Diy Biowheels...

[cuticom]

I'm in the process of trying a fully DIY set up, my parents wouldn't let me play with glass (hmm wonder why LOl) so am using a storage tub as the basic tank. Since I'm a kid it worked out way way cheaper then blowing another $100 on a glass tank.

This is what I have so far
The whole set up

The pump (600l/ph) is hidden away in here with the filter wool acting as a prefilter

Then its pumped into here into the coke bottle and out several small holes at the base of the bottle

The planter has several holes drilled in the bottom to allow the water to drain back into the tank

The Planter and coke bottle are for some type of media which I'm still trying to work out, I was thinking of attempting to build a biowheel, do you guys think it'd be worth it? or any other suggestions?

The tub works out to about 17.6g (66l), and it's for a goldfish. Not as a permanent home as obviously its a bit small for even a fancy goldie but more as a grow out tank. The goldy whenever I manage to locate one will be a bubble eye goldfish. The pump turns the whole tank over about 9 times per hour.

The idea behind the multiple stages was to replace the need for an airstone and provide plenty of surface agitation to oxygenate the water.

It probably looks pretty scabby to some people. but I'm happy with it goldfish were originally bred to be viewed from the top and I quite like the full effect you get. All my goldies are in storage tubs of some sort, I have 5 in a prefab pond type thing and two in quarantine in another storage box.

Any suggestions or opinions?

Thanks
Ema

 

[andywg]

Rather than a biowheel, I would go for a wet dry trickle filter.

Try and install a drip tray a few inches down from the top of the filter box and have the water drip through onto media below.

Bioballs make great filter media, but anything with a large surface are:volume ratio will be good. Velcro hair rollers should do the trick nicely.

This is a lot easier than trying to create a biowheel.

 

[cuticom]

Well I made a drip tray, seems to work well. I'm still trying to work out media though, was thinking maybe ceramic noodles?

I wish I could get all the junk underneath it rather then on top, but my parents wont let me touch any of Dads tools though they know perfectly well I'm competent with them. I cant see anyway to make a skimmer/overflow combo with scissors and thin plastic storage containers so I guess that will have to wait pooey LOL.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

well, you dont need to make a skimmer for a freshwater tank, and you dont need the overflow box either because the filter is on top of the "tank". thats a hell of a set up you have there i would suggest putting the wool in the box above so it doesnt obstruct the flow of the water and cause the pump to work harder than it should and let gravity push the water through the wool. this will make your pump last longer and you will have better flow.

 

[iairj84]

I definately commend you on the DIY! I love making my own things and stuff like that. I too have used a rubbermaid tub to house fish in the past and they work great! they're big and cheap too! The fish don't seem to mind too much either if you put some plants in there I'm sure they'll be apreciative of it also. I like the drip tray idea and the hair rollers will help give you more surface area for bacteria.

 

[cuticom]

The tanks for a bubble eye so am struggling quite a bit to find any type of plant thats soft and non abrasive and since light systems are something else I'm not allowed to try (I was using desk lamps and the bulbs kept blowing, my parents got sick of it) I'm stuck with plastic.

The reason I've got the floss around the pump is so large debris dosnt get sucked through the pump and ruin it.

Lol I got bored and added another drip tray, so now theres two, I really need to get some media for it LOL.

It;d be great fun to make a skimmer/overflow combo, I have no idea why I'm not allowed to touch so much as a power drill, I can drive the car yet cant use the drill LOL.

Something else I really want to try is a fully DIY marine set up, guess who said no LOL, ah well 2 more years then I'm outta here.

 

[andywg]

I agree you are better having the floss before the pump, otherwise you will end up with detritus going through the pump rather than being caught before hand.

 

[for_my_fish]

got to love your ingenuity. reminds me of a pond filter (on a much larger scale) I put together with a friend a few years back, we used anything you could buy in a pound shop for media (plastic pegs, hair curlers and plastic scrubbers) - I remember the baffled look we got in the store walking out with about 10 carrier bags full of it! WE then put gravel over the top of all this lot (the water flowed from bottom to top) We put fast growing plants in the top part above all the other filter media, worked a treat. and still is as far as I know.