Did This DIY Aquarium Filter Actually Work?
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- čas přidán 30. 03. 2023
- Discover the surprising results of my DIY undergravel aquarium filter experiment!
📺For the original build video, head here: • A Hybrid Plenum/Sponge...
In this video, I put my homemade Toolstation filter to the test after a full year of use. Made from inexpensive 21.5mm plastic pipe and fittings, this unique hybrid undergravel and sponge filter with plenum-style intake has been supporting a thriving nano tank with a variety of aquatic life.
Join me as I break down the tank and assess the filter's performance in maintaining water quality, growing plants, and keeping fish and shrimp healthy. You'll also get a glimpse of the beautiful Lilaeopsis Novae-zelandiae carpet and Cryptocoryne Wendtii mi Oya I've been growing in this setup.
I'll explain how this undergravel filter approach promotes nitrification at the root level, benefiting plant growth and contributing to a healthy aquarium ecosystem. Learn from my experience and get valuable insights on how to optimize your own DIY undergravel filter design, including tips on preventing clogging and improving water flow. Plus, stay tuned for a sneak peek at my upcoming experiments exploring undergravel filtration in planted aquariums!
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to my channel for more aquarium tips, tricks, and experiments! Hit the notification bell to stay up-to-date with my latest content.
The plants in the aquascape were:
🌿Lilaeopsis Novea-Zealandi - ebay.us/vSchPg
🌿Susswassertang - ebay.us/F85kgr
🌿Cryptocoryne Wendtii mi Oya - ebay.us/VaCWOV
🛒The aquarium is a 30l Dennerle Nano Cube: ebay.us/UGiV4b
#DIYUndergravelFilter #AquariumFilter #NanoTank #PlantedAquarium
To get in touch for collaborations / enquiries etc - email me at: aquariumshed@gmail.com
Please consider supporting the Aquarium Shed here: / aquariumshed
Find out about Mens Sheds which have inspired this project here: menssheds.org.uk/
Head here to complete the fishkeeping survey: bit.ly/fishkeepingsurvey
Music licensed via artlist.io/
lovely update, looking forward to more updates on under-gravel filter experiments :)
Thank you SO much for showing this and proving that your elegant solution works. All comes down to flow rate and physics. The size of the debris that can actually fit through those holes is so small that "nearly all" should just get swept back out into the tank. Where it will either settle or get caught in the sponge. Cheers.
@@bennerdan thank you so much. Really pleased you appreciated this project. It was a favourite tank of mine!
Thanks for the update, just getting ready to try your design.
you missed a trick: sheet of plastic over the pipe across the bottom on top of some larger lentil sized gravel with a grid of holes about 3cm spread on it but a gap of about 3cm between its edges and the tank wall
Interesting
People forgot how good they work. Thanks for the great video. Keep up the good work. And please more on plenums
Wow thanks so much for the update! I've been loving your air driven filters, especially the spray bar! 😊
I love this content! I really enjoy watching your experiments. I love air driven under gravel filters. These have proved highly effective for my planted tanks. I notice better plant growth even without CO2. My tanks are low tech so far. Can't wait for the next video!
Do you reckon this would work for dirted/walstad tank? Probably a layer of mesh on top of the pvc pipe to avoid clogging.
I just discovered your channel and I actually like this. Maybe I should do this to my old (spare) tank, just to try👌🏻
I picked up another tank for free, so definitely giving this a go now🙈
That's awesome! Let us know how it goes! 👍
@@AquariumShed As i don't really do social media (i'm just on facebook and i saw you're only on Instagram) i'd figured i'd share the progress here so far.
I’ve set myself the challenge to spend as little as possible for a aquarium. So I picked up this 20L (just over 5 gallon) tank for free. It has some scratches, but can’t beat free😂
Lighting is a dimmable 7w GU10 spot (6500k) on a homemade base (electrical pvc pipe sprayed black).
As the Toolstation doesnt sell these pipes in the Netherlands, I found some at a garden shop selling pond supplies aswell. So for the filter i used pressure resistant pvc (intended for use with water) and is driven by an usb airpump.
The dragon stones I had laying around, the soil is Dennerle scapersoil and was a leftover from my main tank.
Plants are clippings from my main tank aswell:
-Limnophila Sessiliflora
-Cryptocoryne Willisii
-Ludwigia Repens Mini Super Red
-Javamoss
-Phyllanthus Fluitans
Total spent so far: €32
Then went ahead an spent €15 on yellow fire back shrimp at a local breeder. So im in it for a grand total of €45.
It has done 4 weeks on the dark cycling method and 2 weeks fully planted. I've uploaded a pic: live.staticflickr.com/65535/52955729299_0185ceabe4_k.jpg
Cheapest tank i ever had and probably the most fun. Thank you for the inspiration, it has been fun so far.
@@ksaandor hey hey! Glad to have provided the inspiration. It truly is amazing what you can achieve on a budget. Tank looks great, and I particularly like the clean simple aesthetic of you DIY light. Great job! Making me wonder how cheap I could make a tank now......
@@AquariumShed Thank you for the compliment 😁. I feel challenge for a new video coming up, do one a cheap as possible👌🏻😎 I’d personally would like that, as everybody thinks they have to spend big bucks on a tank to make it look good. I even see people claiming to have “low budget tanks” and still spend 100bucks on a light for a nano tank😂
if you have questions about the light I can help you out with that. I’m on ukaps too, under the same username. (But I found out I can’t message with a new account, so instead i replied here)
I would be interested to see your take on a dirted tank - plenum filter, no CO2, and no water changes. Would you give such a tank a try ?
Does this DIY undergravel actually works? Answering your question, hell yeah it works! I didn't even know about the existence of undergravel filters, until I came across Dr Kevin Novak's videos I started to do more research about them and they actually convinced me as a form of efficient biological filtration yours is another proof that they work fine, I am currently using two UGFs in my two tanks and I am so happy with them, I actually talked about my setup on a Facebook group and the main complain was that with time the filter will get clogged and become a "nitrate bomb" waiting to explode I felt kinda attacked from some members as if I was doing something sinful lol my oldest tank will be a year old in May and it hasn't get clogged at all! I will personally continue to use undergravel filtration probably for all of my remainder of time in the hobby. 🙂
Crocstation.....
Hahaha. But whats your dirty Croc secret??