crazy diy idea..

[ValRasbora]

OK. So I was experimenting tonight, because I had a thought: what about an electricity-free filter? So, I kept on thinking and I came up with a filter that has a tube that siphons water into the tank, and then another tube that siphons it back out into the tank. Buuut there were obviously some flaws. So, I came up with a long body (i.e., soda pop bottle), with a hole on the bottom for the in-tube to go into (so it will be lower than the water level; causing water to siphon in), and the out-tube on the top with the end of the out-tube lower in the tank, causing the water to siphon out. The top will be at the same level as the aquarium. I was trying it out mini-sized in a small food container. It worked, but had size-realted issues;The water would drain too fast, it would rise too fast, etc. so hopefully tomorrow I'm going to try it out full-sized.

Here's a pic because it's hard to explain (thick black lines=tubes, purple arrows= water flow direction, large boxes as labeled.)

what do you all think? Opinions? Improvements? Too crazy?*twirlysmi

 

[misterking]

This sounds like a really cool idea.. I hope it works, the more complicated physics of it is a bit too confusing for a wee music student but I think I get how it'd work, good luck!

 

[ValRasbora]

it was such a headache thinking out and researching! If it works, it will be such a nice cheap filter. I might paint it black to make it look professional. Hmmm.

 

[freash_water_monster]

well what if the current is to strong for the fish species and might suck them in

 

[ryanoh]

Did you just invent perpetual motion?!?

Please let us know how this works out, lol.

 

[freash_water_monster]

I always wanted 1 of these for my fish tank!*BOUNCINGS

 

[bassbonediva]

I always wanted 1 of these for my fish tank!*BOUNCINGS

Yeah, dude...tanks like that are SO hard to maintain! Good luck with that one.

 

[ValRasbora]

Did you just invent perpetual motion?!?

Please let us know how this works out, lol.

*thumbsups I hope so! I'm going to get the tubing soon. @freash, if the current is too strong I have some mesh so they won't get sucked it

everyone keep your fingers crossed!

 

[OrangeCones]

The community college I attended had this set up between two 20gallon long tanks:

 

[fishwish34]

That's a really cool idea! How do you seal the bottom hole so that no water escapes from where the tube enters?

 

[ValRasbora]

@oc, did it work?!
@fishwish, I'll probably use silicon or epoxy.

I was unable to construct it today due to an unexpected snowfall and not being able to get to my house.. hopefully tonight!

 

[OrangeCones]

@oc, did it work?!

Yes ValRasbora, it worked. To show how well it worked, they added yellow dye to one tank, and blue in the other. It took just 20 mins or so for the tanks to be a uniform green color.

They then used the set-up to see if one filter could be put on one tank, and use the tubes to circulate the water in both tanks, keeping both tanks healthy. It worked that way too.

They then did an experiment in fish pheromones. They removed the tubes and filtered both tanks. They kept 5 oscars (just over 2 inches long each) in one tank, and a shoal of neon tetras in the other. They could not see each other as they had the sides facing each other painted black. The neons were breeding and laying eggs constantly (as they often do in a good set-up).

They added the tubes back in. To prevent any fish from getting caught in the siphon tubes, they put mesh over the ends.

The neons stopped courting each other, spent more time hiding among the rocks and plants, and breeding stopped. Nothing else had been changed.

They then removed the oscars, and put another shoal of neons in the oscars' old tank. Both sets started courting behavior and were much more relaxed, out swimming.

Then they did water changes, using 1/2 'new' water, and 1/2 water from the oscars' tank. They fish went back to hiding, breeding activity stopped.

Your idea is different in that the tubes will link it to a filter and not just an empty tank.

 

[ValRasbora]

/it works!!
The only problem is the tubing is rather small (all the pet store had) so it dosen't go very fast. But, I will soon fix that when I scrounge around the garage for something better.. perhaps some hosing (clean, don't worry!). I'm hoenstly really surprised that is worked. I thought science would be against me!
Total cost was... $2. This is going to be the cheapest filter ever; hopefully it'll work better with prototype II!

 

[Newman]

we need pics!

 

[OrangeCones]

The only problem is the tubing is rather small (all the pet store had) so it dosen't go very fast.

Most 'home improvement' type stores have tubing in larger sizes. I bought 1.5 inch clear tubing for 19cents a foot a few months back. They had about 1/2 the size of aquarium airline tubing up to 2" diameter, and everything in between.

 

[ValRasbora]

great! I'll go scour the hardware stores.
@newman, you don't want pictures... it's hideous.! An old pop bottle with curly airline tubing? Yuck.

If this works I think I can squeeze just one more aquarium out of my dad... hehe.

 

[paperdog9]

I considered this Idea for making a waterfall in my paludarium, but It became kind of complicated so I just gave up and bought a filter. Like what OC said, home improvement stores have all kinds of tubing, I even got a foot of tubing that was about 2 inches in diameter and the sides were one inche thick! Good luck!

 

[ValRasbora]

My dad checked the hardware stores and...
$7\foot.
what. the. heck.

 

[ValRasbora]

I'm thinking maybe 4 smaller tubes?

 

[paperdog9]

That sound like it will do just fine. You could even spread out the tubes in the tank for a more even debris intake.