Aqueon Evolve 4 - DIY Customization Thread!

I figured I'd start a thread for us on optimizing our Aqueon Evolve tanks.
(Petsmart Clearance: Evolve 4 to $29.99 and Evolve 8 to $39.99)

1.) Turning the filter into an aquaclear (like) filtration:

Why are we doing this?
The current system has room for a lot of good media but the design bypasses this in a way that would render it useless. With a few tweaks you can have great filtration.

What you need?
Drill, 1/4 attachment, 1 piece of flat plastic or acrylic, epoxy or some some aquarium safe glue.

Note: I was able to use the piece of plastic I tore off the bottom to put the sponges in.

Original:


Customized:





Instruction:
Drill holes evenly through the bottom of the filter chamber, but not the bottom of the tank.
Glue piece of plastic to the side chamber of the filter to prevent water from going to the side forcing the water to go down through the newly created drill holes.

Finished version:



My future shrimp tank:



2.) Lowering Filter Flow to create a Shrimp or Betta friendly aquarium

What you need (cut filter sponge)

Instructions:
Turn Filter to low. Unplug filter hose and wedge cut sponge into the tubing. Flow should slow down to acceptable levels.

 

What a great idea! There is that one small hole partway down the wall of the tank that leads into the filter material, but it's really insufficient. Could you post pictures?

 

What a great idea! There is that one small hole partway down the wall of the tank that leads into the filter material, but it's really insufficient. Could you post pictures?

This is my understanding...

1.) In the case of evaporation...water still needs a way to get in to prevent the pump from getting dry, the water heater from frying, etc...

2.) If the tank is at ideal water levels, water should be going out the hole slightly, which would still provide filtration. Either way the hole should have little impact.

3.) With my setup there should also be a sponge blocking the way.

I'd love suggestions as I could be wrong...

As far as pictures...my camera is broken atm...so we'll see what I can do.

 

Thanks for the pictures--it looks like a very smart revamp! Can you guage what the rate of flow is with the material to slow the current down? These are all questions that I've been having as I'm thinking of how to turn our Evolve 8 into a Walstad tank for my daughter's betta. I've heard people say that the strong current it comes with is terrible with sand.

 

I can tell you the flow with sponges stuffed inside the (tube) and the dial turned to low would be acceptable for a betta.

As far as sand...I'm using Black Diamond Blasting Substrate, which is the coarser (20-40) and heavier than typical sand as a result. The Black Diamond Blasting Sand didn't budge on my initial water leak check with the pump on medium/high. As long as you get heavier sand you should be fine.