Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any simpler div filter???

There are many ways to make very simple filters. What exactly are you filtering? And what is living in the tank. Knowing what you need is very important for me to answer this question.

What animals you are keeping, what size and how many?

What size tank, and how full is the water?

What is your hood like if any?

What is your tank sitting on, is there room for a filter to sit beside it?

Um...
Turtles ... a few. 2-3 inch...
Right now having around 20gal... (hope can buy bigger soon)

thats my idea...

how does the water get suck back to the tank?? (those pet stores)

idea..

In order for that to work you would either have to keep the filter above the tank (1) so that the water would flow back into the tank via gravity, or pump the water to the bottom of the filter (2) and reverse your media so the water will flow back to the tank from the top of the filter. What I reccomend is to use a siphon to pull the water from the tank to the filter(3), then put the pump after the filtration so the pump is only running filtered water through it. If the pump is inside the tank you will find yourself cleaning it regularly. Some of my earliest filters used only a piece of tubing for the siphon, but I reccomend you make one from PVC pipe. Seal it with pvc cement. just let it dry for 12 hours or so till all the fumes are gone. using a siphon- the water in the filter will never be higher than the water in the tank. Also, make the siphon quite larger than the return line. you can never siphon too fast, but if the pump pumps faster than the siphon can return the water, eventually your pump will run dry and possibly burn up. To prime the siphon you can install an air valve at the highest point and suck all the air out of the siphon, or run a piece of airline up one side of the siphon and suck it out that way. Just make sure both ends of the siphon are underwater at the time. If you would like more detailed instructions and drawings or photos, please let me know.

Thanks!
But... for that siphon part... around how much is pvc pipe? where to buy? What is those air thing... where to buy?
How to make sure the pump doesnt pump more water than siphone...

Um... I would like more stuff about siphon... n pic/drawin...
THANKS ALOT!!!

The drawing below shows the parts needed to make a basic siphon. PVC pipe is just plastic pipe you can buy at home depot or lowes or something like that. There are 2 kinds of elbows you can use. #1 usually costs more than #2, and #2 is much more attractive in my opinion, but is usually only available in small sizes, < 2" diameter. To connect your PVC components, you will need PVC Cleaner and PVC Cement- (4,3). Follow the instructions on the cans for application. These items are usually available right next to the PVC components. Make sure the siphon goes over half way into the water in your tank. Also, you may choose to cover the bottom with some type of plastic screen, so that fish wont get sucked through.

To make sure the siphon is larger than your pump, I would make the siphon at least 3 times the diameter of the return pumps outlet. so if your return pump uses a 1/2" hose, youll probly want a siphon that is 1 1/2" diameter. Really the only way really find out is to try it out.

As for the little air valve, they were really hard to find. the link below is one place to find them. The one labeled Brass Valve would be a good choice. To install, drill a hole in the top of one of the elbows as close to the size of the valve as you can. Then silicone the hell out of it and install the valve. Then silicone around the valve. It took me many applications to get a good seal, since once the siphon is in operation, there is a vacuum inside. If the seal fails, air will enter the siphon and the pump will eventually run dry.

Also, after siliconing and using the pvc cement, let cure for a day or 2 before putting in the aquarium. The instructions on the cement will warn of harmful fumes.

brass valve