Home
Fast Fishless Cycle
Cycle Diary
Links
DIY Projects
Site Map

Home Made DIY Power-Head Pre-filter: For our Aquarium

Supplies / tools
1 under gravel lift tube of correct size for your tank.
1 UGF Tube Cap (see picture 1 below)
1 small hard plastic funnel ( this will be the base of the pre filter see pic 2)
4 inch square of course open foam (pic#3 below)
Silicone
Drill - knife or scissors
Nail file
Saw of some kind
Optional: Friends to laugh at your efforts.
Finished product see pic #5 at the end of this page.
 

Pictures of material used
Pic #1: under gravel lift tube and tube cap

Pic#2: Small hard plastic funnel


Pic #3 Foam Open pore, we used black to help it blend in, and we cut off a 4X4 section.

What we did:

1. We cut the funnel shaft leaving only one inch of the shaft.
2. We then inserted the funnel shaft into the bottom of the UGF lift tube until the tube rested on the black funnel.  We marked the outside of the UGF lift  tube where the funnel shaft stopped inside the UGF tube.
3.  We removed the funnel from the UGF lift tube. We wanted to block the funnel completely, so we filled the funnel shaft and the wide opening of the funnel with Aquarium safe silicone, then allowed to dry for 48 hours.
4. Then using a drill with a small bit we drilled about 10 holes at the bottom ( Starting above our mark from step 2) of the UGF lift tube,  going upwards towards the power head in a strait line. We wanted these openings to be 3inches long. Once all the holes where drilled we punched out the plastic bits to give us thin strait cutouts in the UGF lift tube. See Pic #4 >.
    
   We repeated this around the "entire" lift tube 5 more times, for a total
   of 6 scored sections. We lightly sanded the UGF lift tube to remove any outside sharp edges that might snag our foam. (we used a heavy duty large emery board nail file for sanding.)
    
5. Next we cut a 4"x4" piece of foam.
6. Then we made a cut in the top of the foam big enough to slip 3 inches of the foam over our altered UGF lift tube snuggly. (it's easy to cut foam if you place it in a container just slightly bigger, add some water and freeze, then you can use a drill to make fast and easy cuts.)
7. Next we flipped the foam and cut an opening of 3/4 inch in the center of the bottom. This opening was cut just a bit smaller then the funnel shaft.  We then forced the funnel shaft into the bottom hole we just made, it was a good tight fit, the funnel did not move.
8. We then slipped the foam over the UGF lift tube.
9. Next we added the UGF tube cap on the top of the UGF lift tube.
   ( this cap moves up and down) we moved it as far down on the UGF lift tube as it would go.
10. We then placed the pre-filter in the aquarium, under the power head, adjusted the UGF cap upwards till everything was snug.
    
    
    Pic #5: Our finished Power head pre-filter.
    The filter sits about 1/4 inch off the gravel bed. Its hidden quite nicely behind a piece of driftwood.
    
    Disclaimer: By building this DIY project you agree not to hold the author or the owners of this Web site responsible for any injury or bodily harm you may cause to yourself or others. Always wear safety glasses when working with tools and keep chemicals and power tools away from children. Read and understand all safety instructions pertaining to equipment prior to use.

Back to top
 

Picture #4




picture #5

Home| Fast Fishless Cycle | Cycling Diary| Links| DIY Projects| Site Map|

Design by: Colors by Trixie Last updated 11.16.2006  CBT Copyright Statement - Disclaimer
Copyright © 1982-2006 CBT Design-Fish Stories All rights reserved. Contact Us