Tupperware Canister Filter

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Okay, so I'm doing things on a budget and one thing I want is a refugium/algae scrubber but I don't have a sump. I'm thinking of getting a powerhead and a hose pumping water into a watertight tupperware container, where it'll flow through a filter sock thing and then there'll be rocks to grow hair algae on and I'll throw some chaeto in and have a light on over it. And when the container fills up the rest of the water will be forced through another hose back to the aquarium. Does this sound attainable/functional?

 

[40g Nano]

Could you make a diagram please?

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Could you make a diagram please?

definitely, one second and I'll be back

 

[40g Nano]

Ok Thanks!

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Ok Thanks!

There ye go

 

[01xp]

You could just wait till petco does a $1 per gallon. It's like your trying to make a sump

 

[dbowman5]

light through tupperware could be an issue. I would consider placing it above the tank, otherwise the pressure would pop the top off of the container. what size tank? why use tupperware? that stuff is expensive! lol, get a rubbermade tote
besides there are a lot of small aquariums that are really cheap.
good thinking, tho!

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

You could just wait till petco does a $1 per gallon. It's like your trying to make a sump

I'm not drilling a tank, and I'm not doing a vacuum sump... that went terribly.

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

light through tupperware could be an issue. I would consider placing it above the tank, otherwise the pressure would pop the top off of the container. what size tank? why use tupperware? that stuff is expensive! lol, get a rubbermade tote
besides there are a lot of small aquariums that are really cheap.
good thinking, tho!

Sorry, I meant to say like a watertight rubbermaid lol

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ya I like it! But like @dbowman5 said put it above your tank, that way your dealing with gravity rather than a syphon

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Ya I like it! But like @dbowman5 said put it above your tank, that way your dealing with gravity rather than a syphon

I honestly was thinking of doing that and spray painting the sides of the container to keep the light from leaching ;)

 

[dbowman5]

i did a DIY overflow that is very dependable on a 32 gal bowfront. youtube design video you might try something like it.

after it worked, i spray painted everything black

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

i did a DIY overflow that is very dependable on a 32 gal bowfront. youtube design video you might try something like it.

after it worked, i spray painted everything black

I tried the same one, I hated it :( idk why but it failed for me and I'd wake up at 2am to it gurgling

 

[Patrick.S]

I don’t think you’ll be able to find a Tupperware that will be able to pressurize to the point that water won’t push up the lid or seep through. There’s a reason canister filters have clamps and o rings.

 

[RC Corals]

IMHO, by the time you're done you'll have spent more on Tupperware, Rubbermaid, and experimental PVC and Tubing than if you just bought a cheap canister filter used. Change the filter floss every couple weeks and you'll be fine.

 

[PeterLL]

Honestly I think this could work and I have one something similar. Granted maybe not a 15l tank thing, but get a couple litre sized Spaghetti Container, with drilled holes top and bottom for input and output and I don't see why it wouldnt work with some chaeto in the middle. I built this for my tank: https://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/diy-nitrate-filter-reactor.387870/
Replace the Seachem Denitrate with some Chaeto I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[dbowman5]

I tried the same one, I hated it :( idk why but it failed for me and I'd wake up at 2am to it gurgling

there is the issue of sucking the standpipe dry; which is fixed by the height of the outside U. you could lose or have trouble starting siphon which is addressed by drilling a hole in the first elbow leaving the tank and inserting a capped check valve like on air line from an air pump. this is uncapped and air is sucked out to create the siphon. there also should be a hole drilled in the cap of the tall vertical to break the siphon. my worry was that the return pump might overpower the overflow and overfill the tank. i put a high level cut off float in the upper tank to prevent that.

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

there is the issue of sucking the standpipe dry; which is fixed by the height of the outside U. you could lose or have trouble starting siphon which is addressed by drilling a hole in the first elbow leaving the tank and inserting a capped check valve like on air line from an air pump. this is uncapped and air is sucked out to create the siphon. there also should be a hole drilled in the cap of the tall vertical to break the siphon. my worry was that the return pump might overpower the overflow and overfill the tank. i put a high level cut off float in the upper tank to prevent that.

Yeah there was just huge imbalance and i didn't like it. I'd rather do something that can start up on it's own. Plus more it's more covered so there's not as much evaporation.

 

[Double monti 61]

I say go for it! You won’t know if you don’t try.

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Honestly I think this could work and I have one something similar. Granted maybe not a 15l tank thing, but get a couple litre sized Spaghetti Container, with drilled holes top and bottom for input and output and I don't see why it wouldnt work with some chaeto in the middle. I built this for my tank: https://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/diy-nitrate-filter-reactor.387870/
Replace the Seachem Denitrate with some Chaeto I don't see why it wouldn't work.

I love it! That's exactly what I'm trying to do just on a bigger scale :) if I can get a watertight container it should work