How to Make a Homemade Sand Filter

Keeping fish as a hobby began in China, with large ponds of carp. The first public aquarium opened in 1852 at the London Zoological Society, and soon freshwater aquariums became fashionable in Victorian households. Aquariums were mostly homemade constructions, but jars and glass bowls were used, too. Today, we understand the importance of the chemistry of the water. Filtration systems keep the fish healthy and the water clear. You can make your own filter with a used soda bottle and some coarse sand or gravel.

Things You'll Need

  • 1.5-liter plastic soda bottle
  • Scissors
  • 6-inch-tall, 1-inch-diameter toilet overflow pipe
  • Aquarium pump
  • Aquarium hose, 18 inches
  • Sponge
  • 3 cups coarse sand or gravel
  • Drill
  • Filter wool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut 3 inches off the top of a 1.5-liter soda bottle with a pair of scissors. Drill three rows of holes around the top portion of the soda bottle you cut off. Place the cut top into the soda bottle bottom, with the top up.

    • 2

      Push a 6-inch-tall, 1-inch-diameter toilet overflow pipe into the top of the soda bottle. It should be a tight fit. Then, push in aquarium pump airline tubing all the way into the bottle top.

    • 3

      Cut a piece of sponge to secure the tubing in place. Add coarse sand or gravel to the inside of the bottle, around the soda top and tubing, leaving about 3 inches from the open part.

    • 4

      Place filter wool on top of the coarse sand or gravel. Attach the hose to the aquarium pump, and place the sand filter into your fish tank.