Random DIYer Idea

I'm looking to get a 55/75 gallon tank here soon and I'm looking at filters and I am interested in the sand filters. I will be doing a sand bed 2" thick with live plants and probably 3-6 angelfish depending on my plant choices/tank size with some corries to help keep the sand cleaned up.

I was looking at these "Fluidized Sand Bed Filters" and noticed they quickly push water through sand to create good bacteria that filters the water, but I wonder if a slow gravity filter would create the same good bacteria or does it have to be pushed through fast? Volume is not hard to create in a gravity style filter, you just need more surface space and a larger tube for the water to compensate the lack of water flow but it's pointless if good bacteria can't thrive doing this method.

So can good bacteria survive? Thank you.


*edit*
Please note I would buy feeder fish to cycle the tank/establish my plants before purchasing any angelfish so if this back fires I only lose $5 vs $50+ lol.

 

Beneficial bacteria would grow however the filter is made. They basically grow on most available surface area.

I want to point out that cories don't really "clean" the sand, unless you're thinking of leftover food that the angels may have missed, but keep in mind that cories also contribute to the bioload. What I'm really trying to get at here is you should get cories because you want them, not because they'll clean the tank.

 

While your idea may or may not work, I would still just go with a good canister filter like the SunSun Canisters on ebay. You could get one for that size tank for around $60-75 and they work great. You would spend around the same trying to make a DIY project and it may or may not work. Stick with the tried and true in my opinion unless you could save a bunch of money and do it cheaper.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

I really have no experience with Fluidized Sand Bed Filters, so I can't comment on that.

But I did want to mention that instead of cycling with feeder fish, you have two IMO better options. One is to just do a fishless cycle. I don't know if you are familiar with a fishless cycle, but basically you put enough pure ammonia (i.e. ammonia/water solution with no surfactants, dyes, perfumes etc) to get your ammonia level to 4ppm. Then you keep the ammonia level at 4ppm until nitrites appear. Once you have nitrites keep your ammonia level at 2ppm. until nitrites drop to 0ppm. Then once you have 0 nitrites, some nitrates and you are processing the pmm of ammonia you are cycled.

The second option would be to use Tetra SafeStart. With SafeStart, fill tank with dechlorinated water, wait 24 hours and add an entire, well shaken, appropriate sized bottle of SafeStart and some fish. Then do nothing other than lightly feed your fish for the next 14 days. On day 14 test and if all worked correctly, you have a cycled tank.

 

What I'm really trying to get at here is you should get cories because you want them, not because they'll clean the tank.

I appreciate where you're coming from but honestly I desire it's role in the tank more than the fish itself when it comes to cleaner types. Corries are just great for this because they are great for the sand itself and will comb it / turn it as it hunts for food keeping it looking clean.

While your idea may or may not work, I would still just go with a good canister filter like the SunSun Canisters on ebay. You could get one for that size tank for around $60-75 and they work great. You would spend around the same trying to make a DIY project and it may or may not work. Stick with the tried and true in my opinion unless you could save a bunch of money and do it cheaper.

Well that is where my idea comes in....it will cost me a total of $5 to make a 3-liter filter and $12 to buy a 55-75gph pump to get the water back into my tank. I have everything but the tubing laying around since the sand should be an all in one solution. It should filter large matter at the top, keep a bacteria bed throughout the sand, and filter the water removing the need for carbon. Sand is also a far cheaper and unlike most filter media can be reused almost forever as long as you clean it/dry it in the sun before reusing it.

The biggest problem I see is turnover for the tank per hour....how much do you really need for freshwater? If the turnover is large like on saltwater tanks (40-60 times an hour seems like the average response I found while looking for freshwater) then this filter wouldn't work without making multiple filters feeding into the same reservoir defeating the purpose of cheap but effective.


Course I'm still in the information stage but if anyone has anything to say (negative or positive) I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.


*edit*

Welcome to FishLore!.

Thank you The reason for cycling with feeder fish is for two reasons, 1) to help get the good stuff started so when I get plants the fertilizer is ready for them and 2) to see if the filter I want to make will actually work and not mass kill the tank.

If everything works well (which I'm aiming highly for) then my uncle has some fish that enjoy plump little feeder fish so nothing goes to waste. I know a lot of people cycle the tank and then flush the fish which imo is a waste.