DIY Internal Canister Filter!!!
- Thread starter fwiffo
- Start date
Truer words were never spoken. For me, I have "tinkeritis", lol. I love to tinker around and build things just because I can (like the sump I made out of a 10 gallon aquarium).I also get to modify it to try things a different way and when made out of scrap - nothing ventured, nothing gained!
If you used a screw type of plastic jar, couldn't you make it so it would stay out of the tank? As long as you had a in and out tube I would think you could still run the power head to filter the water?
yes, i have been pondering that very question over the last few weeks, as what i have is essentially a simple canister filter. the tubing and bulkheads are cheap to get at home depot.
as for a jar, i am considering what options i have in that regard. lol, time to start going to wal-mart and the dollar tree with my thinking cap on!!!
finally, all i would need is a simple water pump and those are'nt too expensive either from drfosters (via-aqua would be my first choice...
). it would be a sweet little diyer for the christmas break!!!:evil_lol:
thank you for the kind words all!!!:thm:
Que
I wish I was a fish I wish.
I'm sure he meant Ehiem. LOL.
Enough has been said in the positive that I don't need to add anymore other than great work. I also like to tinker and have thought some on how to make a cheap canister for outside the tank. Maybe a light hearted and friendly competition after the holidays to see who can come up with a certain size (for a 20 gal say) DIY external canister filter would be fun. Perhaps we can come up with a common sized cheap powerhead for flow and let the competition start from there... Just some thoughts.
Q
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Yes diy can be fun. But there is a reason I am not a huge fan.
The manufacturers of premade equipment are very likely to have subjected their designs to all sorts of tests. They dont want seals to give, electronics to fail, filters to stop etc etc. Hopefully the specs for all the parts resulted from the nature of the materieals and their durability. The end result is normally waranteed for some period after purchase.
Using the example of the diy filter in this thread, it looks great, wans't a big cash outlay and gave the builder satisfaction to make. I assume it is working fine now. But my issue is how long will it continue to do so. My emperor 400 has been running fine for over 8 years, I have never had a properly maintained AquaClear fail and my oldest is about 8 years now. My two Eheims also work great. But yes I have had a few premade things break down.
Now as to why this can be a serious consideration for some. Equipment failures often kill fish. The more attached to your fish you are, or the more expensive they may be, the more you don't want to lose them to equipment failure.
I have had a number of my fish a long time and I also have a few tanks with pretty expensive fish that I breed. I am not willing to put them at risk primarily to satisfy my desire to tinker.
Over time a diy piece of equipment is much more likely to fail. So I try to limit my DIY projects to things that I have no choice on.
As for mentioning flipping burgers- it comes from economics. If you are interested, you can google either economic or opportunity cost.
The manufacturers of premade equipment are very likely to have subjected their designs to all sorts of tests. They dont want seals to give, electronics to fail, filters to stop etc etc. Hopefully the specs for all the parts resulted from the nature of the materieals and their durability. The end result is normally waranteed for some period after purchase.
Using the example of the diy filter in this thread, it looks great, wans't a big cash outlay and gave the builder satisfaction to make. I assume it is working fine now. But my issue is how long will it continue to do so. My emperor 400 has been running fine for over 8 years, I have never had a properly maintained AquaClear fail and my oldest is about 8 years now. My two Eheims also work great. But yes I have had a few premade things break down.
Now as to why this can be a serious consideration for some. Equipment failures often kill fish. The more attached to your fish you are, or the more expensive they may be, the more you don't want to lose them to equipment failure.
I have had a number of my fish a long time and I also have a few tanks with pretty expensive fish that I breed. I am not willing to put them at risk primarily to satisfy my desire to tinker.
Over time a diy piece of equipment is much more likely to fail. So I try to limit my DIY projects to things that I have no choice on.
As for mentioning flipping burgers- it comes from economics. If you are interested, you can google either economic or opportunity cost.
sounds like fun Q! we should maybe try to collaborate on it. safety and such are my biggest concerns, especially during power outtages. as for pumps, i really like the new maxi-jet pumps by marineland. they look solid and cost-effective. via aqua are good too!
Yes diy can be fun. But there is a reason I am not a huge fan.
The manufacturers of premade equipment are very likely to have subjected their designs to all sorts of tests. They dont want seals to give, electronics to fail, filters to stop etc etc. Hopefully the specs for all the parts resulted from the nature of the materieals and their durability. The end result is normally waranteed for some period after purchase.
Using the example of the diy filter in this thread, it looks great, wans't a big cash outlay and gave the builder satisfaction to make. I assume it is working fine now. But my issue is how long will it continue to do so. My emperor 400 has been running fine for over 8 years, I have never had a properly maintained AquaClear fail and my oldest is about 8 years now. My two Eheims also work great. But yes I have had a few premade things break down.
Now as to why this can be a serious consideration for some. Equipment failures often kill fish. The more attached to your fish you are, or the more expensive they may be, the more you don't want to lose them to equipment failure.
I have had a number of my fish a long time and I also have a few tanks with pretty expensive fish that I breed. I am not willing to put them at risk primarily to satisfy my desire to tinker.
Over time a diy piece of equipment is much more likely to fail. So I try to limit my DIY projects to things that I have no choice on.
As for mentioning flipping burgers- it comes from economics. If you are interested, you can google either economic or opportunity cost.
its all cool man! lets be friends in this forum, not debaters!!!
yea, you got a good point on how long it should last. but if it does kick out, the powerhead will and thats cheap at 14 bucks, so that kinda make sme feel a bit better!!
oh and by the way, your thoughts are well taken. i will look it up and read up on it! im a chemistry major, so i could use some more on the side!!!
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hmm, you think I can make an external? I just need a 20g to run it on becuz my pump is so powerful... LOL
That's neat. We've attempted to make stuff like that, but external filters just for fun while on the clock at work... lol.
Cost factor is correct, you could find something comperable or maybe even used for the same price if not a few bucks more, but there's no fun in that!
DIY is cool because you get a chance to experiment and learn more about what manufactured filters do, and sometimes it allows us to improve on poor or even good designs to change something we had that was useless to something that is pretty descent (we modify top fin filters all the time and have decent results as with the whisper iX internal filters... a few swaps of impellers, motors, etc and PRESTO!)
Bottom line, Keep DIY alive and keep the fun in the hobby!! :thm:
Cost factor is correct, you could find something comperable or maybe even used for the same price if not a few bucks more, but there's no fun in that!
DIY is cool because you get a chance to experiment and learn more about what manufactured filters do, and sometimes it allows us to improve on poor or even good designs to change something we had that was useless to something that is pretty descent (we modify top fin filters all the time and have decent results as with the whisper iX internal filters... a few swaps of impellers, motors, etc and PRESTO!)
Bottom line, Keep DIY alive and keep the fun in the hobby!! :thm:
