Habitat - Outdoor :: 5 gal. bucket bio filter

[timmyng531]

i have a bathtub 50 gal. with my turtle in, outside in my backyard.

the water gets really ugly in about a week, so im trying to build a filter...

ive read stuff about a "skippy" filter, and im thinking about just filling a 5 gallon bucket with some bioballs, then some mechanical filtration over it.

my question is... If i use a pump [around 100+gph] i will need to make a hole at the bottom of the bucket so that the water can go out at the same rate of the input, so it doesnt overfill.
--if water flows thru the filter too quickly, will the mech/bio filter effectively treat it?--

thanks.

[SpotsMama]

I'm not visualizing what you're describing. Why don't you just build a skippy? There are directions on the internet.

The "buckets" I've seen for outdoor filters are really just jute or burlap bags with plastic mesh bio media filler inside. They don't have hard sides - water flows through the pores in the bag.

[Terryo]

Years ago, my son had a pond, and he made a filter with a plastic storage bin. On the bottom, he put some kind of media filler, then on top of that two spong like pads. On one end on near the bottom, he made two holes and put tubing in each hole, which would be the out put going into the pond. On the other side toward the top he put another hole with tubing going into the pumb,which was on the bottom of the pond, which was the input.
If you look at a bio. filter (which I bought for loads of money) it is really the same thing.

[timmyng531]

"For example, 50 gallons of water in a turtle tank should have a filter rated for a 150 gallon aquarium. The amount of water movement could be as high as approximately 600 gph (gallons per hour) for only 50 gallons of water. "

what i am concerned about is if water is pouring into my filter, and pouring right back out into tub, will the water be effectivly treated?
i'm using a 5gallon bucket, the kind ppl put paint or detergent in...
how much bioballs should i fill it to?a fourth?

[Terryo]

The only thing that matters is that your pump is compatible with your filter. If your pump is too strong, then it will over flow. If it is too weak, it won't do the job efficiently. If the pump is compatible with the filter, it will do the job fine. This is why I bought the pump and filter at Dr's. Foster&Smith, and they did all the leg work for me. What kind of pump do you have? The stronger the pump, the bigger the filter you will need.

[timmyng531]

at costco, they had packages of scouring pads, however, the package said, not for aquarium use...

are they saying the scouring pads will scratch glass?, or that it contains chemicals harmful to aquatic life?


than ks

[SpotsMama]

Both. If it says not to use in an aquarium it could be very abrasive and also have chemicals and/or soap.

You can, however, get plastic cleaning pads without any soap or chemicals on them and they are fine to use in an aquarium.

[timmyng531]

Both. If it says not to use in an aquarium it could be very abrasive and also have chemicals and/or soap.

You can, however, get plastic cleaning pads without any soap or chemicals on them and they are fine to use in an aquarium.

well, i plan on using them in a small skippy filter.
should i still be concerned?
what kind of scouring pads has anyone used in the building of their skippy filter? to me, a scouring pad is a scouring pad....

[timmyng531]

this is what it ended up looking like...
i just bought the beckett refill filter pads, which is a course foam pad plus a finer pad, and cut it into a circle.
then stacked those, with the balls, inside the bucket with usng bricks and stuff.
then put some water hyacinths on the top.
only problem is that i shouldve bought black tube, because since its clear, algae and moss grows in the tube and slows the flow.




http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3406/filterie7.jpg

[steve]

Do you have a picture of that whole setup?

[Kookala]

Is the beneficial bacteria doing it's job yet?

[timmyng531]

this is an older picture, without the nozzle and the plants on top.
not that great of a picture, but iniside the tub there is a small pump and an upside down milk crate. i cut two opposite sides of the milkcrate away so the turtles can swim through.
the water level reaches just about up to the milk crate. i used a ramp [from my little brother's toy truck set] and zip tied it [cable tie, nylon tie, watever].