I built a 5gal bucket filter that ran two 50gal tubs...this was back in 2001. I'm fairly certain that just because maybe you have never seen a successful bucket filter, that you are not, by any means, the first one to do it.
finnished 5 gallon bucket diy canister filter
- Thread starter iamvictor2k
- Start date
Yeah they're in my photobucket acct which I can't access from my office, I'll post them up when I get home tonight.
Wow lets not come off as arrogant or anything. If you have to point out that you are better than somebody else, then in all likelihood, you arent. Obviously you havent read any of nolapetes threads.He has gone so far above and beyond a simple 5 gallon bucket filter, that your project looks rather meek in comparison.
That being said, I have seen a ton of 5 gallon DIY builds over the years, this is definitely NOT a first. The major flaw in the concept is intended use over what you are trying to do. To put it simply, a 5 gallon bucket was never meant to be pressurized the way a canister filter is.
At a cost of what it would be to buy a comparable canister filter, which wouldnt be an fx5 since it puts out 900 gph at the output, yours is overpriced. You stated the pump you were using is 350 gph at no head, which would be more comparable to something like a fluval 305 or rena xp3 which are both significantly cheaper than around $180.
this thread is all hyped up on testosterone and now i'm zinging myself, thanks guys. lol weeeeeeeeee......
victor... congratulations. now it's time to prepare to move up to the big guns. i would still take the sand out though. jmo
victor... congratulations. now it's time to prepare to move up to the big guns. i would still take the sand out though. jmo
You can see the bucket off to the left. The pump outlet comes out of the tub on the left and goes into the bucket on the bottom of the side. The water goes up through the bucket, filled with lava rock, and out the top. The outlet of the bucket is hard plumbed into the left tub. The tubs are connected in the middle with a piece of 2" pvc and bulkhead fittings. The turtles crossed the bridge in between the two tubs and the fish would swim through the connecting pipe.
As you can see I had to put some straps around the bucket to keep the lid from leaking. I didn't have as much problem with pressure since the bucket is on the same plane as the main tank.
for real you have it at tank level lol try putting that thing under your tank and see what happens. you will have a 110 gallon tank on your floor. and i have yet to see a 5 gallon working canister filter besides mine. yours can even compete. so sad.
The point is moot since both the xp3 and 405 put out about 350 gph at the output. My point rests.
Im just saying that for about the $200 you spent on this project, you could have bought a canister that was designed specifically for the purpose of filtering a aquarium with the same filtering capabilities and saved a bunch of money and labor.
Geeze people, why all the bashing? If this thing works and the guy is happy with it the thats great.
the first protytype of anything is always the most expensive, and his price list inclued media, and he probably has some spare parts laying around afterwards.
As far as the, mine is better than yours crap, a true DIYer builds exactly what they need to fill a purpose, not to be a generic fits all application that suits everyone.
I have been toying with a few ideas and I really do have a great canister filter planned out in my head, but right now I dont need it, and dont have the money to put into the design. But if I did, and it was done, I wouldn't be out here bashing everyone else that has attempted the same project, and I wouldnt be saying mine is the greatest either.
Congrats on finishing your project man, I am glad it worked out, and you are happy with it. Hopefully it continues to work for a while to come.
the first protytype of anything is always the most expensive, and his price list inclued media, and he probably has some spare parts laying around afterwards.
As far as the, mine is better than yours crap, a true DIYer builds exactly what they need to fill a purpose, not to be a generic fits all application that suits everyone.
I have been toying with a few ideas and I really do have a great canister filter planned out in my head, but right now I dont need it, and dont have the money to put into the design. But if I did, and it was done, I wouldn't be out here bashing everyone else that has attempted the same project, and I wouldnt be saying mine is the greatest either.
Congrats on finishing your project man, I am glad it worked out, and you are happy with it. Hopefully it continues to work for a while to come.
