DIY Aquarium Filter Systems

Building an aquarium filter can be simple, and save money.

Aquarium enthusiasts with do-it-yourself (DIY) skills may be interested in building their own filtration systems for their aquariums. Aquarium filters help keep the water quality high by removing unwanted debris. A DIY aquarium filter is often cheaper to maintain, and may work better than those available at pet stores. Although large or specialty filters may require a lot of expertise to construct, anyone can build a simple, yet effective, aquarium filter from materials that are likely to already be in the home.

Things You'll Need

• Empty plastic soda bottle
• Utility knife
• Ice cream container
• Fine gravel
• Air stone and tubing
• Aquarium aerator

Instructions

1. Cut the clean plastic soda bottle in half, discarding the bottom half and bottle cap. Cut wide "V" shapes, about 1 inch long, around the edge of the bottle.

2. Place the plastic bottle into the ice cream container. If the bottle can't sit straight without tipping over, trim the V shapes until it can. Insert the air stone, with the tubing attached, through one of the V openings, so it sits in the middle of the bottle.

3. Pour as much fine aquarium gravel as needed into the ice cream container, until it is completely full. Check to see that the soda bottle is still clear, and that the air stone is not obstructed, by looking through the open neck of the bottle.

4. Attach the air line tubing to an aquarium aerator. Place the container into the aquarium. Place it in a corner, and turn the aerator on. The air flowing up the neck of the bottle creates a gentle drawing current, pulling water through the gravel. This works to trap much of the debris that can foul an aquarium's water quality.

5. Clean the filter system regularly by removing the container and rinsing the gravel.

Tips & Warnings

• For additional water cleaning capabilities, add a few teaspoons of activated charcoal to the ice cream container, underneath the gravel.

• Finer gravel will trap smaller particles, so using the finest gravel available is generally recommended.

• This filter can be scaled up for a large aquarium by using a 2 liter bottle, or scaled down by using a 20 oz. plastic bottle.

• You must clean all materials thoroughly before using. Putting an ice cream container or plastic bottle with food or other contaminants on it in the aquarium can cause bacterial growths and fouled water.

• Do not use a cardboard ice cream container for this project. It will break down from being submerged in the water.

References

• The Sydney Cichlid Aquarium Pages: Building a Simple DIY Aquarium Filter