I'm using a DIY filter like this for a 230 gallon tank. Want to hear your opinions.
It's built on a a 20 gl. waste basket, with a plastic drip plate from other container that fitted as good in the inside like that of a branded filter. Water falls in the filter floss and then passes to the bottom and sprinkles over a lot of biospheres, before it's sucked by the submerged pump toward the tank, at a rate of about 40 liters per minute (650 gl per hour).
The filter is covered using the waste basket lid with only two open holes for the tubes.
This whole setup was built with a $100 pump, and about $20 in containers and biospheres.
My main worries are 2:
* The temp of the tank is 27ºC (80ºF) with no heater on because of the heat produced by the submersed pump. It raised from 22-23 to 27 and kept there. Althoug this temp is good for my tropical fishes, I want to lower it down a little bit.
* I keep it covered to avoid contamination for the filter is outside the house. With a tight fit, will it be good in gas exchange, or should I keep it open to the air.
(I had a similar post in the DIY forum, but I feel few people look there. If reposting is bad, I will apologize in advance and I promise to never do it again :Angel: )
It's built on a a 20 gl. waste basket, with a plastic drip plate from other container that fitted as good in the inside like that of a branded filter. Water falls in the filter floss and then passes to the bottom and sprinkles over a lot of biospheres, before it's sucked by the submerged pump toward the tank, at a rate of about 40 liters per minute (650 gl per hour).
The filter is covered using the waste basket lid with only two open holes for the tubes.
This whole setup was built with a $100 pump, and about $20 in containers and biospheres.
My main worries are 2:
* The temp of the tank is 27ºC (80ºF) with no heater on because of the heat produced by the submersed pump. It raised from 22-23 to 27 and kept there. Althoug this temp is good for my tropical fishes, I want to lower it down a little bit.
* I keep it covered to avoid contamination for the filter is outside the house. With a tight fit, will it be good in gas exchange, or should I keep it open to the air.
(I had a similar post in the DIY forum, but I feel few people look there. If reposting is bad, I will apologize in advance and I promise to never do it again :Angel: )
