My process of taking found parts and creating a bog filter (aka veggie filter) for my turtle tank. Bog filters are used primarily for ponds, but is working quite well for this indoor tank. My…eh hem…highly technical drawing of the filter…I modeled this with anoxic filtration in mind. Here’s a good overview of the anoxic process if you’re interested:Since the canister filter I had broke, I’ve been doing 100% water changes every week. That’s 40 gallons of water every single week. My haphazard gathering of materials. I don’t really have a workroom, so I worked in my living room. That’s a 3 gallon beverage dispenser, a small submersible pump (90 gph, I believe), a pipe extender, a slotted plastic basket, screen door replacement screening, waterproof tape, aquarium sponges, 2 sizes of biological filter medium (really just different shapes of baked clay) and gravel used for planted aquariums.Just a bad photo. Here’s the beverage dispenser. I figured since the process would be to push water from the tank up through the filter, the dispenser was perfect.

It already had a preformed hole in the bottom and was water tight. The top, however, had no such hole, so it was drilling time! I planned to use a hole saw to cut the 1 1/2″ hole I’d need to feed the pipe extender kit through, so I needed to drill a 3/4″ hole for the center of the hole saw to sit in. If you’ve ever drilled a hole in acrylic, you know that it takes a low, slow drill to keep from cracking. First hole, 1/4″ bit. Second hole, 1/2″ bit. Third hole, 3/4″ bit. My beloved hole saw bit! You can see the center drill bit that I needed to pre-drill for.The hole is complete. Right about now I looked like I’d been snowed on with acrylic dust. Use a mask, kids. Because I’m impulsive and not safety conscious. I’m not entirely sure how exactly the pipe extender is supposed to work for plumbing, but after combing the plumbing sections of three hardware stores, I thought it would work well for this. It had both a female and male adapter side, and best of all, the pipe itself accordioned (that may not be an actual word, but you get the point…) into the shape I needed.

Since this outflow needed to make a 90 degree angle into my tank, the flexibility was key. A little RTV silicone and a 24 hour curing period make the whole shebang water-tight. I’m both cheap and opportunistic, so when I saw this plastic spout that came with the dispenser, I felt I needed to at least try to reuse it…3 foot fish tank gumtree Fortunately, the interior diameter of the remaining spout was a clean 1/2″, and I knew I could make that work with the tubing I’d need for the pump.cheap 55 gallon fish tank hoodI also sealed it up with that same RTV silicone and added a wrap of waterproof plumber’s tape for good measure.3 foot fish tank and stand

Here’s the slotted basket I used to house most of the media and the plants. I cut out a slot in the top to accommodate the outflow pipe, and lined it with left over window screening I had from a time when I *may* have put a 2×4 through a screen door in my last apartment..corner fish tank lighting The outflow pipe in place!custom fish tanks victoria Here’s a photo from the side that shows the pump (bottom right corner in the tank) that I covered with a filter sponge to act as mechanical filtration and keep large solids out of the main filter, and how it attaches with tubing to the spout I cut apart.fish tank filter components Close up of the joint. As a plant hoarder, I had no need to buy any plants for this project.

I used cuttings of several plants I know don’t mind having wet feet and are good ol’ heavy feeders. Their job, after all, is pulling nitrites and ammonia out of the water before it goes back into the tank. Let’s see….I have a few pothos cuttings, three kinds of ivy, and a sprig of schefflera.It’s been running for a week now with no problems at all. As you can see, the water pours into the tank, which made a very, very loud splashing sound. So I built a filter baffle to quiet the sucker down. Two weeks on and the filter is a complete success! There has been no leakage of any kind, the tank water is clear, and the water quality is high with no ammonia or nitrites to be seen. And, my favorite part, the plant cuttings I put in the top of the filter are growing like crazy! Check out the new little sprout off the schlefflera. Grow little friend, grow! Browse thousands of constantly-updated listings and search by location, brand, and boat type See more... Connect with our expansive community and tap into the knowledge base of the most dedicated boaters around.

Browse and search for hundreds of thousands of boat parts, accessories, and supplies to suit your every need.This article has information/tips, pictures, and products to help with the application/installation of aquarium and pond vinyl tubing, whether clear, black, or ribbed to hose barbs or similar on UV Sterilizers, filters, etc. These tips can be used to �mate� similar sized tubing to hose barbs (or other connections or even to mate smaller tubing to larger connection when heat is also applied. Lubrication of the receiving hose barb or other connection is essential. I prefer/recommend silicone lubricant as it also makes and excellent water seal, however Vasoline (petroleum jelly) can also work quite well. For more difficult connections heating of the tubing is also helpful and often a must for heavier tubing (such as ribbed tubing) and this is a must for mating smaller tubing to larger connections/hose barbs (such as 3/8� tubing to a �� connection). When heat is used, make sure it is done evenly and that it only warms the tubing up to where it is almost too hot to the touch, but not melting as this can make the tubing less pliable and defeat the purpose of heating the tubing in the first place (which is to make it MORE pliable).

This heating method is especially useful for connections from metric filters such as the Eheim 2217 which is approximately 5/8" ID (16 mm)for the intake, but is smaller at approximately 1/2" (12 mm) ID for the outlet. As an example, for connecting this to the TMC Fluidized Filter, you would spice the Ehiem return (outlet) line and place the FB Filter after the Eheim Filter using heating of the Tubing to expand and fit the TMC FB Filter (as well as lubrication with petroleum jelly). Another heating method that involves no flame is to place the tubing end for a few seconds under hot water and when applying to the connection, twist. Please note that these suggestions also work with smooth adapters as well, not necessarily �barbed� adapters. Many power heads, pumps, internal filters, etc. only come with these �smooth� or straight outlets/adapters or these may be the better option over the hose barbs for ease of tubing application in difficult instances. For more 'loose' fits or simply for extra assurance for no future leaks even with tight fits, I strongly suggest the use of a hose clamp, which should be placed over at least one ridge if a barbed fitting is used.

Or if a smooth fitting is used, this clamp should be 100% over the surface of this fitting (not part on and part off). Please click on the picture to the left to purchase hose clamps Also see this video for a similar demonstration of connecting tubing to a UV Sterilizer with hose barbs: UV Sterilizer Installation Demonstration The picture to the left demonstrates a Rio 1100 Water Pump with the stock outlet with 5/8" ID Tubing attached using our heat/lubrication method outlined here on this page. This pumps stock metric outlet at 18 mm is a larger than the 5/8" SAE tubing, but not by much, so this method works well at what would be a nearly impossible fit, making it relatively easy if done correctly. This method works for many other fittings from the Filstar Filter which is also somewhat larger than standard vinyl tubing sizes or larger 22 mm to 3/4" ID as well as many other aquarium or pond connections. Please click on the picture to enlarge *Rio Aquarium/Pond Water Pumps

*High Quality Vinyl Tubing for Aquarium or Pond OTHER USEFUL PLUMBING PARTS: Sold on Separate Web Page Aquarium & Pond Plumbing Parts *UV Water Return and Intake Adapter For use with Vecton, Terminator, or any other under aquarium UV Sterilizer. For use with in-tank power heads or internal filters to safely return or intake water to the aquarium without hose kinks. *3/4" X 1/2" (TO 5/8") Hose Barb Adapter Useful for adapting 3/4" inch hose barbs on UVs (such as the 9 Watt Terminator) or other aquarium equipment to the 1/2 to 5/8" hoses common Ehiem and other filters. *Water T Diverter Valves For use with ponds, sumps, or any high flow water application where the flow rate exceeds the recommended GPH per watt for a UV Sterilizer as well as other applications Please Click on the above picture link to purchase these items form the Plumbing Parts Web Page Remember, it is your purchases here (both small & large) that keeps these world class information articles free.

Purchasing elsewhere such as Amazon will only result in this free information going away someday!! For our Complete Pumps Page: Aquarium/Pond/Fountain Water and Air Pumps A FEW OTHER AQUARIUM/POND PUMPS (& FILTERS); Models 90, 200, 600, 1000, 1100, & 1700; Proven and Versatile Rio Aquarium, Fountain Water Pumps, Powerheads Tropic Marine Center Vecton & Pond Advantage Professional UV Sterilizers for Ponds or aquariums. There are no better UV Sterilizers at Any price! Compare the TMC 15 Watt Advantage or Vecton with the 18 Terminator, while the Terminator is an excellent Compact UV design (with NO better compact design), NO compact UV compares with the long exposure time of the TMC UVs (the 15 watt TMC will out perform the 18 watt Terminator). Solid durable construction Terminator UV Sterilizers, Clarifiers, UV Filter Kits for aquariums and ponds. Superior performance from a compact UV Sterilizer; proven superior results over Tetra and Turbo Twist