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How to Make Your Own Wet-Dry Filter

When keeping a fish aquarium, the most important thing is to provide an adequate supply of clean water. Water chemistry directly affects the animals on display within the aquarium and the health of the fish. Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are byproducts of organic waste within the aquarium, and it is essential to provide adequate filtration to keep the levels of these toxic components at a healthy level for the animals. A wet/dry filtration system helps to break down these components. With a few steps, one can be constructed to suit any aquarium.

Things You'll Need

Plastic storage bin/container
2 submersible water pumps
Plastic tubing
Plastic bio balls
Filter floss/trickle mat

Instructions

- 1
  Provide adequate space for the placement of the plastic storage bin. At a minimum, use a storage bin at least half the size of your display aquarium. Larger is better as this will increase the overall water capacity of the system, making it easier to maintain healthy water chemistry. The wet/dry filter can also become very heavy once in operation.
- 2
  
  Be sure the tubing will fit on the pumps you choose.
  
  Place one submersible water pump on one side of the main display aquarium. Be sure to attach the proper length of plastic tubing needed to reach where the wet/dry filter will be placed. The size of the plastic tubing will be determined by the outlet/inlet on the pump. Select a pump that will turn over the entire water system (in gallons) five times per hour. Read the pump literature to determine the proper settings to account for gravity and distance traveled for the water.
- 3
  Place the second pump with plastic tubing attached within the wet/dry plastic bin. Fill the plastic bin one third high with plastic bio balls. Practice golf balls with the holes in them work well for this. Lay down a layer of filter floss (the trickle mat) on top of the bio balls within the wet dry filter. Be sure to cover all of the bio balls with this trickle mat. Place the "return" plastic tubing from pump No. 2 on the opposite side of the main display aquarium as pump No. 1 (outlet pump).
- 4
  Secure all pumps and tubing to ensure the water stays within the system. Plug in both pumps and make sure they start turning the main display water over evenly. The bio balls will act as the biological filtration while the trickle mat will serve as the mechanical filtration to maintain healthy water chemistry. The wet/dry filter is complete.

Animals & Science