Sump filter on 8ft tank freshwater DIY

I have been asked many times to show this on You Tube, so here it is.
This is the 5ft sump filtration set up I made into my 8ft tank. I built in an over flow weir and built in pre filters which are leaf gutter guards, you see how easy they are to change using one hand. From there it flows down through two blue course filter pads before entering the durso pipe, then down under the tank into the sump. With the two pre filters doing a great job of fine partial removal I do nothing to the sump media for 6-8 months, then its just squeezing out the first couple of sponges (if needed). It really is just about maintenance free besides the white filter pads which I change every four weeks.
Lately I have been building in tank sump set ups and have 4 different ones operating at the moment. But the 5ft sump under the 8ft has worked a treat for over 2 years now. The first year I used over 400 black bio balls in the sump, but with great results in other filter set ups I have I changed to different types of course sponges in my sump, besides the one row of blue bio balls you see.
My water tests show a great improvement in the length of time the same levels of toxic build up takes.
I must make clear that this is on a freshwater community tank set up and a marine set up would definitely have different requirements.
Any questions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry I didn't talk and explain through the video, I had two noisy kids in the background.

Please view my updated video where I do talk you through the media used @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_1udiUgbsI

Please visit my channel to view more aquariums and fish at http://www.youtube.com/user/9364peter?feature=mhee

Category:

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• aquarium
• fresh
• water
• sump
• filtration
• fish
• tank
• overflow
• box
• durso
• pipe
• canister
• HOB
• 8ft
• 5ft
• filter
• media
• Eheim
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[LifeElectricify]

imagine all that water in your house if that tank broke...

[9364peter]

Hi @LifeElectricify. I haven't had the misfortune of a broken or leaking main tank but the first sump I made for this tank did crack (bottom) after 8 months and yes it was the nightmare everyone doesn't want to happen, luckily this tank is in the dining area and it's on tiles.

The sump you see in this video I made with 10mm bottom glass. No problem yet!

[lanegjones]

What is the blue filter media and where can i get it?

[9364peter]

Hi @lanegjones, thanks for your interest. Its Japanese Filter Matting, you can get it on ebay but most good aquarium shops should stock it now. I'm in Australia and I buy most of my gear from the UK or USA depending on price and exchange rate at the time. In freshwater sumps or canister filters this Japanese filter matting is great for bio filtration and useable over and over again, you never throw it away just rinse and replace.

[stevenJEDI3]

Im using a 90 liter sump wet dry 3,000 bio ball set up in my 900 liter tank i feed 2 times a day and I have 15 big 20 - 25CM long orandas gold fish the filtration works so well I never ever get any ammonia at all and after 6 week with out a water change my Nitrate was only at 10% this is the best set up but I do like to change my water every 2 weeks so the water looks cleaner

[9364peter]

Hi @stevenJEDI3. Your filter sounds like it's doing a great job. Could I suggest that even if your ammonia and nitrate levels are constantly low you should continue your 2 weekly water changes to replace the minerals and trace elements that are being depleted over time.

Good luck and thanks for your comment.

[hockeycrazy165]

@LifeElectricify I have. It sucks but I got Marineland to pay for it luckily

[FastEngine]

Ghetto!

[zvi2k9]

Nice tank !!!

[reddevilcichlid]

do you have enough tank for that filter

[9364peter]

@gianolrac Hi and thanks for your interest. The white filter wool at the top in the leaf gutter guards I change every 4-6 weeks that's it, the sump under tank I clean one area every 6-8 months.

I have just added the Kaldnes K1 filter media to the empty space under the leaf gutter guards.

I have changed the system slightly from this video so I will have to add an update soon.