How to Build a Mechanical Aquatic Filter

Mechanical filtration is the first line of defense in an aquarium when it comes to removing harmful elements in the water. Mechanical filters generally have several layers of filter material designed to strain harmful solid wastes from the water, keeping your fish healthy and happy. While there are many types of mechanical filters available in your local pet supply store, you can build an effective filter yourself for a lot less money.

Things You'll Need

  • Filter media
  • Powerhead
  • Plastic tube
  • Hammer
  • Nail
  • Rubber tubing
  • Small piece of styrofoam
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the large sponge filter diagonally into two, triangular shaped pieces. The reason for the triangular shaped pieces is so that the filter will fit into the corner of your aquarium and not take up an inordinately large amount of room. Use the large pore filter sponge so that larger debris can be filtered out without stopping up the filter. You can find this material in any pet supply store.

    • 2

      Measure the plastic tube by standing it alongside the upright filter and marking the cut point a few inches above the top of the filter. The tube will be placed inside the filter material and serve as the attachment point for the powerhead.

    • 3

      Punch holes into the plastic tube using a nail and hammer. Only punch holes into the section of the tube that will be contained in the filter sponge. These holes will serve to pull water through the filter.

    • 4

      Insert a piece of Styrofoam into the end of the tube before inserting it into the filter material. This will keep the tube from pulling water up through the bottom, bypassing the filter media altogether.

    • 5

      Push the plastic tube into the filter media. Push the tube all the way to the bottom of the filter in ensure that you utilize as much of the filter material as possible.

    • 6

      Attach the powerhead to the top of the plastic tube and attach a rubber tube to the outlet from the powerhead. Aim the rubber tube toward the surface of the water so that the returning clean water will churn the surface of the aquarium water and dissolve additional oxygen into the water.

    • 7

      Place the filter into the aquarium and turn it on.