Carbon / Phosphate Canister

[adamRS80]

I treated with Interceptor because I had red mites. I knew I needed to run alot of carbon and do it efficiently so I decided I could build something that worked better than just tossing a bag of carbon in my hang-on refugium. I don't have a sump so this is what I came up with. It looks pretty trashy on my tank, but it's only temporary. As far as I can tell it's working great, I only wish it was clear. I'm using a Maxi-jet 900. The best part is that I can unscrew the threaded coupling and just replace the carbon, or anything else in a media bag and screw it shut. I think this would work really well on a bigger tank using larger diameter pipe for more flow and more capacity.

[GaryP]

Actually it looks pretty good IMO. The only thing I would have done is make it larger.

Gary

[matt]

Looks good! To answer Josh's question, I think he's using a bag to hold the carbon.

Why don't you try making one out of acrylic like the one I made at the meeting that time? The only thing is you need a router and flush trim bit to do it. If you can get a hold of those, it's not a difficult job.

[Brett Wilson]

You might find this article of interest:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010211125618/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1998/may/features/1/default.asp

And this one in the current issue of reef keeping:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/rhf/index.htm

[GaryP]

I use filter floss in my plexiglas canister. It has a filter sponge at one end and the filter floss at the other end where it opens for carbon change out. I bought that one a long time ago. I have an old Eheim unit that someone gave me that I need to dig out and use so that I can run both carbon and phosphate absorber. I have mixed the two in my canister in the past. Currently I'm running carbon in the canister and phosphate absorber in a sock.

Gary

[GaryP]

Adam,

You might want to consider putting a hose clamp over the hose barb. If something were to get in there to cause a blockage, the pump could build up enough pressure to blow off the hose and you'd have water everywhere. Its happened on my canister but its entirely in sump so its no big deal. You can either use a stainless steel radiator hose clamp or one of those ratcheting plastic clamps.

[adamRS80]

Wow I didn't expect so many comments. It sounds like I'm not the first to try something like this. I'd definitly prefet clear acrylic, and that it be a little bigger but my tank is pretty small and I had the extra pump so this size will be good since it's only temporary. Gary I thought about the hose clamp but on both ends I used tubing that was one size too small. I had to heat the tubing up in hot water and put a tiny amount of vegatable oil on the barb just to be able to force it on. The next time I make one of these I'll probably use 2" pipe and at least a Maxi-jet 1200. The cost without the pump was like $7.

[wkopplin]

I built the same thing, only using 3" pipe. I run mine with a mag 5 and put a ball valve on the outflow end to create some back pressure. The whole thing is submersible and I just dumped the contraption into my sump. I used those clean out covers on either end of the unit so I can unscrew them and pull the media bag out. Cost about $10 in parts to build.

[XXX]

Crappy, are you kidding? My hats off to you for your imagination of problem solving.