I came across the concept of a power filter after reading about the DSR method on here. Couldn't find much about it other than the very basic and minimal thread of the dsr reefing nl forum, so i figured I'd post my version of a power filter that i put together here for others.
Glenn f suggests a 1000l/h minimum pump for up to 200l tanks. I had a spare new 700l/h pump sitting around that i never used for a salt mixing station idea i had, and decided to use that to build a power filter to combat my first cloudy water experience, a Phyto bloom from dosing too much Phyto and my skimmer not removing it.
Materials used:
Syncra silent 0.5 pump
1/2" threaded x3/4" pvc adapter
3/4" schedule 40 pvc pipe from home Depot
3/4" pvc end cap
Sheet of double layer generic aquarium filter media.
Leftover mesh from red sea diy mesh tank cover
Some rubber bands to hold it all together
Process:
Removed the flow knob from the center of the return pump and installed the 1/2" threaded pvc adapter to the intake of the return pump. Cut 8" piece of 3/4" pvc tube to act as the filter barrel. Drilled a ton of holes in the barrel for "rifling", making sure to clean up all edges and remove stray hangnails. Assembled barrel with end cap onto the adapter mounted to the pump. Cut some aquarium filter media to length for the barrel, 8", then wrapped it tightly around the barrel 3 times. Covered with red sea mesh cut to size and held on with a couple rubber bands.
Installed it my display tank and within 24 hrs my Phyto bloom was 90% cleared up. By 48 hrs my dt water was crystal clear!
In the future, i plan on shortening the barrel to about 4-5" as it takes up a bit of space in dt and i feel the barrel is too long for the strength of the pump. Shorter barrel means less intake space or stronger flow through less filter media, which will make the filter more effective. Also plan on using 50 micron filter media in the future as it will help polish the water better and faster.
Glenn f suggests a 1000l/h minimum pump for up to 200l tanks. I had a spare new 700l/h pump sitting around that i never used for a salt mixing station idea i had, and decided to use that to build a power filter to combat my first cloudy water experience, a Phyto bloom from dosing too much Phyto and my skimmer not removing it.
Materials used:
Syncra silent 0.5 pump
1/2" threaded x3/4" pvc adapter
3/4" schedule 40 pvc pipe from home Depot
3/4" pvc end cap
Sheet of double layer generic aquarium filter media.
Leftover mesh from red sea diy mesh tank cover
Some rubber bands to hold it all together
Process:
Removed the flow knob from the center of the return pump and installed the 1/2" threaded pvc adapter to the intake of the return pump. Cut 8" piece of 3/4" pvc tube to act as the filter barrel. Drilled a ton of holes in the barrel for "rifling", making sure to clean up all edges and remove stray hangnails. Assembled barrel with end cap onto the adapter mounted to the pump. Cut some aquarium filter media to length for the barrel, 8", then wrapped it tightly around the barrel 3 times. Covered with red sea mesh cut to size and held on with a couple rubber bands.
Installed it my display tank and within 24 hrs my Phyto bloom was 90% cleared up. By 48 hrs my dt water was crystal clear!
In the future, i plan on shortening the barrel to about 4-5" as it takes up a bit of space in dt and i feel the barrel is too long for the strength of the pump. Shorter barrel means less intake space or stronger flow through less filter media, which will make the filter more effective. Also plan on using 50 micron filter media in the future as it will help polish the water better and faster.