DIY canister filter thats easy on the pocket

HI guys i resently got a 4ft tank but didnt have the proper filtration needed and didnt have the cash to buy one. This is my DIY filter build for under R200 and a few hours of work. This is for anyone else that may be in the same seat as me.You will need to adjust the measurements to suit your tank and all parts were bought at builders express

This is my filter , still needs painting and the hood i built last week still needs painting



it still needs to be finnished , painted and excess silicon taked off and the outlet pipe made longer
As you can see my filter is not a true canister filter because the top end is not sealed , i use gravity to help me out. I tried to find a good water tight containter but the all leaked
I use a powerhead rated at 1000l/h that sits in my tank connected to a hose and to elbows to make a U shape as it comes out the tank, this then connects to the inlet at the base of the filter.
This is were gravity comes in , i made my pipe 200mm( i made it to much i didnt know how much the water lvl would rise) higher than the outlet . the water fills up to about 50mm above the outlet and gravity takes over and u get a good steady flow out the outlet

Parts

20mm clear thinwall hose(inlet) (builders express R14 per m)
25mm clear thinwall hose(outlet)(builders express R16 per m)
2x20mm plastic elbows with hose ends on both sides (R2 each)
1 x 20mm plastic elbow with 3/4" thread and hose connector (R2 )
1 x 25mm plastic straightline hose connector(R3)
1m 110mm pvc downpiping (R29 per m)
5mm piece of glass, for your baseplate (bummed from local glass shop ask for an offcut)
1 x packet cable ties (R10)
1 x powerhead (had it already)
1 x tube silicon (R34)
Total cost R112


Intructions
1.wash all the piping and connectors well before use u dont know were they have been
2.get your pvc pipe and make sure the base flat (if not take a piece of sand paper on a flat sureface and sand the pipe flat)
3.take a 20mm hole saw and put a hole 30mm from the base
4.take a 25mm hole saw and put a hole 20mm above the lvl of the glass of your tank
5.silicon the 20mm plastic elbow with 3/4" thread and hose connector in the 20mm hole by the base
6.silicon the 25mm plastic straightline hose connector in the 25mm hole
7. silicon the pvc pipe on to the glass base plate and let dry for 2 days
8. fill up and test for leaks
9.paint
10. add filter media
11. connect the powerheead to the inlet
12. connect your 25mm hose
13.cable tie all connections
14. turn on
15.have a beer and admire your work

I hope this makes sence to ppl. it was really easy to put together and it works really well and for me half the fun is building the stuff

 

Looks good = Like a trickle filter or air fall but backwards

 

What filter media are you using in there?

 

looks just like a normal bio-reactor.....

 

just using bioballs , ceramic rings and floss. lots of each.
whats a bio-reactor?

 

what you built.... its not a canister filter... it basically wont force the water thru the media like a canister will do so the biological filtration will be good but not the mechanical filtration....

 

what silicon are you using there?

from what I know, silicon does not stick/glue glass to pvc...

so it might be holding for now but could/will come loose...

thats if you're using the standard bostik marine silicon

 

i used glue devil marine silicon , seems to hold well

 

Were'd you get this from? I'd be keen to try it out...

 

the hardware store by my house has it i will go ask him were he gets it from

 

Thanks Reafer, it would be a great find to have a silicon that glues glass to pvc!

 

what u can do is seal of the botom end with a female end cap and use pvc weld to glue it. make ure inlet at the botom with elbow ontop put a female pvc screw cap and dril hole in it with outlet inside fill with filter material flos bio balls etc and seal of the top endcap with silicone and thus u can force water thrue it

this one is done with a 700L p/h inline pump, its realy dificult to get suitable containers to build canister F, the easiest option is pvc piping

 

:wondering:​

So if you can build one that will force the water through it is a cannister filter.Will the biological filtration be effected or not.What filtration media will be suggested in a Cannister filter?

:wondering:​

 

Maybe this is a stupid question..... If this pvc pipe is glued and sealed on both ends, how do you clean the inside of the filter, or replace filter material?

 

tear off the silicone on the screw cap on top and turn it open....

 

Nice and simple design :top: , but i was wondering...

:wondering: How often? Is fresh (not cured) silicone not dangerous? Or are you able to keep it away from the water inside?

 

well it is away from the water inside since the silicone is only aplied on the outside on the treads of the screw cap to prevent leaking