Can I use a standard canister pool filter for an aquarium. The filter is not huge it is actually relatively small because it was made for a inflatable pool.(basically you inflate the top ring and then fill it with water and the pool sides rise. Its a kit at walmart.) Back to the subject, there are no chemicals in it its just an intake and an outtake with a filter inside of the canister. I would basically be using it to help out my main filter. I would obviously have to put a net or mesh over the main cover so fish cant go up there. Comments? Suggestions?
Pool filter for aquarium???
- Thread starter at29st
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You didn't specify size of aquarium or GPH of filter. You need to consider this as well as they style of pump motor. You need a continuous duty motor for a filter pump. Pool filters are not continuous duty and will burn out from the extended use.
sounds like it will throw your fish across the tank. i used a 1/4 hp sump pump for my 450 and it chucked the fish across like it was nothing. i ended up using a reducer to limit the power it used and made it 1/8 hp.
Hook the outflow to a garden hose, and test it out on a bucket. (say a 5g bucket) The pressure it sends the water through the hose at should give you an idea of what kind of head pressure you'll have in the tank (assuming you're holding it at the approx. height of discharge to the tank) and timing how rapidly it can drain the bucket will give you some numbers to work with to figure out the gph. If it drains a 5g bucket in 10 seconds, I wouldn't be using it on a 55g tank. (it would have to be pumping 1800 gph to attain that speed... and its quite likely MUCH less than that) If it takes it around a minute to drain the bucket, you'll be looking at 300-350 gph, which I feel would be safe for a 55g tank.
I do have to ask a dumb question though... why only run an auxillary filter for a few hours a day? Is it going to be mechanical filtration only? (because beyond using activated carbon and filter floss... there's not much you can achieve with a few hours a day... it certainly wouldn't support bio media) Also, does the filter utilize water cooling for the motor? Are you planning to break it down and clean it out before using it on the tank? I'd at very least run it in a bucket of HEAVILY dechlored water for an hour or so to make sure there is NO residual chlorine which will leach into the tank... but I'm not sure what else you might want to worry about.
I do have to ask a dumb question though... why only run an auxillary filter for a few hours a day? Is it going to be mechanical filtration only? (because beyond using activated carbon and filter floss... there's not much you can achieve with a few hours a day... it certainly wouldn't support bio media) Also, does the filter utilize water cooling for the motor? Are you planning to break it down and clean it out before using it on the tank? I'd at very least run it in a bucket of HEAVILY dechlored water for an hour or so to make sure there is NO residual chlorine which will leach into the tank... but I'm not sure what else you might want to worry about.
It is brand new so there was never any water ran through it but yet I will clean it out. I was planning on using the filter it already has in it which is like a coffe filter. The reason Im asking this is because my tanks water is still pretty dirty after many water changes and chemicals.(I am not overfeeding either) So, I thought this might help clean it up a little.