Posted by TVanderboom on December 30, 2003 at 12:21:37:
In Reply to: homemade filters posted by reggie on December 30, 2003 at 09:24:18:
Reggie, I use a Keepalive 460 aerator with the maxifilter (from Keepalive) in my 30 gallon tank. I will try to explain to you how I made my filter as best as I can.
I used an upside down 14" inch diameter tupperware bowl with a tight fitting lid to make my filter. I drilled a pattern of holes in the bowl for the water inlets. I sit the aerator with the maxifilter (from Keepalive) on the under side of the lid (remember, the bowl and lid are upside down). I then cut out circles of pillow batting that match the bowl diameter and place these on top of my aeator and filter inside the bowl.
You will have to drill a big hole in the side of the bowl for the water return pipe as well as a hole for the wires and one for the air hose.
This unit will float if you don't find a way to make it stay on the bottom. I drilled three holes in the lid to fit the pattern of the suction mounts on the aerator. You can take off the suction cups and remount them to your aerator with the lid in between. Now your suction cups are on the outside of the lid. You can stick the suction cups on a piece of plexiglass epoxied to the bottom of the tank or I use a heavy white piece of tile to weigh it down.
My filter works like a charm. You could even add a bag or a layer of zeolite or charcoal if you wanted to. I can easily keep three dozen large thredfins or bluebacks alive and perky all day. I have kept 15 nine inch gizzards all day with no red noses. The filter will even clear up muddy water. I suggest that you get the maxifilter from Keepalive. Not only will it catch a few scales that get through the batting but it also catches the tiny stringy peices that come off of the pillow batting. These stringy peices will get caught in the pump shaft and burn the motor out. Hope this helps! Tom