Canister Filter

[fatheadminnow]

Actually, since PVC is about $3 for 10feet, you could make complete systems for 3 ranks for that price. Lol.

I bet! I will have to make a couple one of these days!

-FHM

 

[mini_matt]

i'm about half way through making mine, trip to Wickes got me an:
1x overflow pipe 2metres long 3/4" £1.58
3x double pack of 90 deg elbow @ £2.09 each
1x double pack of 90 deg tee £1.58

so thats a total of £9.44 for materials!

Just need to get silicone to seal it @ £2.98

I just need to know how far up from the last 90 the tee needs to be? cheers for enlightening me think we should consolidate and make a sticky

 

[bitteraspects]

you will also need an airline, a inline check valve, and hopefully you have a powerhead w/ venturi.
as for sealing, id suggest using PVC cement rather than silicon.

as far as the design, heres a layed out diagram of what it should look like.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I agree, a sticky about this would be great!

-FHM

 

[mini_matt]

thats a good lil diagram, so does it not matter how far up the tee piece is part 'F' in your digram, I can just use it right down by the 90deg? cheers

 

[bitteraspects]

ive seen some up higher than the diagram, but usually right after the last elbow ("e") you would just use a small piece of PVC that just a couple of inches, and add the T ("f") on top of that

heres one of mine

 

[fatheadminnow]

thats a good lil diagram, so does it not matter how far up the tee piece is part 'F' in your digram, I can just use it right down by the 90deg? cheers

Yeah, if you put it right above the "T" it would be fine.

-FHM

ive seen some up higher than the diagram, but usually right after the last elbow ("e") you would just use a small piece of PVC that just a couple of inches, and add the T ("f") on top of that

heres one of mine

This is an excellent picture of one!

-FHM

 

[bitteraspects]

there are more pics in the first build thread i posted, but it got buried somewhere.

after painting:

plumbing:

 

[fatheadminnow]

Very nice! Yes, you should definitely throw together an article about this and try to have it pinned!

-FHM

 

[bitteraspects]

i posted it once before. no need to post it all again.
but im happy to share the info with those of you who are actually interested.
most people would rather just guess than listen to the facts

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well, I have to say Thank You, bitteraspects, for taking time and explaining this to us! I really appreciate it! I always wanted to make a sump on my tanks, but did not like the idea of drilling holes in them! Now, I can run a sump and if sometime in the future I want to do something else with the tank or sell it, I can and there will be no hole drilled in them!

You said my name on YouTube! Now I'm famous!

Thanks again!

-FHM

 

[bitteraspects]

BAHAHAHHA. not really. nobody watches my youtube videos. but if someone does watch it, theyll be like "i wonder who "mini matt and FHM" are. lol

thats my multipurpose youtube account. im thinking about setting up an aquarium specific one for DIY videos and stuff. but i just never get around to doing it.

 

[fatheadminnow]

-FHM

 

[mini_matt]

so this will be fine? also how long does the open end up pipe need to be?

 

[bitteraspects]

lol. it looks funny when its not folded in. but yes, that is the basic idea.

your first pipe (the mouth of the intake) is too long. right now its flush with the top of the tank. you need to cut it down about 2 inches or so. remember, this opening will determine the water level in your tank, so you cant have it too high, or you will run into problems.
next, you need the airline check valve installed, so your pipe does not shut down
as far as the last vertical pipe, you can make it as long as you want. i usually just make it the same height as the rest of the piping.