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rohitrk
IAH New Member
Joined: Nov 30, 2005
Posts: 10
Status: Offline
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 Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 4:28 pm Post subject: Filter media for Large DIY DRUM Filter |
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I have learned a lot from this forum so far. Lot of credit goes to IAH for the aquarium setup I have built so far.
Here is what a I have
* 4ft x 3 ft x 1.5 ft tank made with 12mm glass with support braces at the bottm and top
* Metal L section DIY stand to support weight upto 1 ton
* 1 failed experiment to build a filter with "Cello" or similar kind of 3x15 liters canister
* Almost success full large (200Liter capacity) DIY filter that I am building now, (could not get smaller one)
Now I have arraned small pebbles and 1 rock in the tank filled up with water .. let it stand for 2 days.. add 3/4 guppies. Now wait for the tank cycle to happen. It's running internal boyu power filter(1600 ltrs at 1 feet height outptut) so far..
After first failed experiment of DIY canister filter, I found a large industrial grade blue drum with a metal locking ring(Rs 350). Now this drum sits lower on the ground next to tank and siphones water to the bottom of the tank. Then a submersed filter lifts water back to the tank. It's all working so far. ( 2 days of testing , no leaks, so siphone breaks after 12 hours of power outage)
No I am planning to add layes of filteration medias in between. I need a cheap media as I need it in large quantity
Here is how the filter drum will look like
TOP
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Pump - Water outlet
Clean water
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Recron layer
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Pumice stone (1 inch cubes)
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large amout of green garden net rolled up
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Inlet
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BOTTOM
I plan to post a detailed photo article once I am done.
So far I have spent Rs 1000 on building the filter.
I am going to use the internal filter pump to pump the water.
The dotted lines suggest a plastic mesh seperator. So far with just the cartridge filters to the pump it's giving me 800liters/hour output. I will go down as I add more restriction as we introduce more resistance by filter media.
I plan to clean the filter by draining it from the bottom (reverse flow)so that the solid waste can be taken out without emptying it completely.
What will be my cleaning cycle of the nets, the pumice stone? recron?
So all the gurus .... Any suggestions, tips, corrections...
Thanks in advance for all the help |
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gokulin
Regular Poster on IAH
Joined: Jul 04, 2005
Posts: 1277
Location: Coimbatore
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Rohit,
Broken brick stones could be a good & cheap media |
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shishirkamat
Regular Poster on IAH
Joined: Dec 17, 2003
Posts: 557
Location: Belgaum Karnataka
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Rohit,
Try avoiding Recron,This will increase the frequency of cleaning.You could use Sand,Bricks Nylon,Pumice stones,stone chips, etc.Sand will also help to keep water crystal clean
with regards
Shishir Kamat |
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retro_gk
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 09, 2003
Posts: 3496
Location: Trivandrum, Kerala
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Just a couple of observations...
1. Replace the recron with something like ceramic tubes or a coarse, synthetic sponge.
2. Sand will clog up fairly easily and is something of a hassle...
3. Provided you do not overload the filter, you will not have to clean it more than once very 6 months or so.
Great job. |
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rohitrk
IAH New Member
Joined: Nov 30, 2005
Posts: 10
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:26 am Post subject: Will change the fine layer to corse sponge from recron |
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Thanks guys for all the help.
From the response I have decided to give up recron, instead use corse sponge. for the crystal clear water. Any pointers or tips on where to buy this sponge(local matress guy won't have this?), I will need a 2 feet diameter 4inch thick sponge I think.
I will check with local packaging material delears here in Pune. to see if they have something like that.
BTW I got pumice stone 2 Rs per slab (2inch x 3 inch x 1 inch) size. I will need 20 dozen or so to make atlest 4 inch slab in my drum :-(
My altimate goal is to keep 1 arrowana and just few fishes to give him company. I plan to do it only after 6 months when my tank will be settled and I will gain more confidance. |
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retro_gk
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 09, 2003
Posts: 3496
Location: Trivandrum, Kerala
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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rohit,
You should be able to get the sponge from an upholsterer. |
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aquascapes
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Dec 19, 2005
Posts: 2753
Location: Surat, Gujarat
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| rohit what happened of your filter? |
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rohitrk
IAH New Member
Joined: Nov 30, 2005
Posts: 10
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:59 am Post subject: Update on the DIY filter |
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Hi,
Here is a small update on my side.
First I was out of action for almost 2 weeks. The 4x3x1.5 feet tank that I built on my own cracked after 1 month  . Detailed analysis can point to 2 main reasons
1. The metal supprort frame on the top was unadaquate to support the tank in the middle position.
2. All the sides glasses of the tanks were standing on the base surface that did not let the glass to get the flex that a silicon can provide.
So this time I got wiser and got the tank built from a LFS. 
Now about the filter.
This project is really rocking 
It's been now almost 2 months since the filter is working the water is always crystan clear. I have done 20% water change only once in last 2 months. All the fish are happy swimming around and growing. so sign of stress. (I need to check with ph and for ammonia but did not get the kit yet)
Only drawback of my project is the size of the drum. But since I have the setup outdoor it's not a problem for me. Taotal cost to build this DIY filter was as follows
1. Blue Industrial Drum with metral locking clip 350
2. Piping , clips, connectors 500
3. 20 dozen pumice stone 500
4. sponge sheet 200
5. Boyu 2000Ltrs/hr pump 1000
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Total 2550
The filter circulates the water at the rate of 800 Ltrs/h of my 400 Litres tank. I have started not shutting off the filter at night so that fishes will get some goodnight sleep :-)
Thanks
Rohit |
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