I plan on keeping a 15 gallon isolation tank (Rubbermaid-type) outdoors. I guess I need a turover of 150 gal per hour as a minimum. What filter would you recommend for such full-time outdoor use/exposure?
Oliver
Full Version: Is There A Small Filter That Can Be Used Outdoors
For the most weather proof small filter, I think I would "build" one. They can be real workhorses and cheap.
Go to a local nursery center or some such and look for a small "fountain" water pump - one that pumps about 150 gph. It does not have to have a great head lift - just the height of the tub or so. Any sort of box or container that you can place over the top, over the edge or even suspended over the tub will work for the filter box. I have used the plastic "pots" that are made for water plants. They are inert plastic and are a very open slotted plastic. I suspend these on the sides or hung over the top of the tub. Clamps or a simple wire frame will accomplish this. (I have a small wooden structure that supports a wire X that holds the baskets. I am better with wood than most media) So much depends on where you are putting this and what you have available and how handy you are.
THe basket or pot or whatever becomes the filter box. In that, if it is really open grid, I put floss to line it. I fill the rest with media - ceramic pieces, sintered glass, lava rock, etc. Run a hose from the water pump that is on the bottom of the tub up and into the filter box/basket. The water will run back into the tub in a water fall, passign through the media and creating a nice nitrogen cycle for your tub. If you have it suspended on the side of the tub, it will water-fall back in in standard "filter" fashion. I usually suspend them over the tub (larger tubs) and have it run back in in the center of the tub.
Since the water pump is made for being underwater all you have to worry about in the rain is the actual electrical plug. I have put in weather proof electrical socket boxes all around our house outside for running various things - whatever you use, you need to make sure that your electrical connections are safe.
Go to a local nursery center or some such and look for a small "fountain" water pump - one that pumps about 150 gph. It does not have to have a great head lift - just the height of the tub or so. Any sort of box or container that you can place over the top, over the edge or even suspended over the tub will work for the filter box. I have used the plastic "pots" that are made for water plants. They are inert plastic and are a very open slotted plastic. I suspend these on the sides or hung over the top of the tub. Clamps or a simple wire frame will accomplish this. (I have a small wooden structure that supports a wire X that holds the baskets. I am better with wood than most media) So much depends on where you are putting this and what you have available and how handy you are.
THe basket or pot or whatever becomes the filter box. In that, if it is really open grid, I put floss to line it. I fill the rest with media - ceramic pieces, sintered glass, lava rock, etc. Run a hose from the water pump that is on the bottom of the tub up and into the filter box/basket. The water will run back into the tub in a water fall, passign through the media and creating a nice nitrogen cycle for your tub. If you have it suspended on the side of the tub, it will water-fall back in in standard "filter" fashion. I usually suspend them over the tub (larger tubs) and have it run back in in the center of the tub.
Since the water pump is made for being underwater all you have to worry about in the rain is the actual electrical plug. I have put in weather proof electrical socket boxes all around our house outside for running various things - whatever you use, you need to make sure that your electrical connections are safe.
QUOTE(daryl @ Apr 29 2008, 01:18 PM) 
For the most weather proof small filter, I think I would "build" one. They can be real workhorses and cheap.
Go to a local nursery center or some such and look for a small "fountain" water pump - one that pumps about 150 gph. It does not have to have a great head lift - just the height of the tub or so. Any sort of box or container that you can place over the top, over the edge or even suspended over the tub will work for the filter box. I have used the plastic "pots" that are made for water plants. They are inert plastic and are a very open slotted plastic. I suspend these on the sides or hung over the top of the tub. Clamps or a simple wire frame will accomplish this. (I have a small wooden structure that supports a wire X that holds the baskets. I am better with wood than most media) So much depends on where you are putting this and what you have available and how handy you are.
THe basket or pot or whatever becomes the filter box. In that, if it is really open grid, I put floss to line it. I fill the rest with media - ceramic pieces, sintered glass, lava rock, etc. Run a hose from the water pump that is on the bottom of the tub up and into the filter box/basket. The water will run back into the tub in a water fall, passign through the media and creating a nice nitrogen cycle for your tub. If you have it suspended on the side of the tub, it will water-fall back in in standard "filter" fashion. I usually suspend them over the tub (larger tubs) and have it run back in in the center of the tub.
Since the water pump is made for being underwater all you have to worry about in the rain is the actual electrical plug. I have put in weather proof electrical socket boxes all around our house outside for running various things - whatever you use, you need to make sure that your electrical connections are safe.
Go to a local nursery center or some such and look for a small "fountain" water pump - one that pumps about 150 gph. It does not have to have a great head lift - just the height of the tub or so. Any sort of box or container that you can place over the top, over the edge or even suspended over the tub will work for the filter box. I have used the plastic "pots" that are made for water plants. They are inert plastic and are a very open slotted plastic. I suspend these on the sides or hung over the top of the tub. Clamps or a simple wire frame will accomplish this. (I have a small wooden structure that supports a wire X that holds the baskets. I am better with wood than most media) So much depends on where you are putting this and what you have available and how handy you are.
THe basket or pot or whatever becomes the filter box. In that, if it is really open grid, I put floss to line it. I fill the rest with media - ceramic pieces, sintered glass, lava rock, etc. Run a hose from the water pump that is on the bottom of the tub up and into the filter box/basket. The water will run back into the tub in a water fall, passign through the media and creating a nice nitrogen cycle for your tub. If you have it suspended on the side of the tub, it will water-fall back in in standard "filter" fashion. I usually suspend them over the tub (larger tubs) and have it run back in in the center of the tub.
Since the water pump is made for being underwater all you have to worry about in the rain is the actual electrical plug. I have put in weather proof electrical socket boxes all around our house outside for running various things - whatever you use, you need to make sure that your electrical connections are safe.
Thank you... that's a good idea. Our outdoor outlets are GFI-type
Oliver
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