 

Side filter..... brilliant suggestion. But it will put me a few buks behind as I need to buy more glass then. Also it is valuable space im loosing. If I had an extra 250mm of space in the room I would have diy it on the outside of the tank. Sucks... thanks guys. You are really helpfull here. Whait a minute, what about at the back of the tank. Whould I get the same results.

 

I think the back would work 100... Assuming you have easy access to the back. Reaching over a 60cm wide tank will be a pain in the ass... So just keep that in mind also.

Ps my vote is still sump if you do not want to lose space. Especially if you want to build an "external" internal filter on the back or side.. Hope that makes sense? In that case I'm still sure a old secondhand 4ft tank will be a cheaper way to go. Even if you have to fit it somewhere besides the bottom of the tank?

Anyway... Good luck with the tank. And when are we getting pics........... Make a plan man.

 

why not hook up your old canister filter to the internal pump and build a corner overflow unit with the pump inside pack with siporex in stockings on top and fill your canister with filter medium as well that way you got a controlled internal corner overflow chamber with extra filter medium ?