Easy DIY Aquarium Bucket Fish Tank Filter

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‎ In this video I show you how to make a DIY Aquarium filter out of a bucket and a lid. We use a simple gallon bucket with a couple of bulkheads. Then we use a Cobalt MJ-1200 powerhead to supply the canister. The bucket itself is filled with bioballs and will be full of bacteria to process lots of waste for koi ponds, goldfish tanks, African cichlids, even Oscars
PARTS LIST:
Never Clog Airstone: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
1 inch Bulkhead: geni.us/ze3xP7 on Amazon (commissions earned)
Cobalt MJ-1200 Powerhead: geni.us/5sgT on Amazon (commissions earned)
PVC Cutters: geni.us/N3NJR8 on Amazon (commissions earned)
Bio Balls: geni.us/PzDMo on Amazon (commissions earned)
(As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, and commissions may be earned from the links above.)
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Supplies you need
1:01 - Making a DIY aquarium bucket filter
18:18 - Setting up the filter
#Aquariumfilter #Fishtank #Aquarium

[@AquariumCoop]

*Do yourself a favor and subscribe so you get more videos like this from us.* bit.ly/2Yez7yl

[@kingkato21]

What size hole saw for this project?

[@greatlakesreefing9671]

kingkato21 he is using both 1in bulkheads so with bulkheads it’s larger hole due to plastic on outside cuz “1in” is the hole in bulkhead so for a 1in bulkhead it’s a 1 3/4” hole saw....see a lot of people drill with same size as fitting and it’s way small so at least +50% of fitting size for drill bit but from experience definitely use 1 3/4” for a 1” fitting.....45mm hole saw for our metric friends

[@Noel-qi7ku]

You should drill the lid first and set it on top of the bucket before you put the bulkhead in the bucket, so you don't have to hold it.

[@juancarlosmiguel6341]

what kind of water pump is?

[@morgan21639]

CÓMO HACES PARA QUE NO SE SALGA EL AGUA POR LA TAPA.???????

[@intelbreak]

Great informative video! thanks! for others, If you are worried about blockage and possible disaster, use two outlets, cut one higher than the other. If you see one day water is flowing out of the secondary tube under your filter you will know immediately that the primary is blocked and maintenance is in order. Aim for double the size outlet than inlet as a rule of thumb with any overhead filter.

[@scottsfowler]

PVC = Legos for practical purposes...I love the Aquarium Co-Op DIY/hack vids!! you have saved me so much $$$!!

[@mrpreparedallthetime1099]

oh my gosh 1 wk and BAMM! super clear! I can now count all my fish 150 of them. thanks again

[@AquariumCoop]

Glad to hear it.

[@kingkato21]

What size whole saw do we need? I have everything but that and I dont wanna buy the wrong one.

[@adonaiyahteemann4030]

If you drill the lid first, you can use. The bucket as a stand, and not your lap.

[@charlescox2840]

LOL right!!

[@joewwilliams]

Or in either order and wait to install the bulkheads until both holes are drilled

[@johnwyatt3677]

Got to love good old common sense.

[@Ian-qw1zb]

Made this filter 4 years ago and it is still running my turtle pond with two red ear sliders in it. The water has been Crystal clear ever since great filter..... And I really only service it two or three times a year it works

[@costinhomescu2010]

Crystal clear isn't always best

[@mikeb1189]

Just made one of these. I'm pretty happy with it and myself. Mine has a strong airpump, 300 gph water pump and 3/4 bulkheads. She seems to be trucking along and it's so nice not to spend a fortune on filtration and finally feel like I have enough. Thanks Cory

[@bluerthanindigo55]

One of the greatest DIY tips ever! Thanks Cory!

[@mannydefelice4370]

The puffer on his shirt is so cute!!

[@genecundel4793]

Hey Cory, I am a fan of your channel and just wanted to make a comment. Most battery powered drill have a very useful feature on them that a lot of people don't take advantage of. On the nose of the drill there is a numbered rotating collar which allows the drill when set to the screw position, to slip at the numbered torque setting which you select before tightening clamps, screws or whatever could be damaged by just letting the drill run full out. Thanks for all your positive energy.

[@FishBehindGlass]

Great vid. It shows this can be done with need for specialized tools. Minus the bulk heads, every part and tool can be found in the average garage. Simple, inexpensive and can be easily modified. Really great vid.

[@AquariumCoop]

+Fish Behind Glass Yep. It could be done without bulkheads too, but DIY bulkheads etc tend to leak and have more problems so it's a part I'd rather just buy.

[@jimsinclair4571]

Where do you get bulkheads?

[@carlwagers9829]

@@jimsinclair4571 I think any hardware store or Amazon.

[@sheenaschoebel7430]

My favorite part, "One of those don't drop your camera in the water scenarios" Lol, love this DIY, it's genius. Going to attempt one for my pond. Thank you! Love your dedication and the work you put into everything to teach us.

[@joshuadecker1305]

Cool. Very similar to the aquaponics setup I'm planning, but a larger scale. Good to have reassurance and proof of concept before I build it.

[@jupekai4601]

I made a similar one out of a 2G bucket but I used ceramic media - a mix of aquaquarium specific ceramic rings I got on sale and broken terracotta pots I got free from the garden center (they were cleaned, soaked and made fish safe before being put in the bucket). In total the whole thing cost my £17.67 to make and runs my 120 litre community tank. It's water tight so it's sat next to the tank not above it. Never thought of adding an air stone though so that's an addition I think I will make so thanks for sharing that, great idea!

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

I like that you have the filters above the tanks. I had an Eheim canister years ago that sprung a leak and drained my tank, never had another below tank filter since. The 75 I'm setting up will have a corner HMF to hide the pump and heater with a bucket trickle filter in the cabinet above the tank. Should make water changes easier too.

[@guitardave3028]

Just goes to show that we fishkeepers don't really need to spend a lot of money buying expensive canister filters to optimize our filtration systems and also add more water volume per tank to maximize amount of fish per grow out tanks...ingenious!

[@reneehawkins7266]

My husband and I just followed these instructions to build this filter. It is going now. Seems like it will be good for the turtle.

[@dennisyee2879]

Renee Hawkins how has this worked for your turtle? I have 4 in a 180 gallon tank and have been meaning to make this. Please let me know

[@audpicc]

I am planning on making these for our RES. I have two males in separate 75gal tanks bc they fight lol. NO way I'm paying canister filter money twice! I'd love to know how these worked out for you and your turts

[@dennisyee2879]

Andy Harrison it worked awesome I recommend this method. Greatly! Make sure you use just bioballs though. Maybe some filter floss to filter some of the finer waste out. Keeps my turtle tank well and maintained. I clean mine once a month-2months. Make sure you add some type of movement in the bucket though as I didn’t and have mosquitoes reproducing in it.(can be bypassed by using a air bubbler or small 40gallon pump). My load is quite abit for this as I have 4 turtles and two sets of convicts that have 100+ fry each. One per 75 gallon will work well for you though

[@dawhiteman7033]

Dennis Yee so you made it exactly the same way? What do you use as a filter before it enters your pump? It's kind of funny you use it for a turtle and and piece of food can get logged in the intake on the pump so once again WHY

[@dennisyee2879]

Da Whiteman I do not have anything blocking the intake so the food etc. Can be pulled through easily. 400gph submersible return pump style. Works great and do no have any problems

[@therenaissanceman8563]

I have a 660 gallon tank with numerous Rainbow trout in it. I run two pumps with the bucket filter at 1000 gallons per hour. I connect to the bucket on the side. I finally got it to flow without any back up. Rainbows have to have a high water flow.

[@adhimas]

I suggest for the top filter that you show on the near end of the video, you can remove the last separator, and add a pipe on the output in a similar idea as the output pipe on your bucket. That way you can fill the last chamber with more bio filter.

[@goliathfox]

Thanks for the video. This seems so much simpler to use and clean up next to my Sun Sun canister filter.

[@n2kois]

The air stone insert was very smart... Thanks

[@judyhobday4760]

My pond is a 300 gallon plastic cattle tank sunk in the ground to the rim. I am going to get the equipment you demonstrated and make a filter for it this week. Thanks for the instructions. Makes the process look very do able for me. Much appreciated.

[@derrellterry6911]

This project really surprised me, I really save lots of money and also my water is cleaner and my fish are very happy thanks for sharing your video🤗 God Bless you extra ordinary 🙏🙏🙏

[@drewbot89]

Another awesome idea! Thanks for explaining every step so thoroughly, and the theft behind it. I watched your hot rod on the back filter video and tricked a few of mine out. I'm thinking of trying this next! Thanks Corey.

[@drewbot89]

Theory not theft haha

[@MyTyeman]

Awesome DIY canister.....love your work

[@migueleespinosa2632]

The second time I see this. The only thing I thought of that would make it much more efficient, other than different media, is add a sponge pre filter at the pump inlet. It would keep everything so much cleaner and easier to maintenance.

[@frankallen8440]

Thank you so very much. I've been wanting to build one for a long time for my turtle pond.

[@Docentino1914]

Nicely done. Thanks for sharing

[@tonylewis850]

Just love that filter easy made works great it’s a shame not many people make these over here in the u.k thanks Cory for sharing this great idea. Tony

[@davidschneider9264]

Excellent filter , Cory

[@DROY2004]

On plastics ,run your drill & cutter backwards until bucket is scored, then run it forward or if thin plastic, keep cutting hole in reverse, does not jerk & buck & holes are smoother. Shalom!

[@jesses6152]

Nice clean hole. Super easy. Oh my.

[@michelleirby7587]

Cut your outflow 1/2 to 1/4 inch larger than your in Flo this way the water pressure will not overcome your pump there’s also a bulkhead called a uniconnector this bulkhead will attach to the side of a rounded bucket I find lava rock is a much cheaper alternative to buy a media and will grow just as much if not more bacteria also their rubber seals available for 5 gallon bucket‘s that will seal the top of the lid so that your pumpkin withstand more pressure without leaking These Seals still allow for your bucket to open and close and are usually available on Amazon or somewhere like that if you follow these steps your canister can handle a 1000 GPH pump and Ken filter a tank upwards of 200 or 250 gallons or even a small pond by the way great video very easy to see how you were constructing everything and nice descriptions

[@801DREADLOCKS]

Link to side bucket bulkhead?

[@roxyqueen5076]

hi Michelle..jeez I really wish that you could do a video where we can see how to construct this..I need more pressure ..That little small cobalt pump he had..well I got one just like it and it doesn't pump very well at all..I need a lot more water flo and pressure.

[@Tom_Prendiville]

@@roxyqueen5076 then get a bigger pump 🤔

[@seanharrilal572]

Wow you sound more knowledgeable than this guy i need help!!

[@cryptoastronaut8130]

Hey bro can you suggest good silent pump to use in canister filter in my bedroom my aquarium is 50/55 galon

[@shesellsfish]

I love learning new DIY aquarium tricks and tips.

[@AquariumCoop]

+ShelbyRae Lane Me too!

[@1habicher]

Up with the top of the best, well done and easy to follow. Can not wait to have a go of it when it warms up. It,s winter in Australia but no snow or frost with me. Richard

[@RRRCCCDDD]

Great. This saved me a ton of money and had a lot of fun making. Thanks

[@dkroen17]

Awesome design! I'm using a variation of this. D

[@JustinDancingHawk]

Pillow stuffing poly-fill is great media for a filter!

[@loganrexroat3063]

Do you have to contain it in a mesh bag?

[@batbrains187]

🔥❤️‍🔥 friggin awesome... I'm using these when I do my back yard above ground ponds. Thanks Cory ❤️‍🔥🔥

[@luigigreen9823]

By far the best bucket filter build I ever watched! And I have seen many! You rock Cory!!

[@luigigreen9823]

Oh my I've seen it before!! Still the best most simple bucket system

[@fishfishfish9837]

Great Video. So many people post DIY videos amd make it very unclear on how to actually DIY. Great job...

[@tholeetruck]

I like your idea. Very nice. I will try it out on my small 55 gallon tank.

[@BenCheeksFish]

Awesome filter! Thanks for the idea!

[@AquariumCoop]

+Ben Cheek No problem. Thanks for watching and support us.

[@de82788]

Amazing amazing presentation as always I'm gonna build 1 some day!!

[@APtS_Gh0stHunt3R]

i love your pond setup :)

[@apolinbasel]

Excellent DIY

[@brettmartin764]

Super good project. Thank you so much!

[@DasFrenchman]

GREAT video Corey!

[@DaedricAngel]

Great video, I am a fisherman and I have converted a broken deep freeze into a live wellor baitfish that I net or catch to be used as live bait when catfishing. This setup will be perfect for what i need, since my pond filter broke, lol.

[@AquariumCoop]

Should work pretty well in a setup like that.

[@gxrluv]

Building this right now for my breeder outside tank :P thank you so much for these videos!!!!!!

[@patriciakloeppel9863]

love the DIY series ty

[@ronseasyfixjustdoit5098]

I really like this filter it works great. I put different media's in it but that the great thing you can use what you want.

[@sumatiephagoo5104]

Love yout vids . Iy help me out alot when i was buliding my own koi pound

[@BMBSwaggTeam]

Great video, I hopefully I can make one for my catfish and turtles pond

[@ionescurazvan913]

I really appreciate you taking the time of getting this project on camera and showing us how to do it. I also want to build this setup and your videos are practically all I need. I also wanted to ask you if I would need an extra air pump to stay in the IBC itself, besides the one in the bucket. Could you also expand on how much fish can an IBC with this setup take? 200 lbs? 400 lbs? Thank you.

[@uy698]

That really useful and for a great look!

[@AquariumCoop]

+《嵐light》櫻花 Yep, choose a bucket you like. Filter made :)

[@fishroombum3771]

Another classic ACO video.

[@HomeAquatics]

Awesome video man! I might actually use this idea to filter the two 350 gallon tubs I have outside that I'll be using for some breeding projects this summer. Thanks man!

[@AquariumCoop]

+Home Aquatics No problem. I think it'll work well. It's essentially what I use them for.

[@HomeAquatics]

Aquarium Co-Op I'm still messing around with the ideal setup for my system at the most cost effective price but this does seem like a high possibility.

[@steven.h0629]

Pro Tip: Cutting Thin-Wall PVC that easily crushes before cutting.. Grasp the long end with one hand and give it a spinning motion.. cuts like butter without crushing..

[@mikeb1189]

If you have to cut with a power saw, like I did wrap in duct tape to prevent endless shattered egdes and nerves!

[@MJ0U812]

Drill in reverse problem solved.

[@oilspeculatorhater]

Thank you for sharing, this is great to know.

[@somebody5197]

thank you, very educatif

[@JosePena-if2xh]

Bruhhh! You're a bad ass genius bro!😶😶😶🤓🤪🤪🤪🔨🐢🐠🐡🐟🐬🐋🐳🦈🐙🐚🦀🦞🦐🦑🐌 awesome thanx!💪👍👍👍👍

[@AQUANUT]

That is one neat filter Cory.. It kinda got my creative juices flowing. I think i am going to make one like that to try it out. I think i might add a layer of fine filtration in there some how. Its not like there is no room. Great video bud, i have been wondering about these filters for a while.

[@AquariumCoop]

+AQUA NUT There are ways to do it. I just choose not too after having done it. I found it to be too much work and clog up quickly so I choose to not catch waste there at all and take it out with water changes from the gravel/water.

[@AQUANUT]

Oh ok I guess it would be a pain to have to clean out 10 plus bucket every week. I wonder if i can come up with something that would be able to run without clogging up for an extended period of time. That much space for media at the fraction of the cost of a comparable canister filter is pretty appealing to me.

[@barricuda3910]

Hiya just joined the channel great diy project

[@ronmcneal1569]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[@fishroombum3771]

Great little filter DIY, thanks Cory! Keep 'em coming, looking forward to the next video.

[@russellbeach3207]

Another great DIY tip Thanks !

[@AquariumCoop]

+Russell Beach Thanks for watching as always :)

[@frankiebattles7815]

Thank the developers that

[@ChrisTheFish03]

Love this. Done my own spin n gave u a shout out in vid. Its out @ 70 UK time 23/4/20

[@jmgraydz]

I was in the aquarium co op last weekend! Although what you are doing doesnt actually make sense. Canister filters do it so that they can double the filter length because it filters down and then up. It would be easier to fill media wise without the tubes and just a valve on the bottom to adjust the flow.

[@fredmidtgaard5487]

Great video!

[@SamanthaNickole02]

I’m going to make one for my turtle pond!😃 Thank you!!😁

[@jefflewis5852]

Love this, just building my first pond with a stream so wanna make this filter, but would it work as a gravity fed filter system with the pump other side of the filter box to then pump clean water up to my stream, Any help welcome.

[@alejandrasanchez6637]

Good job I needed it

[@giobelkoicenter]

Thanks for this bro

[@turtleyshelltastic]

Thank you for this

[@chriswhite2577]

On the output line going back into the aquarium, I added a PVC “T” and cut a 1/4” slit in two 4” pieces of PVC and put an end cap on one side and added that to the “T”. Makes a nice waterfall.

[@bookmouse770]

incredible!

[@tommyjames137]

Great video! Good to see another tinkerer cutting costs and making high quality stuff. Do you still need to do water changes with this filter? If so how often and how much? Thanks

[@charliehobbs7968]

Good stuff thanks

[@syap8888]

Thanks for Sharing.

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you very much.

[@kmharvey80]

Nice hack! Thanks!

[@robertmoore1123]

Awesome build . When I finally get a camen that might work really good as long as it doesn't eat the tube . But could make a casing for the tube I bet

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

pvc pipe probably okay? unless you get a psycho one, lol. or run it behind a solid piece of plastic it can't access, a wall.

[@pruittfarmswolfenterprises3573]

Impressive Cory. That bucket filter seems like a REAL WINNER far as inexpensive filtration is concerned!

[@diegorivt7942]

very good job and a good video thanks

[@bobbymalta73]

Thanks for sharing dear friend!

[@MichaelEugenio]

Very nice video . I laughed because I was going to put up a video this weekend about a similar filter I made over my goldfish pond . I will wait to put it up .

[@AquariumCoop]

+Michael Eugenio Too slow :P

[@MichaelEugenio]

+Aquarium Co-Op lol. Great minds think alike

[@DuzzyDobbin]

This video is going to make my mother extremely happy I’m going to make 2 of these 1 for each of her outdoor ponds. As she has gotten older and her sight worse she can no loner see her her fish through the greenish water. These will clean it enough for her to see. A question could I use a coarse sponge pre media balls?

[@HaYNFishKeeper]

This was awesome Cor thanks braddah, appreciate your content and your help! Much love and aloha 🤙🏽🐠🤙🏽

[@M21assult]

awesome. I hate YOUR design with the bucket having to be raised, but I just realized I can put both bulkheads in the lid let one run through the top to the bottom and the other has a tube that goes all the way to the bottom :D

[@badbassfishingco.1191]

When did John Elway start posting aquarium videos??!?!?! LOL! Great Videos!

[@warman]

That is so freaking cool!

[@AquariumCoop]

+b.a. Warman Glad you like it.

[@jefblogs3279]

Brilliant, that's all I will say.

[@NYCityCichlids]

Awesome job.

[@NYCityCichlids]

I would fill it up with lava rocks.

[@AquariumCoop]

+NYCity Cichlids Thanks.

[@kevinklaas776]

Cory nice job!! Love your videos...one of the best. It would be cool to see you design an actual diy knockoff of the FX6 for use beneath an aquarium.

[@AquariumCoop]

+Kevin Klaas The problem with putting it below is it requires it to be water tight. Those connections can be a lot more difficult to make and I'm not sure I'm comfortable putting out of a video like that as if people do it incorrectly they'll flood their home and people will come to my retail store to complain.

[@kevinklaas776]

Good points.

[@lemlem1867]

Great info

[@Arainn_Nadarra]

Thank you

[@Jeffrow81]

Any chance you could link the hose barb and the hole saw? Trying to order everything from amazon besides the pvc pipe. Thanks for the video!

[@petec6690]

@14 min's (approx) you can just get the right size adapter and hose.

[@charlenedoherty5184]

Thank you sir.