DIY Trickle filter

DIY Trickle filter

After much reading and weeks of prep I decided to try making a DIY Trickle filter. It is intended as a mechanical, and biological filter.
I will use it first on my 60L tank

I plan to use good sandstone at the bottom of the actual trickle part to make the water softer. My Glowlights are ready to pop but the water is not soft enough.

Filter bucket: 13L
3 tier old filter stack: top Sponge, middle Ceramic and Matrix, bottom sandstone.
Pump: small internal filter that I had before in " my 60L low tech beauty" it says that it does 400L/H. more like 100L/H
Pipe: 12mm (good enough for this size filter and pump)
I plan to put my heater in the filter bucket and plan to attach my HOB filter too

Overflow:
15mm pipe, the lower the outlet from the inlet the more flow you have.


Overflow spread out
Overflow as it will be on the back of the tank
Overflow 15mm. Pump inlet pipe on the right 15mm
13 Litre Trickle filter bucket with empty tiers
Middle tier with some Ceramic, will add some Matrix to this level too.


This filter will make my tank easier on the eyes with the heater and internal filter out and behind in the trickle filter.
What a joy this type of DIY is.

 

It is still not complete, I need a float switch for the filter. After testing it the water flow seems inconsistent and to avoid the pump running dry I will attached a float switch.




Trickle filter with the top tier and some sponge for the mechanical side of the filter process
Example of how the filter will be set up
I also plan on closing the top with a cover that the water will be able to aerate through

 

Looks good!

It could be that the pump does 400l/h at a certain head and now that it has to pump higher it does so at a reduced flow.

You have a 60l tank so maybe try and get a pump that can do at least 300l/h at 2m head. I am assuming you will have this under your tank?