20 Gallon Nano DIY filter...

jcopp24 · #1 03/20/2006, 07:29 PM

Currently running a 20G Hish Nano Via-aqua with the in the box filtration built into the tank. (below) Which is no good, two Charcoal Packs, and some crushed live rock on the bottom.

I purchased a Fluval 203 from a friend that has no media inside, no sponge, but three emptry trey's. In the picture you can tell that the top of the unit is divided into four sections, left to right; the wire compartment, the next is the top of the pump that would normally pull water from the tank and run them over the top of compartment three, the fourth compartment is an overflow compartment. The third compartment has a divider that can be taken out, and the compartment has small holes in the bottom.
The plan I had if no one gives me a better one was run the fluval with whatever media is recommended. I would take out the stock powerhead (below) and media in the stock compartments. This would free up a hole in compartment 2 to run the Fluval's intake pipe.

Then with compartment 3's opening I would run the Fluval's exit pipe in here. Where I wanted to plug the small holes allowing compartment 3 to fill with water from the return. I would cut the wall between 3 and 4 down so the overflow would flow from 3 to 4 then back into the tank.
I was hoping that compartment 3 would be able to hold my water heater? Could this be done without an issue? Or am I looking at a potention fire? Any suggestions are welcome, weather they are on the whole setup or on the Fluval media.

jcopp24 · #2 03/21/2006, 08:05 AM

wow no suggestions, comments, ect? should this be posted in another forum to get some thoughts?

jcopp24 · #3 03/21/2006, 08:45 AM

Maybe I can get some attention in here with a couple of pics of who is in the Nano.

jcopp24 · #4 03/21/2006, 11:13 AM

Well response or not here is how the plan goes.
Compartment 1 and 2
Compartment 2 I was hoping to use as an overflow from compartment 3 where I was hoping to store my heater.

Overview of 1-2-3 drained... going to take the crushed liverock out to fill in the holes on the bottom allowing the compartment to fill.

Compartment 3 didnt have a real plan for... unless I dont use two as an overflow
Fluval

jcopp24 · #5 03/21/2006, 11:49 AM

Compartment 3
I dryed this out cleaned it, and used a chaulking gun to seal the holes of the compartment. Giving this an hour or so to dry. I understand my lines might not be clean... first time caulking.

jcopp24 · #6 03/21/2006, 01:49 PM

well thanks for all the input everyone...
I have added flow to the compartment 3 to see how water will flow. Everything seems good, I need to raise the side to the right in the picture so that the flow will go exclusivly to the left side.
This will definatly hold enough water for the heater... now should I add a refumium with cheato?

jcopp24 · #7 03/21/2006, 02:22 PM

To stop the flow over the right lower side in compartment 3 I took a cd case cover, cut it with a dremell to increase the wall divider by 2 cm's. This caused the water to flow out of the slot into Compartment 2 like I wanted back into the tank.
Right Side

Left Side

jcopp24 · #8 03/21/2006, 04:03 PM

After watching the flow of water still going around the cd case wall. I choose to seal the sides but not the bottom. I was having a problem with the water splashing in the bottom to the outside lip of the tank... ( which would make salt creep ) now that the flow only comes from the bottom, no more splashes.

Next I took the heater which was an eye sore and hard to hide in the tank and placed that in compartment three attached to the bottom. Even when turning off the water flow, the heater is still covered with water, incase of a power outage.

jcopp24 · #9 03/21/2006, 04:43 PM

I cut out a part of the old dividers in the olf filter to place over the heater. My questions is, if I kept the cover off the top would there be enough light to grow the Cheato or Seaweed? That way this could actually finish as a refugium?

jcopp24 · #10 03/22/2006, 08:19 AM

Maybe I should make this in bold print...

What media should I put in a Fluval 203 that is running a mainly FOWLR tank?

Can Seaweed, Micro Algea... ect grow in room lighting only?

jcopp24 · #11 03/22/2006, 11:57 AM

Day three... I am going to try and answer my own question on the lighting need.
I finished the Compartment 3 off with a cover over the heater, and put the middle divider in that made a space avialable for my grape Calarpi ( spelling )

Underneath the whole top finished... well if I need a light that will come soon.

Kogo · #12 03/22/2006, 01:16 PM

other than hiding the heater, i dont see the purpose of this project.

the refugium seems too small to be of consequence, and the macro will die without its own light source.

perhaps you would be better served to just use the fluval and fill it with LR rubble.

also, if you want people to respond to your threads, try not to criticise them for not responding.

Mikeeal · #13 03/22/2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kogo

also, if you want people to respond to your threads, try not to criticise them for not responding.

Exactly.

You only gave it thirty six minutes, cool off a bit, this forum moves pretty fast, but not that fast.

jcopp24 · #14 03/22/2006, 01:33 PM

Cool cool thank you for the reply...

I will try the refugium without the light just to see what happens... is it exposed to 16 hour florescents at work. If needed with what I gather from other refugium projects, I will add the a small light to be the source for the refugium. I understand it is small my who intent was overkill... I just had this dead space above my nano that I wanted to use.

That was my reason for asking the questions to get honest responses like yours, thank you very much.

jcopp24 · #15 03/22/2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mikeeal
Exactly.

You only gave it thirty six minutes, cool off a bit, this forum moves pretty fast, but not that fast.

Well that is the problem with posting on a chat rather than face to face conversation. The sarcasm I had in my questions can not be read by people reading the forum. Again was trying to invoke honest responses which I did get. Thank you again for the information...

Given everything said, should I still fill the Fluval with LR? Should I also use the sponge media? Both or would the sponge build up the wrong bacteria?

Mikeeal · #16 03/22/2006, 02:13 PM

I would just use the LR in the canister, no sponges.

jcopp24 · #17 03/23/2006, 08:49 AM

and no to the charcoal media?

jobob · #18 03/23/2006, 11:40 AM

i would use live rock sponge and carbon. i think ur goin to need a little light over the fuge. it will take some stuff out of the water, but it will make a space for copods to grow.