how to build my diy powerhead filter

list of materials:

one container with tight fitting lid, screw on type(NO METAL)
one powerhead, any size, as long as it has a filter fitting on the end
enough media to fill container almost to top, leave at least 1 inch of space after top mesh filter material
one small section of filter mat material(fine or coarse, depending on desired removal of particulate)
drill with 1/4" , and 3/4" hole bits.(or depending on powerhead size, bit may need to be bigger or smaller.)

instructions:

1. drill small 1/4" holes in bottom of container, one higher than the other, EVENLY across the bottom of container, do not go any higher than 2" from bottom of container.
2. drill bigger 3/4" hole in lid.(depending on powerhead inlet size, hole may be bigger or smaller.)
3. rinse out container and lid, get rough edges off with razor or knife.
4. fill container with desired media(i use expanded clay hydroponic grow media)
5. insert filter mat in top, making sure no media can get to the inlet for the powerhead.
6. press inlet for powerhead into the top, should be very tight fitting.
7. screw on lid and insert powerhead in inlet piece.
8. be sure its all tight, and drop into tank.
9. plug in and leave it alone.
10. water should be noticably clearer in less than a day.

maintenence:
remove the filter from the tank. allow the water to run out the bottom.
remove the filter mat from top, rinse till water runs clear.
depending on fish waste load, it may need to have the rocks rinsed out a bit.
replace filter mat, and drop back in the tank.

thats it, easy to maintain, easy and cheap to build.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• diy aquarium filter
• koi filter
• koi
• pleco
• biomedia
• filter pad
• powerheads
• filters

[TheCoolPickles]

wow. i have tropical fish like oscars and gars' but them koi look so cool. I'd like to get one and see how it goes.

[10kpondguy]

@TheCoolPickles well, koi need to be in a pond really, they were only in the tank temp until the pond was constructed. oscars and gar may be a bit too aggressive for them. if the koi is small the oscar will try to eat it.

[YoYoKnight127]

haha u sound just like heathledger but seriously nice filter

[10kpondguy]

@YoYoKnight127 lol, ok. thats the first time ive ever heard that. lol. thanks, i think. and thanks for the positives on the filter, still working hard in the same tank to this day.

[Oscarvalz]

you have 5 filters.... and still lurky water

[10kpondguy]

@Oscarvalz the water is very clear, very healthy, and im not worried about it. the "lurky" which i assume means murky, is from the light coming through a dirty glass cover/lid. on top of that the vid was shot with a crappy camera.

[TheCoolPickles]

@10kpondguy oh and i have a very big pond they could go in in my back yard :)

[TheCoolPickles]

@10kpondguy yeah my tank is 6x2x2 so it could house koi the size were they would be suitable for a tank and couldnt be eaten, you think? i have 2 convict cichlids about 2 and a half inches long survivng in there.

[VSKATEB]

4 quarts huh?... soooo 1 gallon?

[10kpondguy]

@chiraglyf thanks, and yes they are.