Airlift filter for aquarium

Aquarium owners, and especially beginners, always face the problem of water filtration, because an aquarium is like an ordinary organism, if life in it is allowed to flow, the aquarium will die. And in order to prevent this, it is necessary to install a filtration system. The simplest, but not always the most reliable, is an aquarium air filter. You can easily build it with your own hands.

Although the name of this filter may seem unfamiliar to an inexperienced person, many are familiar with it. Typically, such a filtration system is a sponge and plastic pipes attached to it for air circulation. The principle of operation of the air filter is quite simple. - pipes for supplying and pumping air are connected to the compressor, which, in addition to air, also draws water into them. Subsequently, the water is filtered through the sponge and poured back into the aquarium, leaving dirt and harmful bacteria in the sponge. Such filters are not only cheap, but also easy to manufacture and install.

Not so long ago, new generation air-lift filters appeared in specialized stores, they have a different structure, but they work in the same way. The filter is a small plastic container in which various filtration materials are arranged in several layers. Most often, these containers are made of the corner type, which saves space as much as possible.and therefore also suitable for small aquariums.The principle of operation is the same, but the presence of several filtration materials allows the airlift filter to work as a full-fledged biological one.

The airlift filter is a very good product for cleaning the aquarium, if you do not take into account such minor disadvantages as:

• fragility;
• not suitable for very large aquariums, as it will not be able to provide complete filtration;
• may not cope with excessive dirt.

However, the air-lift filter has the following advantages:

• it is practically silent, if you do not take into account some minor sounds of air bubbles;
• if the sponge fits well to the holes of the tubes, then the filter will be completely safe for small fish, shrimp, and so on;
• the filter saves space very much;
• with the right approach and hard work, you can craft a structure that will look good in the interior of the aquarium.

For manufacturing you will need the following items and tools:

• air compressor for aquarium;
• plastic bottle;
• sponge or foam rubber;
• spray hose;
• scissors or knife.

For the construction of the filter, it is necessary to make a chamber from a non-toxic and inert material, a regular plastic bottle works well too... It needs to be cut into two halves, with many small holes made in the upper half. Then you need to lay the filter material, push the top of the bottle into the bottom. In the neck, you need to insert a hose with a spray connected to the compressor.

The design may be different, it all depends on the required dimensions, functionality and performance. In some cases, the filter material is used without a basic structure. To make such a filter, you need to prepare the following:

• air compressor;
• elbow 90 degrees;
• sponge or other filter material;
• supply tube;
• lifting tube with a diameter several times larger than the supply;
• suction cup compatible with one of the tubes.

The production is carried out as follows:

1. in the lower part of the lifting tube, you need to make a hole with the diameter of the supply tube and insert it;
2. a sponge is fixed to the lifting tube;
3. on the top of the lifting tube, you need to attach a square, it will direct the rising water in the right direction;
4. with the help of a suction cup, everything must be attached to the wall of the aquarium;
5. the sponge should not touch the ground.

Keeping track of your home aquarium is not an easy task. When planting fish or shellfish in your apartment, you need to understand that they require constant care. You need to regularly monitor the cleanliness of the aquarium; an air-lift filter, which you can easily make with your own hands, can help you with this. With a responsible approach to this business, you will get the perfect aquarium with a beautiful design that will fit into your decor.

For an overview of air-lift filters, see the next video.