Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I finally got some time to put together a description of my DIY filter. Since it requires a lot of photos, Ive built it as an html file. The link below will take you there. I have broadband, so I have no idea of telling how low it will load for someone with dial-up. Please let me know, and I will create a text only page with links if necessary.
DIY Filter Explanation

Nice filter you have there! I'm very curious though, do you find that you have higher nitrates with all the extra filter media, or do you feel they are about the same as what you would have with a store bought filter?
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PHSplendens
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Fishkeeping Made Simple

Ive never tested for nitrates or nitrites so I have no idea what a store bought filter would have compared to my filter. All of my fish are wildcaught and they are from less than pristine waters if you know what I mean. The water quality in my tank far exceeds that from which they came, so far as I can tell. Maybe ill have to get one of those kits and test it.

All of my fish are hardy species which can survive the pollution given to them in an urban creek system, which flows into the Kansas River which has health warnings that fisherman should only eat 5 oz of fish caught there per month.

The only fish Ive lost to other than predation was one whoose habitat requirements and food supply was not met, a central stoneroller, which I now understand is tough to keep alive in a community tank. I also had a couple of bass that had an air bladder problem, one recovered and the other was eaten before he could recover.