DIY Canister filter

I had a thought to save some money and make a canister filter using a whole house omnifilter U25. One thing is I don't know if my ideas will work well or not. So, my basic thoughts are either use the existing inlet and outlet, or would I need to make a fitting at the bottom of the filter housing? Next is at least a 300 gph inline pump, if it exists somewhere, installed on the outlet line back to the tank. The filter housing is able to hold 1 1/2 quarts of water which is a decent volume for media. The filter housing rate is 5 gallons per minute if that matters at all. Mostly I am looking for more media volume because this will only be running a 29 gallon tank at most.

I have searched for DIY's that involve using a whole house filter, but came up empty handed. So, let me know if this is a feasible project, or just tell me if my idea is completely useless and I should just stick with an AC30 . Here is a picture of the housing I would be working with.

 

I just bought a Canister for a little under $50 that is working pretty good. I don't think there is much savings in doing a DIY.

Heres my thread on my new Canister. https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/4-stage-jebao-canister-filter.126850/

 

you would be better off making a sump out of a old fish tank.

 

I second jojo's opinion

 

I just bought a Canister for a little under $50 that is working pretty good. I don't think there is much savings in doing a DIY.

Heres my thread on my new Canister. https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/4-stage-jebao-canister-filter.126850/

I kinda figured it wouldn't be worth it. That is a pretty good deal for a canister filter. Thanks.

you would be better off making a sump out of a old fish tank.

I second jojo's opinion

Hmm...I will have to look into making a sump since I have no idea what goes into making it, thanks. What kind of benefits would there be to a sump?

 

Biological space. You can stock more fish if you get one.

 

a sump gives you so many options. you can put heaters, HOB filters, all your media, and even fish in it. I have not made one, but the hardest part is cutting some glass and siliconeing it into place in the old tank.
here are some quick vids I found, you will need to do lots of research.

check out this bottom one..

here are some pre built ones..

 

Awesome, thanks for the links, they are really detailed. I really have a lot of research to do. I will have to talk to my buddy who has ran sumps in the past on his saltwater setups. It seems like if I made a 10 gallon sump it would be pretty versatile for use on much larger tanks. The biological filtration space alone would make this project worthwhile. Plus, if fish started breeding I could have very good water quality for the fry. It really doesn't seem like this would cost too much either. I still need to wrap my mind around how this doesn't overflow .

 

You have 2 pumps rated for the same GPH. Although, if one pump goes out, you can overflow

 

you have to drill or hook up a overflow box to the display tank. that way the pump form the bottom pushes water up into the main tank and then overflows into the overflow box. if the pump stops it will simply stop overflowing out of the display tank.

hope that's somewhat clear.

edit.. from what I understand the two pumps is not as safe as above.

here is a overflow box. it requires no drilling

 

So, basically the overflow pipe in the tank would have a hole in it to break the siphon if the water level drops too low like a hole in a straw, right? Basically the list of things needed would be the tank, acrylic or glass dividers, aquarium safe silicone, a submersible pump, hoses, filter sock, and bio media? It doesn't seem like doing this would cost too much money and the benefits would outweigh the initial cost. One other question, if the heater is housed in the sump does the heater need to be rated for the size of the sump or the size of the main tank?

Thanks for all the help, it's always fun to learn more .

 

again I have never even kept a sump. I know about them from doing reasearch, you might be better served by asking some salt peps for help. that being said as long as you know this ill do my best

yes the siphon should break if it gets to low.

I'm not sure you need a filter sock. I think you can do it many ways, you will have to look online to see what others with a DIY have done.

it will still cost ya but it is a very nice way to filter a tank. I always get a heater rated for one tank size bigger. I would deff do this for a sump. if you can't fit it get two smaller ones. I'm not sure but I would think the sump would be a lil warmer than the tank, not that it would be a huge diff.

 

You've been a big help even if you haven't built one. I will just keep reading a lot and put together some plans. It looks like I can even make an overflow box out of acrylic, which doesn't cost much. I just have to find dimensions for the overflow to match the GPH of the pump, I think. The main reason I had asked about the heater is because it seems like there would be some heat loss through the lines, which, like you said, can be compensated by running the sump temp a little higher.

 

Main issue with a sump is the overflow. Way to much risk if you don't have astabalizer that will turn off the pumps if water is to low in the main tank

 

Looks like you were initially trying to make a media reactor and not a canister filter. Bulk Reef Supply sells parts for what you were trying to do. You could use carbon, gfo, zeolite, or even bio pellets. All would work for freshwater. I have a low end brackish tank and I use 2 Phosban 150 reactors with gfo and bio pellets installed on my makeshift 10 gallon sump. Assuming your sump will be installed lower than your display tank, here's some pointers. Install the siphon break only on the display tank inlet. The hole should ideally be about 1 inch below water level when in full operation. Purchase a pump that has head rates (how much flow for what height). The pump flow rate should be below the overflow rate but high enough to be able to push bubbles out of the overflow pipe (u tube). If you are drilling your tank then you don't have to worry about siphon breaking at the overflow. Adjust the overflow box height so that when the pump is stopped it doesn't overflow your sump. Position your pump in the sump so that it's high enough not to overflow your display tank if the overflow siphon breaks. The pump will run dry and break if this happens for a long time. Better a broken pump than a flooded room. A GFCI outlet will help prevent a fire if this happens. There is a diy pump shutoff so it doesn't overflow the display tank but that's another story.

 

Main issue with a sump is the overflow. Way to much risk if you don't have astabalizer that will turn off the pumps if water is to low in the main tank

The overflow that I almost have finished doesn't break siphon even if the level drops too low. Also, the pump I have has adjustable flow. It is a risk, but if it is done properly there is almost no risk.

Looks like you were initially trying to make a media reactor and not a canister filter. Bulk Reef Supply sells parts for what you were trying to do. You could use carbon, gfo, zeolite, or even bio pellets. All would work for freshwater. I have a low end brackish tank and I use 2 Phosban 150 reactors with gfo and bio pellets installed on my makeshift 10 gallon sump. Assuming your sump will be installed lower than your display tank, here's some pointers. Install the siphon break only on the display tank inlet. The hole should ideally be about 1 inch below water level when in full operation. Purchase a pump that has head rates (how much flow for what height). The pump flow rate should be below the overflow rate but high enough to be able to push bubbles out of the overflow pipe (u tube). If you are drilling your tank then you don't have to worry about siphon breaking at the overflow. Adjust the overflow box height so that when the pump is stopped it doesn't overflow your sump. Position your pump in the sump so that it's high enough not to overflow your display tank if the overflow siphon breaks. The pump will run dry and break if this happens for a long time. Better a broken pump than a flooded room. A GFCI outlet will help prevent a fire if this happens. There is a diy pump shutoff so it doesn't overflow the display tank but that's another story.

I abandoned the idea of using the filter housing for pretty much anything. Thanks for all the info though . I am building a sump/refugium out of a 20 gallon long for flexibility on bigger tanks. It is going to have an auto top-off and the volume in the pump area will be accounted for in the main tank if there is a siphon break. Here's the plans I came up with https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/diy-sump-refugium-ideas.127355/ but I still need to divide the sump and build a stand.

 

So as not to go too much off-topic I've added a couple more ideas in your other thread. A proper way to DIY an ATO and deep sand bed.

 

I think I might try this for my 20 gallon long. I was thinking about getting a canister filter because my bn pleco is messier than the rest of the fish combined, but I was googling them and they're way too expensive.

I priced most of the the DIY materials yesterday at walmart and it was about $30.

I'd probably have to mod the return valve for bettas, but would this be overkill for my tank?

 

You can never have to much filtration,its just depends on how strong the flow is on your return pipe

 

It seemed pretty strong in the video, but I can mod. I thought about making a PVC spray bar filled with sponges to slow it down.

 

You can also add a ball valve to control the flow

 

I forgot about that >_<

I have one that I got from a farm that I've been saving. Idk why, but I've never been able to throw it out.

 

I have cupboards full of spares and stuff that I never throw out. I'm just saving them for one day

 

Right? You never know when you're going to need one.

 

Exactly,not that I ever use them but maybe one day

 

If you're doing it for the challenge go for it. But if you're just trying to save maybe buying a Sunsun filter will be more practical. DIY can have unexpected additional costs and bad surprises.

 

Way worse than a store bought filter?

 

Canister filters are, by and large, very reliable. I like SunSuns, but there are plenty of others that have good reputations.

 

I was looking at the Sun sun hw 302. It's a 3 stage, but I don't think I need a uv sterilizer.

 

I was looking at the Sun sun hw 302. It's a 3 stage, but I don't think I need a uv sterilizer.

It does not have one.

 

Yeah I know. As opposed to the 4th and 5th stage. I don't feel the need for one because my pleco will take care of algae.

 

Yeah I know. As opposed to the 4th and 5th stage. I don't feel the need for one because my pleco will take care of algae.

I am saying that the filter does not have a UV sterilizer. Even if it did, you could just take out the bulb.

 

Again, I know

I'm trying to say I don't feel like paying more money for a 4 or 5 stage that does. But after googling everything, it all looks about the same price on amazon.

 

Again, I know

I'm trying to say I don't feel like paying more money for a 4 or 5 stage that does. But after googling everything, it all looks about the same price on amazon.

Oh, I am sorry. I thought your were trying to say that you did not want the 302 because it had a sterilizer. My bad

 

Sometimes I have a problem with sentence structuring. But then I'll talk or type it out and no one knows what I'm trying to say. Honestly, it all makes sense in my mind.

*wanders away whistling*

 

With SunSuns priced around $45, a DIY canister starts to lose it's appeal, and I think it would be difficult to re-create the quality for less money.

 

I got a sun sun off of ebay for $20 shipped. Needed a new impeller so I just added to the return from my sump. Or I could have bought a new impeller for $12

 

I got an API filstar XP from a local fish store. It was kinda expensive, but that's what tax returns are for

 

Hey all,
I've been seriously considering getting a canister filter but they're so expensive so I think I'll try to make one.

I've been looking at diy videos on youtube, are they really that good?

 

I have a Fluval 206 and it's nice in the sense of easy maintenance and how much sponges and media you can fit in it.