Building My Own Bilogical Filter/ Moss Wall

[saltynay]

EDIT: Click here to see the thread on the finished product

Haven't done it yet but heres the plan to convert the back wall of my tank into a large biological filter which should give some benefits even if its not very efficient. Please critique

Parts
4 pack of Fluval4+ filters £5 from LFS
Suction cups £2 for 10 at DIY store
Air pump £10
12" air difuser x2 £12
Plastic mesh £2
Tying wire
Fishing line
Large clump of christmas tree moss £5 from seller here
Thin bamboo (temporary)
Air diffuser one way valve £2
T- connector for air diffuser 50p

Plan:
1. Cut the mesh to twice the size of the height or length of the tank and fold to check dimensions
2. Cut into mesh, holes for suction cups to fit through (must be tight)
3. Lay filter sponges on the mesh and cut to allow for one diffuser at the base and one diffuser central
4. Secure the sponges and the diffusers to the mesh using fishing line and wire
5. Attach the two diffusers together with the T connector and air pump supply
6. Spread the moss evenly across the sponges and diffusers making sure not to leave gaps
7. Fold over other half of mesh and secure with bamboo to sandwich the sponges and the moss between the meshed sides
8. Using tying wire reinforce the structure but leave the bamboo able to be removed
9. Using fishing line stitch the two meshes together across the middle of the mesh creating a patchwork effect. Once done remove bamboo supports and check structure is secure.
10. Put in the tank, checking its tight to edges so fish don't get trapped and place slightly dug into the substrate (sand and smooth gravel). Provide optimum conditions for moss growth for 1-2 weeks.
11. Check the moss has begun to establish itself if so then turn the air pump and diffusers on and check its bubbling correctly. Place back in tank
12. 2-4 months later hopefully filter would of matured and the occasional bubble would be seen coming from behind the branches, mainly moss would look similar to this;

Notes
I don't want to turn the diffusers on straight away incase the bubbles are to violent and dislodge the moss, the moss should provide a pleasant habitat for fry/shrimp with micro organisms to help with feeding. If there is a power outtage whilst away the added benefit of a 13" by 12" surface area biological filter with lots of additional plant matter to sustain normal operational levels.

 

[Jdubz]

if it works it will look really good, nice and natural.

Keep us updated!

 

[aaronnorth]

so you are having the sponges behind the moss, with airstones to "Suck" water through? The moss will become dirty very quickly and you will soon strat to see algae growing on it if that is your plan.
Also spreading the moss over 1 layer of mesh than attaching it by fishing line or cotton is better than sandwiching it as it doesnt take as long to make a wall (takes ages fot it to cover the mesh)

 

[saltynay]

I will update this as I go will start building in a few days I think

so you are having the sponges behind the moss, with airstones to "Suck" water through? The moss will become dirty very quickly and you will soon strat to see algae growing on it if that is your plan.
Also spreading the moss over 1 layer of mesh than attaching it by fishing line or cotton is better than sandwiching it as it doesnt take as long to make a wall (takes ages fot it to cover the mesh)

Thankyou for your insight counter points:

I have shrimps and snails in the tank and I am hoping that this will keep the moss relatively clean and algae at bay. If this is an issue I could restrict the flow of the diffuser to a stable amount for the filters and the moss thus reducing the water speed and suction through the moss. I would also be using my Fluval 1+ in the tank so there would be a small opposing current. Do you think these factors may sway things in my favour and keep the wall looking pleasant?

I don't fully understand your second statement only wish it to come out one side of the mesh and the mesh I have found has 0.8-1cm square holes (have't measured them exactly yet) so are quite large. Are you suggesting tying strands of the moss to the outside of the mesh? Would this create a completely secure and invisible arrangement as I would fear that it could easily pull away with the resistance from the bombardment by bubbles. What timesale are we talking about with the slowing of the growth an extra week or an extra month for full covering?

 

[RedeyesUK]

Do you think these factors may sway things in my favour and keep the wall looking pleasant?

It might help, it might not. Personally I think you'll end up with a nice looking moss wall with a minimal filtration effect, depending on the airflow.

However, it's projects like this that have made this hobby what they are, if people never did these DIY experiments the hobby probably wouldn't have advanced that much from the sixties!
Your idea looks sound, and if it fails it won't have cost very much, so go for it. I'd be interested to see the results, I hope it works out.

 

[saltynay]

Thankyou even if filtration is minimal its still a 5 gallon with a massive filter medium and an aesthetically pleasing living backdrop. I am not sure how I would check on the efficiency of the filter without rehoming my aquatica though which I can't really do. Anyone got any ideas? I could ask my LFS whom may be accepting to give my fish/ shrimp and snails a 3 day holiday for my fish if I give them some money but its quite a big IF. I could try setting up and maturing a bucket and comparing the filtration to my fluval 2+ which is sitting spare but I would need to check the basement for a heater to make the test comparable to the conditions in my tank.

I am a computer modder without that legacy everyone would still have the boring beige cases

 

[three-fingers]

As others have mentioned, having water 'sucked' in through the moss isn't ideal, and since it's a planted tank, using an air pump isnt ideal either (you will have less CO2 in the water so plants will grow slower).

I like the idea a lot though, I think that using a small water pump instead of an air pump and having the flow going the other way would make the filter far more effective.

I would use one of these tiny pumps at the bottom being the moss wall, and attach a DIY spraybar to it made from putting holes in some eheim filter hose from the LFS. Have the spraybar pointing upwards from the bottom into some filter foam behind the moss wall, and sit the pump on top of a small bit of filter foam to stop baby shrimp being sucked in.

This design has the following advantages over the other one:

• Pump rated for 12x turnover - ideal for a planted tank.
• Moss has constant gentle flow over it, so no debris gets caught and algae has less chance.
• Surface agitation is minimised so theres more CO2 allowing moss and other plants can grow faster and clean the water further.
• Very evenly spread water flow so not to disturb shrimp and fish.
• Much quieter.

It's basically like the juwel filter system but vastly improved.
In fact, I'm seriously considering building one of these now .

 

[saltynay]

As others have mentioned, having water 'sucked' in through the moss isn't ideal, and since it's a planted tank, using an air pump isnt ideal either (you will have less CO2 in the water so plants will grow slower).
I like the idea a lot though, I think that uing a small water pump instead of an air pump and having the flow going the other way would make the filter far more effective.
I would use one of these tiny pumps at the bottom being the moss wall, and attach a DIY spraybar to it made from putting holes in some eheim filter hose from the LFS. Have the spraybar pointing upwards from the bottom into some filter foam behind the moss wall, and sit the pump on top of a small bit of filter foam to stop baby shrimp being sucked in.
This design has the following advantages over the other one:

• Pump rated for 12x turnover - ideal for a planted tank.
• Moss has constant gentle flow over it, so no debris gets caught and algae has less chance.
• Surface agitation is minimised so theres more CO2 allowing moss and other plants can grow faster and clean the water further.
• Very evenly spread water flow so not to disturb shrimp and fish.
• Much quieter.

It's basically like the juwel filter system but vastly improved.
In fact, I'm seriously considering building one of these now .

With your way, I think having a dual parallel loop would be better from the pump heres something for illustrative purposes:

With the dark box being the pump and there being 2 loops of diffusers pumping through the filter pads (which wouldn't need cutting in half following with the theory) and out from behind the moss wall. I will build it sometime at the beggining of next month so by the end of next month It should of matured so that I can test the change . There won't be baby shrimp as they are amano but there may be some endler fry having said that one of my endler males seems to of literally vanished. Not sure if it died this morning or last night and the shrimp and snail eat it by the morning but there is no trace.

Are aerators particularly noisy I have never owned one before? the tank isn't particularly heavily planted atm just some arachus and dying emersed variant of limnophila aromatica

 

[three-fingers]

Sounds good, though getting loops without kinks in the hose will be a little hard, and you'd need to find a tiny t-piece .

Air pumps be very noisy depending in the make, usually cheaper ones are the loudest. They can be made quieter by putting them in a cabinet on top of some filter wool, but the noise of the bubbles breaking the surface is always going to be louder than an internal pump .

 

[aaronnorth]

I will update this as I go will start building in a few days I think

so you are having the sponges behind the moss, with airstones to "Suck" water through? The moss will become dirty very quickly and you will soon strat to see algae growing on it if that is your plan.
Also spreading the moss over 1 layer of mesh than attaching it by fishing line or cotton is better than sandwiching it as it doesnt take as long to make a wall (takes ages fot it to cover the mesh)

Thankyou for your insight counter points:

I have shrimps and snails in the tank and I am hoping that this will keep the moss relatively clean and algae at bay. If this is an issue I could restrict the flow of the diffuser to a stable amount for the filters and the moss thus reducing the water speed and suction through the moss. I would also be using my Fluval 1+ in the tank so there would be a small opposing current. Do you think these factors may sway things in my favour and keep the wall looking pleasant?

I don't fully understand your second statement only wish it to come out one side of the mesh and the mesh I have found has 0.8-1cm square holes (have't measured them exactly yet) so are quite large. Are you suggesting tying strands of the moss to the outside of the mesh? Would this create a completely secure and invisible arrangement as I would fear that it could easily pull away with the resistance from the bombardment by bubbles. What timesale are we talking about with the slowing of the growth an extra week or an extra month for full covering?

It may help, although when moss is used in the "normal" way it still collects detrius which rots and attracts algae. It could be worth a try though, you could always turn the pump off or move the moss etc!

Get a piece of mesh, spread the moss over it then attach securely with some fishing line. This way you will see only the moss.

If you get a piece of mesh, cover with moss, then lay another piece of mesh on top, then the moss has to grow through it and cover it up. I would say at least another month for it to fully cover.
Although i accept your statment it may be better to sandwich it as there might be alot flow affecting it.