building a large trickle filter for my Turtle tub.

After checking the levels of ammonia, nitrates and nitrites in my turtle tub i discovered that all my old filter was doing was making the water look nice. There just wasn't enough capacity for Bio media, and what little there was wasn't being effective used. So, I started searching around the net for a better system, what i settled on was a trickle filter. This one specifically is inspired by Jim's "Crazy" Bio-Filter over at http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/trickle-filter.shtml SO props to him for coming up with an awesome filter design.

Basically the theory behind trickle filters is that the bacteria that break down nitrates and ammonia like oxygen. It seems most filters rely on the water being oxygenated enough to keep the bacteria happy and hungry. Trickle filters step this up a notch by allowing water to trickle through a chamber filled with bio media ensuring plenty of contact with oxygen for the bacterial colonies without letting them dry out. Apparently they are super efficient, and that's good for turtles because turtles are messy little armour plated monsters.

Step 1 Supplies

For my filter i used...

-1 4' length of 4" ABS pipe-------------------$25
-1 short piece of 3/4" PVC pipe------------scavenged
-1 3/4" PVC pipe cap -------------------------scavenged
-1 3/4" slip to threaded adapter------------>$2?
-1 3/4"threaded to barbed adapter-------->$2?
-approx. 6' of 3.4" non-kinking tubing-----scavenged
-1 pump-------------------------------------------$80
-2 salad dressing shakers------------------$2 each
-64 plastic dish scrubbers-------------------$1.50 for a pack of 8
-1 package "NU-Foam"-----------------------$4.50
-550 paracord-----------------------------------$ $6 for 50'

tools

A drill with 3/16 and 1" bits
a hacksaw
a blowtorch
pliers
a nail

Comments

[pdawgp4U]

 Ok so I built mine finally, however I couldn't find the plastic scrubbies anywhere only kinda I could find was Copper Coated scrubbies. My filter has been running for about 6 hours now.

I did modify your design a bit by adding in some make shift charcoal filters from cheesecloth and a container of Charcoal.

However I just checked its operation and it appears the "Copper:" coating must be detaeriating because the outlets of the filter are gold. And inside the prefilter charcoal pads are also gold.

I checked walmart, the dollar store, and Big Lots, but I think I'm going to need to change my filters to something else. Where can i find those plastic scrubbies? What do you think about luffers? (spelling I Know) you know the body scrubbers?

[Hazzard2theworld911]

I made a similar filter a while back, I just bought a 100 pack of "porcelain scour pads" at the local Home Depot or Lowes [can't remember now, sorry] they are basically the same as the 'algae sponges' sold in pet stores to clean the algae from the glass of a fish tank. I also used polyester stuffing [for pillows, etc] where armourkris used Nu-foam. it's basically the same thing, just not woven into convenient strips.
Hope this helps!

[b.biter]

Hey Man how did you make your tank?
awesome instructable by the way!!!

[armourkris]

I was actually wanting to make an Instructable on it but I built it while I was moving and other things got in the way.

I went and got 6 8 foot 2x12's, then cut them into 5' and 3' lengths. from there I screwed them together into boxes and reinforced them with some beefy metal brackets. The middle box has lengths of bar-stock screwed into each side.

from there i stacked them together and used pond liner to line it with. it's like wrapping a present inside out. I stapled the liner in place along the top edge then made to top lip from a couple lenths of 2x4 the same way as the sides.

In theory it should all break down easy for moving.

[b.biter]

Kinda what I figured.Thanks for the info!!!

[pdawgp4U]

 Can you post your earthbox idea? I didn't see anything that would work. THankx

[armourkris]

I used this Instructable
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-your-own-earth-filled-box/

i just left the lid off and filled it with dirt and play sand instead of potting soil.

My turtles opted not to use it as anything more than a basking platform, and instead laid their eggs in the water, so i just took it out.

[angelmari13]

I just stumbled across your Instructables on turtle filters. Thanks so much, I learned alot. I have 3 turtles in an outside pond and the fancy EXPENSIVE pump and filter I bought is not working very well. You know how quickly turtles dirty the tank. I am going to try to modify my filters using your instructions. If you have any updates or more info on anything turtle related, post it. Thanks.