Hamburger Mattenfilter for a low tech setup

[Jim Miller]

Bingo! I knew I had seen some plastic L somewhere! Nice!

Thanks

Jim

[Hoppy]

http://www.kofflersales.com/product.asp?cid=56&pid=74 is the corner guards. I used to get them at hardware stores, but I can't remember seeing them there for several years. They might be the cheapest easy to do way to hold a corner filter.

[Bahugo]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

http://www.kofflersales.com/product.asp?cid=56&pid=74 is the corner guards. I used to get them at hardware stores, but I can't remember seeing them there for several years. They might be the cheapest easy to do way to hold a corner filter.

Yup! That's what I meant. I'm pretty sure I've still seen them around in hardware stores around here, haven't really looked for them though.

[sewingalot]

Why does a piece of foam cost so much $$$?? So I am going by this calculation of the famous Olaf and the size mat I need for the power-head I currently own is quite pricey. Time to double check my math as this doesn't sound right.

Haven't yet decided on just doing a vertical wall of foam or the semi circle mount. The wall seems less intrusive to me. For a tank 48" long and approximately 12" deep and 12" high, the vertical mount seems less obtrusive.

[HX67]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

Does anyone currently have a HMF setup in his/her own tank? If so, please share pictures if you have any! I'm looking for inspiration.

Hi.
I have three HMF:s in my tanks.
One is a standard "end of a tank foamed"-version, one is in a sump.

One is in a 250 gal brackish tank, been working for four years I think. The foam is 1 x 0,5 meters, on the back of the tank:


Pump is a Koralia 4, rigged onto a chamber in the corner:



I also made a fake rock background with a lot of holes, slots and gaps to hide the foam:


Koralia is a powerful pump and even though it takes part of it's flow through the grille left in front of the chamber, it probably takes more water through the foam than is necessary/ideal.

But it's been working fine for four years. I have taken the foam out for a wash twice so far.

[sewingalot]

Thank you for sharing that, HX67!!! You just showed everyone that the ugliness factor is null and void with your gorgeous setup. I can only dream that my tank will look 1/10th that nice. Much needed inspiration and you have shown me that I am going to take my time setting this up as nicely as possible. If this takes me 5 years, so be it. I'm going to try my best to come up with something as nice as that!

Found a good local (well a few hours) source for the foam at an affordable price!
http://www.swisstropicals.com/

[driftwoodhunter]

I am madly in love with your 3D background...that is by far the most realistic DYI one I've seen, and I've been researching them heavily!
Am I correct in understanding that the 3D background has been placed in front of the foam, and the cutouts are there to permit the water flow?
I love it.
Have I mentioned I love it? lol
~ Cin ~

[Hoppy]

Reading through the Q&As about the foam it looks like another alternative would be an "L" shaped piece, extending from the bottom to the top, in a corner, an inch or two from the back glass. You can glue pieces of the foam together with aquarium silicone so making the "L" shaped piece would be easy. That lets you use 1/2 of the back for the filter very easily, or 2/3 of the end, and moss, etc. could hide the whole thing.

[Wasserpest]

Did this 5 years ago...

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...tenfilter.html

[HX67]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

Thank you for sharing that, HX67!

Thank you. My pleasure.
Good luck with your project.

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

Am I correct in understanding that the 3D background has been placed in front of the foam, and the cutouts are there to permit the water flow?
~ Cin ~

Yes, you are correct.
Fish also like to go behind the background for a rest and shelter.
Thanks.

[sewingalot]

That's a great idea, Hoppy. I see what you are saying, that sounds like a definite possibility.

Wasserpest - T! Thanks for the link. I was just looking at this just moments ago and came over here to see you linked it. I like the simplicity of the design and see that you used a speaker packaging?

Thanks, HX67! I hope to make you pleased of my attempts of copying some of your ideas.

I called around and there is a heating and air place that can order 30 PPI polyurethane foam that is 1" thick. I was wondering, could I buy two of these and 'sew' them snugly together with mono filament to make a 2" depth? Because if so, I can can get what I need for under $8. That would make things so much easier.

[demonr6]

Silly question but would adding something like a moss wall as an exterior buffer help/hinder what you are trying to accomplish. Reason being a nice, filled in moss wall would certainly be more eye appealing than just plain foam for those concerned with the ugly factor plus I think the moss wall would act as another method of filtering as well?

[Jim Miller]

From my limited experience java moss would cling to this like white on rice.

jim

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

I called around and there is a heating and air place that can order 30 PPI polyurethane foam that is 1" thick. I was wondering, could I buy two of these and 'sew' them snugly together with mono filament to make a 2" depth? Because if so, I can can get what I need for under $8. That would make things so much easier.

Any time you use something made for a different use in an aquarium you take some risks. If that foam was made for filtering air, for example, it could have a chemical treatment to kill molds, which would be very harmful in the water. If it was made for cushioning fragile items when packaging things, it could have other ingredients that might be harmful in the water, and it might have a limited life in water. Also consider the structural strength of the foam - air filters, packaging materials, etc. need very little structural strength compared to what a HMF needs. It might work fine, but if it doesn't it would be a big mess to clean up.

[nonconductive]

My friends in the local club who are breeding wizards swear by this kind of filter. I'm pretty sure Indyplanted uses both air and powerheads.