DIY vs External filter

[Robert Smith]

Hi all,

I need to replace a Sacem Pegasso2 external cannister filter. It's overkill for my 100L lightly planted freshwater tank (guppies, tetras, danios), but worked well and wasn't expensive ($80?).

After 2 years it's now making lots of noise and I can't get parts. It's also a bit big and despite being pretty (gotta love the Italians) it's not quite the lounge decor I'd normally choose.

My tank is small so I'd rather not clutter it with an internal filter, so I see my options as:

1) Buy another external filter off the shelf, or;

2) Buy a pump and make my own filters;

I like messing around with stuff, so I favour the second option, but what are the risks?

Can anyone recommend a silent pump (200 to 400L/hr) that's stay silent for years? This one is driving me up the wall.

Bob

[HummingBird]

By make your own filters, you mean a sump right? If so, most submersible pumps that are used for that purpose are going to be pretty silent, especially since they'll be in a cabinet too. Eheim's probably the best though.

[Robert Smith]

Birdy,

I was intending to build a sealed system, similar to an external cannister filter.

I was intending to use flow-through filters made from cyclinders (large diameter pipe) with inlet at one end and outlet at the other. Pack the cylinder with media and perhaps some baffles to ensure the media doesn't settle and create a direct path through the pipe.

The fatter the pipe, the lower the pressure, but the more space it takes up. External cannisters are just really fat pipes.

Bob

[Robert Smith]

To clarify, the pump won't be submersed, it'll be a sealed inline pump feeding the cannisters.