Filter for the aquarium with your own hands. How to assemble a filter for an aquarium: schemes, tips

Before you start fish, you need to take care of the presence not only suitable for them aquarium, soil, vegetation, some decorative elements, but also a filter. You should understand that this is not only a water purifier, but also an essential item for vital activity of your domestic water creatures. And if you do not have the opportunity to purchase this or that model in the store, you can consider how to make a filter for the aquarium with your own hands.

The importance of the aquarium filter

No matter how clean water you put in the aquarium, it will eventually become dirty. This is due to the appearance in it of dead particles of algae, waste and other small particles of debris. In order to get rid of all this and keep the water clean, it is necessary to install a water filter in the aquarium.

This mechanism has the following functions:

• Purifies water from inorganic particles;
• Removes all sorts of dissolved substances from water (for example, pills or other medicines after treatment of aquarium inhabitants);
• Fills the water with oxygen, without which no fish can survive;
• Creates a circulation of water.

There is no doubt that fish and other aquatic animals can not be launched into one aquarium without a filter installed in it. But, considering all of the above, it is still worth remembering, if you know how to install a filter in an aquarium and have already decided which model to buy, it still will not create you natural running water. After all, each filter pumps the same liquid.

How do filters differ from each other?

Before installing the filter in the aquarium, you need to determine its type, installation location and functionality. After all, in every specialized store you will come across a large selection of these devices. All of them differ between each other in design features and scope of application.

Some do not want to face such a choice and prefer to make a filter for the aquarium with their own hands, just having studied all the features of the purchased structures and figuring out which model is right for this or that situation.

Types of filters for the aquarium

According to the principle of operation, modern aquarium filters of the following types are distinguished:

1. Mechanical are able to purify water in the aquarium from turbidity and floating particles that have been raised from the bottom by the movement of fish and the compressor. Without installing such a device can not do. After all, the dirt in the aquarium gradually accumulates and, as a result, decomposes, making the water turbid. Such a filter should be rinsed with the contamination. The first indication of its clogging will be the reduced flow of water passing through this device.
2. Chemical filters purify aquarium water from organic substances to a greater degree . They remove phosphates and nitrates. For an excellent result, such filters must be periodically changed.
3. Absorption-chemical filters contribute to the purification of water from waste products of fish and other "animals" of the aquarium. Typically, such a device includes a constantly circulating pump, a special sponge and a substrate (usually gravel) located directly beside it. It can be installed both inside and outside the aquarium. It should be noted that the main constituent of each biological filter are nitrifying bacteria, whose vital activity must be maintained without fail. This means that such an outdoor filter for the aquarium needs to be washed only under running water. And in no case it can not be dried.

Types of filters depending on their location

Each filter for an aquarium, photos of which demonstrate not only their appearance, but also the ways of fastening, can be installed in different ways. According to this, the following types of these devices are distinguished at their place of location:

1. The bottom filter for the aquarium is placed almost at the bottom of the tank. It has a large number of holes, from which air is supplied. Such filters help to clear water from small clogs. Manufacturers recommend that they be installed just before the fish are colonized. Otherwise, placing and fixing this type of filter in the aquarium will be very difficult.
2. The internal filter is installed inside the aquarium (hence the name of the aquarium). Typically, it consists of a sponge or activated carbon and a pumping device. Such filters very quickly become clogged. This should be constantly monitored, since the capacity of such a device is reduced.
3. The external filters for the aquarium are very similar to the internal ones. The only difference is the location.

How to make a filter for the aquarium by yourself?

A good filtering device will never be cheap. What to do? How to save money? In this case, we recommend making the most simple filter for the aquarium with your own hands. To make it you will need: a sponge (its size you choose depending on the capacity of the aquarium), a sprayer, a suction cup, a rubber tube, two 20 ml syringes, a small compressor.

Take one syringe. In one part, in which the medicine should be taken up, make a hole with a warmed up awl. You need to connect the second syringe to the first one. This can be done with a spike. To do this, hold the widest ends on the hot plate, quickly connect them and hold for 5-7 seconds. Cut off at both ends the part into which the needle should be inserted. You should have a long plastic pipe.

Take a sponge, make in one of its sides not wide but deep incision, insert into it a part of the syringe with holes. Put a rubber tube in the resulting "pipe", connect it to the compressor. Attach the suction cup to one side of the syringe. On it, and will attach your filter to the wall of the aquarium.

Is it possible to make a filter for the aquarium?

No filter can fully clean the water in the aquarium without a pump. The simplest such device can also be made by hand. For this it is necessary to have at hand: nozzle, choke, pump core and tee.

The nozzle can be replaced by a simple pipe. It must be inserted into one of the holes of the tee. After this, take a tap with a thread, screw the nipple onto it, and pull the hose from above. On the opposite side, you need to carefully attach a small hose, which will then serve to drain the water. The siphon is put on the end of this hose. It will help protect the pump itself from getting into it ground, which can cause serious damage to the device.

How to properly install a filter in the aquarium?

So, you bought or made a filter for the aquarium with your own hands. Now what? How to install it? What rules should be followed?

First of all, everyone should understand that in an empty aquarium the filter should never be installed. The capacity must be at least half full with water. It is also worth noting that before collecting the filter for the aquarium, all the details of this device must be thoroughly dried. And only after that, we will begin to install it. The filter is usually attached to the wall by means of suction cups at a distance of 3 cm from the surface and in such a way that it does not touch the bottom. To begin with, it must be immersed in water in the off state.

A tube that absorbs air must be brought out. It is very convenient if a tube is provided for this tube. In a fixed state, it will not move and fall into the water.

If you understand how to install a filter in an aquarium, and did it right, then only now it can be plugged into an outlet. If the filter has started to circulate and saturate the water with oxygen, then you should have no doubt about the fact that you did something wrong.

How can I clean the filter myself?

In order to clean the aquarium filter, you must first disconnect it from the network. Outside, the device is rinsed from mucus and dirt, carefully "expose" sponges in running water. If you have a chemical filter, its filler must be replaced without fail. If you buy a biological filter, remember that it will be more convenient to have several of these instruments at once. This makes it easy to clean each of them in turn.

And finally ...

It is mandatory to monitor the operation of your filter system. It should always work at full strength. If, for example, the bottom filter for the aquarium does not work at full strength, then this is the first sign that this device needs to be cleaned and cleaned.

Remember! Improvement of the skills of care for the aquarium filter comes only with time. In this case, you only need attention and care to your pets.