I've wanted to try Poret foam and he Hamburg Mattenfilter style of filtration for a while now. I think it looks like a great way to go for shrimp and the other small species I like to keep. I'm hoping that it proves as low maintenance as promised, and that it will form a micro fauna colony that will become the buffet for newly hatched fish and shrimp.
Except for the tight quarters this was installed in, this was the fastest diy filter I've thrown together. Anyone with 2 hands and a beer can build one of these in under 20 minutes.
I used a hacksaw to cut two short lengths of 3/4" pvc... 4" and 9". I used an angle between them, and a T at the bottom of the longer piece. The T is really not required, I did it to spread out the intake a bit. Everything is jus pressed together. no glue needed.
I drilled a 3/16" hole right above the T, which fits a plastic nipple from the hagen co2 bubble ladder kit. I have a few kicking around since I kicked the diy co2 habit. It's a fairly long nipple, and inserted fully, it ends right in the middle of the pipe. A perfect solution. 1/4" hose attaches there and runs to a little fusion air pump I got to try out. I like the adjustable flow knob on it, but it's no quieter than my other quiet models.
The foam came from Swiss Tropicals in 13"x13" sheets. I cut only one side, the bottom, and removed around 3/4". I didn't cut all the way through though, I left it just hanging on, and folded it back, so it creates a foot under the back. My thought was that the extra foam there would help keep substrate on the other side, and provide a little extra footing against slippage. You can't see it from the front. I also used a kitchen knife to puncture a 1" X about 2" from the top edge to slip the pipe through. It fits really tight, solidifying the top center.
A magclip holds the pipe to the backwall of the aquarium, so everything is really firm in place. I may add a screen over the outflow, but I'm not so sure it will be necessary. I have a 50w Visatherm Stealth heater hidden behind the foam, and there's plenty of room for whatever else you might want to hide there.
The flow is nice and even, and lengthwise in the 15g, it creates a nice flow that rolls down the front glass. Ought to be great with the filterfeeders that are most likely to end up here first. I was impressed to see that it worked even with the return 1/2" above water level. I had been worried that it would require more frequent topping off to keep it running.
So far it seems great. If you include the air pump, it was a $22 filter, with a huge capacity and the promise of 6 months of uninterrupted use.
Except for the tight quarters this was installed in, this was the fastest diy filter I've thrown together. Anyone with 2 hands and a beer can build one of these in under 20 minutes.
I used a hacksaw to cut two short lengths of 3/4" pvc... 4" and 9". I used an angle between them, and a T at the bottom of the longer piece. The T is really not required, I did it to spread out the intake a bit. Everything is jus pressed together. no glue needed.
I drilled a 3/16" hole right above the T, which fits a plastic nipple from the hagen co2 bubble ladder kit. I have a few kicking around since I kicked the diy co2 habit. It's a fairly long nipple, and inserted fully, it ends right in the middle of the pipe. A perfect solution. 1/4" hose attaches there and runs to a little fusion air pump I got to try out. I like the adjustable flow knob on it, but it's no quieter than my other quiet models.
The foam came from Swiss Tropicals in 13"x13" sheets. I cut only one side, the bottom, and removed around 3/4". I didn't cut all the way through though, I left it just hanging on, and folded it back, so it creates a foot under the back. My thought was that the extra foam there would help keep substrate on the other side, and provide a little extra footing against slippage. You can't see it from the front. I also used a kitchen knife to puncture a 1" X about 2" from the top edge to slip the pipe through. It fits really tight, solidifying the top center.
A magclip holds the pipe to the backwall of the aquarium, so everything is really firm in place. I may add a screen over the outflow, but I'm not so sure it will be necessary. I have a 50w Visatherm Stealth heater hidden behind the foam, and there's plenty of room for whatever else you might want to hide there.
The flow is nice and even, and lengthwise in the 15g, it creates a nice flow that rolls down the front glass. Ought to be great with the filterfeeders that are most likely to end up here first. I was impressed to see that it worked even with the return 1/2" above water level. I had been worried that it would require more frequent topping off to keep it running.
So far it seems great. If you include the air pump, it was a $22 filter, with a huge capacity and the promise of 6 months of uninterrupted use.
Last edited by a moderator:
