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DIY Clownz!! Filter Pump FX5

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#1 Clownz!!

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 02:09 PM

The backing story:

8 months ago I bought a 2nd hand Fluval FX-5 off of Gumtree. The filter worked fine apart from a few starting issues such as; once staring and it goes through its air removal process, it wouldn't turn back on, Also the pump would occasional randomly shut itself off and refuse to turn on for an hour or so. But one day (2 months later) the filter refused to start at all. I took it apart, I cleaned it. Plugged it back in but still nothing. It refused to turn on. I tried several more times over the a period of a couple of months. But in the end I gave up, the FX-5 was abandoned. I went out to vebas and bought 2 new Whale 500's which took its place, filtering my large tank. Unfortunately now I no-longer had a UV steriliser and the threat of a white spot epidemic was causing some worry. So abandoned for 6 months, A week ago I decided that a new filter, with a UV steriliser was really the only way ensure that another white spot plague did not happen to my fish. So I dusted off the old FX-5 and created a design.

 

The project:

Me as a student being on holidays at the moment had 2 weeks to play with in which I wanted to build the filter and have it operational. I wanted to keep it as cheap as possible and use materials that I already had if possible.

 

So I had an old (dead) FX-5

A spare pond pump (9000 l/h)

A UV steriliser

And a sort of canister, that the original seller of the tank threw in for me when I bought it.

 

It was more a matter of placing all the pieces together so that they worked efficiently, quietly and powerfully.

 

 

Kjtefwc.jpg

 

How it works:

The water comes out of the shed/tank, down throught the UV sterilers into the modified FX-5. The water from the FX-5 is then pumped to the filter part and then back into the tank

 

9ylYxtw.jpg

 

Modification on the FX-5:

 

The FX-5 has 3 holes for water flow (as such). The input, the output and the drainer.

The modified FX-5 takes water in from the input and takes it down into the input of the pond pump which has a pump running to it on the inside of the machine. Creating a vacuum down to the FX-5. The FX-5 then fills with water and then pushes to the white external filter. Through the output hole.

 

The original pump was taken off of the side and the cord for the new pump had a place to be put though. the remaining area was taken up by aquarium safe silicone and 2 acrylic disks cut to fit the area. between them more silicone and they were then fitted into place and squeezed together to seal the hole.

 

ujlMF09.jpg

 

The modified FX-5 then pushes to the filter which is soon to be filled with bio-balls. 

 

Thanks for reading the post  :) heres some more pics:

 

kt4vV40.jpg

 

1DZxdSJ.jpg

 

GhvaOWW.jpg

 



#2 Moses

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 04:36 PM

You know a new FX5 pump is like $180 right?? haha thumbs up for your MacGuyver skills!



#3 malawiman85

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 06:39 PM

Ive been thinking for ages of making a big arse external filter with 100-200mm diameter pvc.
Seriously nice work mate, is yours your design or have you based it on something you have seen elsewhere?
+1 to the MacGuyvering.

Edit. Typo.

Edited by malawiman85, 14 July 2014 - 08:23 PM.


#4 Clownz!!

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 08:43 PM

Wow! Can you really buy a new one for $180 Moses? Where, could do with a bit more filtration! (can never have enough filtration!). By the way the PVC filter part of the build is 150mm in diameter Malawiman.Yea I didn't get the design off of the internet for the this build, It was simple enough to design for myself without having to research it for my self. Thanks for the positive feedback guys :D



#5 Mr_docfish

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:42 PM

I can feel the sparkies and plumbers on here shaking their heads with disbelief :ph34r: .... but kudos for havin' a go and sharing with us....



#6 dazzabozza

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Posted 18 July 2014 - 06:18 PM

I have a dead FX5 here if someone else wants to try something similar. PM me.

#7 werdna

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Posted 19 July 2014 - 07:27 AM

Isn't a uv filter pretty much useless for white spot unless the flow rate is insanely slow?
There is a post about it on here somewhere from years ago mentioning required flow rate for required treatment.

#8 Clownz!!

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 09:06 PM

Cheers werdna, If the white spot comes back I will  try to reduce the flow. The swapping in and out of different shouldn't be too hard with the way I have set it up. Or maybe just set all the valves to half. Thanks for the input  :D



#9 malawiman85

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Posted 22 July 2014 - 06:43 AM

Clownz,

Have you checked the suitability of that uv filter for outdoor use? Usually the casing and the power supply are supposed to be kept dry. I got a kick arse boot off one that wasnt so dry a couple months ago.
Maybe mine was munted anyway, dunno.
The power supply would probably be better positioned above the filter and protected from weather... just a thought.
One other thing, why not use clamps on your flexi?

#10 Clownz!!

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Posted 22 July 2014 - 09:03 PM

malawiman, before creating this project the uv filter was used in an old pond for several year where it was out in the weather, I haven't personally had any problems with it being outside. I would imagine it would be water resistant, but thanks for the concern. The device is also currently pretty well out of the weather as it is essentially wedged between the room and the fence and also has a massive overkill gutter over head. I will try to research and/ or find out the type and brand of steriliser and see if it is water resistant (being outside). And if not, I've always got a few spare hanging around.

 

Cheers







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