DIY Internal Sump FIlter

[nsean]

Hello;

This is the internal filter I am considering making in my future 24"L x 20" x 20" aquarium. Before I introduce it I will tell you my reasoning behind this unique filter.

To start I am a student, and sadly on a student budget, so I don't have the money for a decent canister filter. I also want it to be quite, with no trickling water, since it will be set up in our living room, and my better half (and myself) don't want the sound of running water when we are freaking out studying for an exam. And finally we don't have much wall space, but have room for the required depth, so that is not an issue.

The idea is to have an intake located just above the substrate, to filter the poop and excess food out of the aquarium, and to have one mid level. The returns will be under water spray bars to set up a river like environment. The body of the filter will be built with acrylic to allow for easy drilling of the holes for the piping.

The water will run through filter floss to catch the large particles, since it is cheap, and easy to replace. I will have it run through a finer mechanical media, such as a sponge. It will then go through a biological media (not sure what kind yet). It will then flow into the other compartment (possibly going through a chemical filter bag) where the filter and pump will be located. I would like a pump capable of ~400GPH (and I know this will be reduced by the inevitable bends in the plumbing)

I am not sure what size of plumbing for the intake to use, I am thinking 3/4", but I might go to 1" to make sure enough water can siphon into the filter to keep up with the pump, what do you think? I am also considering creating a small skimmer, just 2-3 slots to help break up the surface water, and to reduce the possibility of any build up on the surface, again what do you think?

I really like this design because it eliminates me showing any plumbing (except for the returns) and I can house my heater in it. It also has the benefits of a sump without worrying about the gurgling produced by the overflow tube, and the possibility of a flood. I am also considering hiding it behind a DYI ceramic tile background, which I have read other places as being aquarium safe.

Please tell me what you think, and sorry for the poor drawing quality.

Sean.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

here is a real simple one I made a few years ago. The water flows over the top and thru some floss and then thru bio media. The pump is at the bottom and returns the water to the center of the tank from a cut corner in the glass panel. i also had the heater in the sump as well. It worked good. i was running a 80gph pump and the tank was around 12g. i later converted it into a sump for a 55g feeder tank.

 

[nsean]

Yeah same idea, I am just thinking of using siphoning action for 2 reason. 1) will allow any poop/waste food to be picked up 2) will have several inches that the water line can drop before water flow to the filter stops.

 

[siebertn]

i have 1 in my 500 ltr that works basically the same except the water comes in on the side into the 1st compartment then i have all the cleaning goodies in the 2nd compartment and in a 3rd compartment i have the retun pump.It works like a bomb water stays very clean

 

[nsean]

i have 1 in my 500 ltr that works basically the same except the water comes in on the side into the 1st compartment then i have all the cleaning goodies in the 2nd compartment and in a 3rd compartment i have the retun pump.It works like a bomb water stays very clean

So the water would flow up over a divider from the 1st compartment to the 2nd. Does the debris not get trapped in the 1st compartment?

Thanks

 

[zoohouse]

Usually an empty first compartment works as a debris trap and keeps you from having to clean the filter madia as much.

 

[nsean]

Usually an empty first compartment works as a debris trap and keeps you from having to clean the filter madia as much.

And I'd assume you just vacuum the debris out of this empty compartment right?