DIY canister + heater

ok ive got a new 1.2, and im going to diy a canister filter for it, will it be advantages 2 insert a 300W heater inside the filter if possible. i will be making it in such a way so that the heater can be adjusted and easily removed,

its probably a better method of heating the water evenly without hot spots, is it?

all coments apreciated

 

Carl unless the cannister is transparent you won't be able to see, until too late, if the heater is sticking on the on/off position. I always feel more comfortable being able to see whether the light is on or not on the heaters - call me paranoid

 

Being paranoid has probably saved you from having steamed/boiled fish for dinner. I too prefer seeing the light on the heater.

 

Call me stupid... but if you have to buid a DIY canister to fit a heater, wouldn't it be easier to build a sump?

 

Hey I would sugest building an internal filter 20cm and tank 100cm.you might loose a bit on tank space but an internal 20 wide by say 45 or tank width will have space for a good drop chamber where the heater can go , a chamber for filter wool ceramic rings and bio balls and a chamber for pump and 2nd heater. I have found that internal filters on tanks work just as well infact if you have messy fish like oscars even better as the food that normaly drops to the bottom can still flow into the side of the filter drop chamber...

 

I agree with Zoom I am sure it would be easier to just build a sump than it would be to build a Canister that fits a heater.... and it would boil down to the same thing anyway or am I wrong?

 

i picked up a 1meter length of perspex tube about 80mm inside diameter, i wil mount this 1 meter filter horizontaly underneath the tank, the heater will be removeble by means of using oil seals from cars, im still scheming about the complete design but ive got the backing of the universities enginering workshops and engineers, its one of those why the hell not try it projects. but im not woried about thermostats not working properly.

and i dont like sumps, and it doesnt tickle my creative diy instinct

can i maybe use a smaller wattage heater for a 250L setup than a 300W since the 300's are vere long, or maybe 2x 150W?

 

carl_p why not plumb your .08x1M tube over the tank at the back then you have no water leak issues or pump head problems. If you have a hood it could even fit inside it. Could even have a spray bar on the end for good circulation.

 

Sound like an interesting project - keep us updated

 

Hmmm... this sounds like it could be interesting... post pics as you make it.

 

mmmm will defnitly think about it, there is enough space in the hood but its one of those cheap plastic ones, i can actualy sell the hood for more than i paid for the tank and stand and hood, the hood alone costs 250 at Lucky fish in potch and i paid R200 for the lot:bigsmile:

 

Can you get hold of a second tube? Because then you could put your heater in a separate tube in series with the first one.

Just remember that you're going to need some ball valves and such to be able to open and service the filter.

 

Something like this maybe?

 

Just remember aswell if you going to be putting things in your hood that lights still need to fit in and to not block light

 

Hi Carl

Are you planning on doing mechanical filtering or bio filtering or both in your filter? Remember preferably a bio filter you do not want to disturb often. Also what a lot of guys that make DIY filters forget is that the bacteria is light sensitive, So if you have a see through tube filled with bio balls, the first 1-2 cm from the outside inwards will not harbor any bacteria, most likely in wil overgrow with algae and create flow problems in the rest of the media.
That brings another thing to mind a bio-filter has an optimum flow rate per surface area, so with a thin tube you will have to take that into consideration.
Luckily all the info is on the net somewhere, and projects like that is always fun to research.
Keep us posted!

 

Wow dude, that is just awesome!
It's like multiple oil filters in series, genuis. Just not very easy to make...

 

Rogger Rabbit.. could you describe the difference between Bio and mechanical filters?

 

Mechanical means it collects the dirt in the water, like filter floss does.
Biological means it hosts bacteria to metabolise the organic stuff, like ceramic rings do.
Chemical means it changes the chemistry, like activated carbon does.

 

Ditto
Thanx

 

Tx Whipme... Then I have all 3....

Floss over ceramic rings, filtering through Purigen.