tantc - Arowana Gallery Profile! Files: 1 (26 KB) Created: 30-3-2001 Hits: 18161 tantc's Gallery ----------------------------A recent fishMisc Itemstantc28tantc27tantc26tantc25tantc24tantc23tantc22tantc21tantc20tantc19tantc17tan
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Owner: tantc
Location: Singapore
Homepage: http://www.petprovision.com
Interests: Arowana, discus
Description: DIY FILTER
Essentially a box filled with filter media that is stacked from bottom up. The bottom most layer are bio balls. I managed to pour 2 bags of bio-balls which is quite alot. The box is placed strategically a few inches higher than the water level of the tank.
I'm using a 2000 l/q powerhead to pump water from the 5 feet tank into the container (you can see the tube at the back of the box). The water gets back into the tank using siphon effect, not powered.
That's why I need more than 1 tube. I gather I can replace that with a bigger tube such as those ribbed washing machine tube, perhaps for my next attempt. So 3 tubes siphons the water back into the tank.
The siphon effect is driven by the fact that the water level in the box will be higher than that of the tank. Note that the tubes are pushed right to near bottom so that the water is 'sucked' from the bottom. A piece of plastic board is used to block off 'top water' from being prematurally sucked back into the tank. Important to note that the water level difference is what makes the whole thing work. Note also that getting the siphon tube into the box takes some skill. First fill the tube with water and the seal one end using your thumb. Then push the whole tube into the box (which should be already filled with water).
If there is any air in the tube, your siphon may not work !!! Becareful. Note also that the siphon rate MUST be greater than the water being pumped in. As water is being pumped in, the water level rises. As the water level rises, water level difference will cause water to be siphoned back into the tank. It will reach a height where the water difference is great enough to power the siphon. If your pump is pumping too much water into the box, the box might overflow. Put in more tubes.
You don't have to worry about over siphon, that's impossible. Once the water level in the tank and box is the same, the siphon effect stops. Neat trick isn't it ? If you box still overflows, either use more tubes or raise the box higher. The height difference will force more water out.
Good points about this design.
1) no holes need to be drilled. Not everyone can have access to a drill and there's always worries about leakage.
2) If the electricity is cut off, the water level for the box will move down slightly back to the same water level of the tank so there's no fear of flooding your whole house if the power fails.
Note that during operation, the water level in the box is alway some inches above the tank
Recently, I have added money plant and iron tree to the box and hopefully, we can enhance the nitrate absorbing effect.
I have also used those hose holder to secure my 3 siphon tubes to the side of the tank so that they don't dangle in mid air (or shall we say water).
Cost of building one ? Powerhead is the most expensive. Around $28. Box, you can buy anywhere for $5. Filter media, depends on what you put. Hose ?? Dirt cheap.
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here's the pic chek it out
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