DIY Aquarium Filter

[@AndrewNelson973]

I have had this idea in my mind for the last two months. Really happy that you have done it. Thank you for making this video. It was easier for me to visualize. I will now do mine.

[@Handyaquarist]

I am glad you like it. Thank you for watching. 🙏

[@36Nizam]

സത്യം പറ, നീ മലയാളി അല്ലെ?

[@fishiefarmer11]

What insert do u use ?

[@arthurboritzka]

Thank you very much, you really helped me a lot! Also thank you for using cm measurements ;)

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@phoslurperr]

Very nice! Truthfully, this should be a standard setup in the aquarium hobby. I guess too much money and marketing involved makes everyone chase whatever is being sold that is less effective and more expensive. I had seen these filter housings used in other set ups but they only used the empty canister. i like that you use the PVC which makes it both cheaper and allows more media. Bravo!

[@Handyaquarist]

Appreciate your kind and encouraging comment. It means a lot to me and I am glad you find this DIY filtration useful.

[@peterbennett7553]

I really like your set up and it’s modular nature is really appealing in that the set up can be scaled up or down as required and each element can be maintained/cleaned independently. I would really like to see how the system is plumbed overall. Hope to see more vids. Thanks

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for your comment. I am glad you like the setup. Other DIY projects, and aquascaping videos on the way.

[@eugenedekock9428]

Wow wow this is really amazing, looks very professionally done neat and very inspiring. I'm definitely heading in this direction, I had a look at the material list. But would you be so kind to share just a basic layout of whole operations like a flow diagram of piping, pump included please thank you in advance.

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for encouraging words 🙏 I will definitely make a video showing details. Thank you for watching 🙏

[@akhik1580]

Thanks for the idea❤❤❤

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@arthurboritzka]

Exactly my kind of guy, damn I wish you'd live near me so I could pick your brain for some of my projects. I'm currently building a paludarium enclosure for fish, poison dart frogs, vampire crabs and a chameleon. The things i need to consider are insane and you seem like a guy who could help me navigate through it :D If you want an interesting video idea here is one. Come and film while we build the whole thing together :D win win :D

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏 You have a perfect idea. Send me a direct message on instagram if we can possibly do it together!

[@lindseyoliverstephens3606]

Love this! Wish you gave more info on the why’s - like why do I need the pvc pipe in the middle etc

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏 Great idea, I will keep in mind for future videos. PVC pipe in the middle is for returning clean water out of filter housing. This is the way these filter housing are designed.

[@wajidabbas3811]

Superb

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you!

[@ernie548]

Pretty sound idea.

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@mrtyreex2280]

I tried this back in 1997. I used the filters that were included with the system and connected everything to Fluval canister filter. I would have my water tested at a pet store in Fairview Heights Illinois called " The Pet Store". The owner would ask me how I kept my numbers perfect. So I took a photo to show him. He seemed upset that I attached a home water filter to my tank and said I would burn the motor out of my fluval and that once the filters became dirty my ammonia levels would sky rocket. Well, he was wrong and I had a healthy tank for well over 5 years until I had to sell it.

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it means a lot to me! So you had that idea first 😀. That is amazing it was working for 5 years!

[@vanissaberg5824]

This is a really neat idea and since it's meant for water filtration there's less chance of it leaking and being modular it's very customisable. I wonder if it could be used for a BCB anoxic filtration basket where the water flows around a BCB basket? I might try it out in the future for my next experimental project! Cheers!

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching! I think that is great idea to try BCB anoxic filtration. And I appreciate you mentioned about it as I didn't know until now. I will try it myself in the future, which needs extra module.

[@vanissaberg5824]

@@Handyaquarist that would be amazing! Keep us posted!

[@Panji874]

Tq it helping & easy to understand

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching.

[@kdub6593]

The video helped a lot. TU

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@madhuravishweshwara7257]

Excellent video, What's the media capacity of 10" Filter housing? please advise if there is any real benifit of using 20" JUMBO I right away can say better media holding and higher flow rate but would like to know your opinion. Thank You 🙏

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching 🙏 Good question, I will measure it and let you know. I had 20" Jumbo housing before and it is excellent. If you have the space inside your aquarium stand go ahead as there is no over filtering, so bigger the size it is better. I am making 10" Jumbo filter housing right now (limited space otherwise would go with 20") for my 40 gallon tank.

[@madhuravishweshwara7257]

@@Handyaquarist Thank you once again for your valuable advice.

[@paziraart]

This is amazing thank you for sharing

[@IsaacSchultz-lz8jc]

Could you use something like a 50 micron pleated filter in the first stage or would that be to much?

[@Handyaquarist]

You can use it, but it will clog fast, and you need a water pump strong enough to pass water through it. I would say it is not practical for aquarium. Thank you for watching 🙏

[@IsaacSchultz-lz8jc]

What type of mechanical filtration do you recommend

[@Handyaquarist]

Sponge, inexpensive ceramic, and bio balls are good choices for mechanical filteration. Although after a while, they also work as biological due to the presence of good bacteria.

[@IsaacSchultz-lz8jc]

What type of sponge would work?

[@IsaacSchultz-lz8jc]

Oh nvm I saw your other video

[@ceiral]

Hi sir. How much of the canister would u recommend for a 4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft planted tank with nano fishes? Thank u for uploading this video. Really appreciate it. 😍😍

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you so much for watching sir! I would say at least three housing, and if you have overstock fish then add more or go for big 10" housing (4.5" wide) or 20" housing if your stand have enough space. Cheers

[@seandekle3873]

I love this. I was actually thinking of doing this myself and a quick google search brought me to you who already did it. Thought I would be the first and as usual someone beat me to it. I was hoping that you might list all the parts involved in your filter system and how or where you sourced them so I can build this my self. I'm having trouble sourceing pumps and connectors for tubing and such. Also do you use a spay bar or Lilly pipes on the inlet outlets? I have so many questions. I want to build this! Please reply or email me. thanks. Love the video.

[@seandekle3873]

I just saw your parts list in the description. thanks for listing this. more info on the setup would be great though.

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for inspiring words which give more energy to make better contents. For sure, I will update the description tonight to help you build one.

[@Handyaquarist]

@@seandekle3873 ok great, glad it is useful. I am making a video going over details. Please turn the notification on.

[@Handyaquarist]

List is updated in description. Email can be found in About section of my channel, please feel free to email me anytime.

[@santanudutta3207]

Thank you i am planning to do this..but the main problem is finding the external pump.. would you be kind to share the link where i can buy the pump?

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching. You can find it in description. I have used Eheim and Sicce Syncra silent. Let me know where you are trying to get it!

[@haroldoalmeidagribeler5847]

Great!!! Very good!

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching.

[@VipinBorole]

Can you make detail video on plumbing and water flow?

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank for checking the video. I will make in the future. What would you like to know/see on water flow?

[@VipinBorole]

@@Handyaquarist Water flow by that I mean how does the water flow from aquarium to filter and back

[@Handyaquarist]

@@VipinBorole sure will do it. Can I show your comment and your user name in the video? Respect your privacy if you prefer not.

[@yatin889]

Yes its also a lil bit confusing to me so please make a detail video on connection thanks

[@Handyaquarist]

@@yatin889 thank you to check the video. Will do it.

[@kalpeshpatil8456]

Nice idea sir...

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you.

[@kalpeshpatil8456]

@@Handyaquarist sir one problem external pump not available in india but sunsun Hqb pump available it's submersible can I use this? Ehiem pump more cost than sunsun canister filter

[@Handyaquarist]

Hi Kalpesh. Please check the package info, as some models can be used externally. Let me know what is your final choice.

[@dad3562]

Excellent !!! Thank you so much for making this video!! I subscribed! Please tell me where you ordered or purchase that larger 10 inch canister please? That’s exactly what I want to get! Thank you so much again. Thank you 🙏

[@Handyaquarist]

I am glad you like it. Thank you for taking time to write a comment, makes me to work harder to create more videos.

[@Handyaquarist]

I've had that larger one for a long time, and I couldn't find it any more. The new ones I got from amazon is pretty the same size may be a little smaller in diameter and I have used them in my DIY CO2 reactor video. The link for Pentek filter housing is in my describtion if you would like to get it.

[@fishiefarmer11]

It showed super hi nitrite spike I don’t get why I changed 80 percent of water I check nitrite and the test showed same nitrite level

[@SleeperAR]

Ty grat idea

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching.

[@codyshubin1073]

What are you using for a pump?

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching the video🙏. The water pump is Eheim 1250 Universal water pump. I also used Sicce Syncra 1.0 Pump recently. Any water pump that can be used out of water should be fine.

[@codyshubin1073]

@@Handyaquarist when I commented this I was at the hardware store buying a 1.5 gallon filter housing to make my canister filter, I ended up getting a submersible powerhead and screwing it into the bottom of the lid, with the pickup tube it’s a really tight fit but it works awesome! I opted for a larger housing as my tank is 40 gallons and I had to fit a submersible pump within the lid for a clean contained look. Thanks for your help I couldn’t have done it without you!

[@Handyaquarist]

@@codyshubin1073 I am glad it works well!

[@idiwudidiyu3937]

How did you make the connection from the pvc pipe to the lid? It doesn't show the most important modification...sigh.

[@Handyaquarist]

First thank you for watching. I am deeply sorry if the video is not clear. There is no connection between the lid and pipe. After filling with filter media while the pipe is in the center, the lid just sit on top and then I start fastening the housing. Thank you to point this out as I am making another filter and video.

[@warrenpaar2664]

I would like to know how it works in terms of the pump. Does the pump push water or pull water through the media? I'm building 2 units of 2 x 20inch and would really like to know how it works

[@Handyaquarist]

Two 20" are going to be housing a lot of media, perfect choice. 👍 I have the pump connected after filter; so the pump pulls water from media and takes it back to the tank. The pump would get dirty or clogged more frequently if it is connected before filter (to push the water through filter media). But you have the choice.

[@birds2020m1]

👍👍👍

[@Handyaquarist]

🙏🙏🙏

[@4wtsage]

What kind of water pump are you using

[@Handyaquarist]

It is Eheim 1250 universal water pump. You can use any water pump suitable to run dry (outside of water). Thank you for watching 🙏

[@4wtsage]

What is the lowest pump that can be used with this set up

[@Handyaquarist]

@@4wtsage The lowest water pump I used is Sicce Syncra 0.5 which I used with 1/2" or 12/16 mm hose.

[@renuka2740]

Wat size inlet outlet is this?

[@Handyaquarist]

I used 12/16mm hose for inlet and outlet. Also I used 3/4" (connect to filter housing) to 5/8" (hose) connector to attach hose to the filter. Some filter housing has 1/2" inlet and oulet, so choose according to the filter housing.

[@renuka2740]

@@Handyaquarist the one I found online has 1 inch inlet outlet so the connector will be 1inch right, then I can use 3/4 inch pipe to connect to it right or do I have it wrong?

[@Handyaquarist]

@@renuka2740 Right, you can connect 3/4" inch hose if it has 12/16mm inside/outside diameter. Then you need two 1" MIP (connect to filter) to 5/8" barb (connect to hose). 12/16mm hose fits well with 5/8" hose connector.

[@paziraart]

By the way how you film underneath the water

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for watching. I have used GoPro camera to film underwater.

[@fishiefarmer11]

I asked I installed one I used it first time I lost all my fish first time

[@CarsTVCanada]

Dude move your hand ive watched so many people put that drill in their hand🤦🏼‍♂️

[@Handyaquarist]

Thank you for your safety advice 🙏

[@TrickyRecipes]

Ramin .. Persian name

[@Handyaquarist]

Yes my friend. Thank you for watching.