Back when I set up my 720 liter tank, I gradually came up with a DIY filter, based on sewage piles filled with filter materials. It worked really well, and although it had kind of a Super Mario feel to it, it didn’t look quite as good as I’d like it to. I decided therefore, to take the experience I had from that, and built something that worked as well, but also looked good (or at least better). This is the original setup, with sewage pipes, stacked onto clay bricks:
As the tank is currently empty, while I am treating the fish for flukes in a smaller tank (a half filled 530L/140gal), I decided to plan this out a but better, and also take pictures while I was making it. I am not at all very handy, but it seems to be getting along pretty well. I must have spend more time making this video/illustration/render, than I have spend making the actual filter…
As explained, I am not very handy, so in order to mount the acrylic plates (ordered precut to measure) I had to freestyle a template using some bricks, wood and a little bit of paper… If it works it works. Silicone dries fairly fast so I was able to complete this within a couple of hours. I am building two of these, and each will have two power heads that move 1000L/hour.
At the moment, I am waiting for the silicone to dry completely and for my order with filter mats and ceramic filter media (and filter bags) to arrive. I am also very excited to try out a phosphate remover that I ordered, as I was having issues with black beard algae and brown algae from too much silicate in our tap water.
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If that’s acrylic to glass, silicon probably won’t stick real well. If the filter is supporting the weight on the base it’ll be fine, just keep in mind it’s not going to be the super secure seal like silicon to glass.
The filter idea sounds like a matten filter, with a extra media added.
If you’ve got two of those filter assemblies, would using air lift instead of power heads be an idea? I like the simplicity of air lift, and you get great air exchange for “free” as part of the process. Down side being the noise (which I actually really like), and if there’s no cover you tend to get more evaporation from the constant surface tension breaks.
I do love DIY filters.
Edit: Is there a photo missing of your existing tank at the top of this post?
Thanks for this! The silicone is only keeping everything together. The whole thing is standing on the actual tank floor. But is good to know. I will keep an eye out for it.
I still haven’t fill the tank up. I’m waiting for the PPI mat and filter material to arrive. Should be soon though. The shop didn’t have 20ppi on stock but just offered me 30ppi instead. It whould work fine I expect
