How to Build a Fish Pump

A fish pump moves water through an aquarium. It acts as a filter when the water is sucked through it. Water that passes through it is filtered through gravel and then spewed out the other side. These pumps are fairly expensive, but you can make your own to avoid those costs. The pump functions efficiently while saving you money.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic 1-liter soda bottle
  • Fork
  • Toilet overflow pipe
  • Scissors
  • Sponge
  • Aquarium tubing, long enough to reach form the tank bottom to the aquarium air pump
  • Filter wool
  • Gravel
  • Air pump
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the soda can about 3 inches from the bottle top. Make sure it's a straight cut.

    • 2

      Stab holes around the cap of the soda bottle with the fork. You might need to heat the fork in the oven. Use an oven mitt to pick up the hot fork and then puncture the holes around the cap. The heated fork will more easily penetrate the surface of the bottle. Make 12 sets of holes.

    • 3

      Slide the open part of the top of the bottle that you cut off into the open bottom part about three inches down to create a seal. The punctured top should be on the opposite end of the bottom of the bottle. Put the two pieces together enough to form a snug fit.

    • 4

      Cut your toilet overflow pipe so it's about an inch higher than the soda bottle. Put it into the mouth of the bottle, but leave it suspended just above the bottom.

    • 5

      Cut a sponge to fit into the toilet overflow tube. Thread a piece of aquarium tubing through the sponge and push it down the tube. The sponge will keep the tube secure.

    • 6

      Separate the bottom from the top of your bottle. Fill it to two-thirds with gravel. Top it with filter wool. Reinsert the top to the bottom of the bottle gently ,about three inches into the bottom, to create the same seal that you created in Step 3. You may need to wiggle it around to get the tube back into position between the gravel. The gravel will hold the tank air pump at the bottom of the tank.

    • 7

      Put the tank pump into the aquarium. Hook the loose end to the air pump. Turn the air pump on and watch the bubbles form.