HOW TO: Build an XL aquarium canister filter with a 5 gallon bucket - 2 of 2 

Nice build. You don't want to use vaseline for your seals because vaseline breaks down rubber. You should use 100% silicone plumbers grease to avoid your rubber breaking down and then leaking.

Follow me on Facebook for LIVE video TODAY► facebook.com/uarujoey XL canister filter PART 1 ► goo.gl/r9ThQR

Thanks for the idea Joey. Built one for a 350 gallon tank and it cleaned it up within three days. Am working on a three canister system for an aquaponics system. Love the ideas, keep them coming.

Joey, I appreciate your clear, concise instruction demonstrations. You make a seemingly difficult task seem like a breeze.💨 Thank you

Nice and affordable. I may have missed it but would add another valve between the bucket and pump so when you clean the water doesn't run out

Good follow up to the first video. I feel like you're missing a ball valve on the other side of the union coming from the tank. (not a problem in your demo since the return line is above the water level but in a real tank this would likely be a an issue). This would only be required if the outflow from the canister is below the water line in the tank (I fill my tanks up beyond the trim so all my outflows are below the water line). If we don't have a way to close the return line to the tank during maintenance water will siphon back down through the pump until the return is exposed to air. This is definitely more economical than an FX6. Love my fluval and eheims but man, commercial canisters are EXPENSIVE! Tank on Joey.

This is a awesome build. Thank you for sharing.

thanks I used a lot of your DIY'S saved lots of money

I’m amazed by this, such a simple thing to do. I’m ABSOLUTELY doing this for my 125. Love this.

Finally Bro!!! I've been cussin you. Talkin about all these new upcoming projects while im running a 10 gallon rated penguin filter from walmart on my 125! Glad you came back to this one.

Original video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hL271pKi_qY.html

Big Fired Up Friday thanks for finishing this build. Really enjoyed LIVE feed via Facebook.

You're brilliant and a blessing to those on a fixed income that enjoy the hobby

love it. made this and the inline heater the other day couldnt be happier. works like a charm and my tank isnt filled with heaters and a nasty filter hanging on the back filter. Already had most of the stuff just had to buy $8.50 worth of pvc fittings thanks alot man.

Great video Joey! I'm thinking about building one of these to filter my two 350 gallon tubs that I'll be using as outdoor guppy and pleco breeding ponds for my summer project. Like always nice videos man!

This was actually a pretty great build. Even as you have it set up there for display purposes, it still looks awesome. I have a question, would you prefer this over the overflow and sump? It has a pro of being quieter than a sump, but it doesn't add volume to the tank like a sump would. In your opinion, which would be better on a discus tank?

Thanks Joey! Building this filter was fun because it forced me to think about fluid mechanics as well as each part of my custom filter. I am waiting for my uniseald and plan to complete my version soon. Thanks to everyone for the comments and ideas. DIY building is now one of my favorite parts of the hobby!

Man u a straight up genius... u r going to get yourself far doing what u do... love your channel... by far the best here... keep it up man congrats

Thanks for such great tips... some similar diy projects for saltwater aquarium shall be highly appreciated though.

@The King of DIY I built this filter and it's working. Things I learned: Don't put the pick-up too low in the tank, BECAUSE, when you shut the pump off, the siphon effect is too great, and it pushes water out of the gamma seal. The pump that you recommended is awesome, I like the speed controller. Full speed is too much for a 3/4 return, I may try to go bigger. With a 3/4 return it likes one click over half way. It's been 1 day and the big grime is gone but it's still a little cloudy, BUT NO more smell. Overall, this was a great build and I enjoyed it...Thanks!!

We have a humble 55 gal tank with an Aquaclear 70 hanging off the back and we are finding it isn't enough. So I'm getting good ideas for DYI filters from your channel. 🙂

Excellent video DIY King. I was very very disappointed seeing price tags of big canister filters. but this gives hope.

This is an awesome build!!! Thanks!!

Thanks so much for your knowledge, keep doing what your doing ,

Thanks for sharing . It's been great that you have been doing so many live Facebook sessions . Keep it up

I really like this idea and plan to go forth with it. Although I was thinking about ramping it up by using three 6 gallon buckets. From the tank to the three buckets together linking together and back again.

it would not surprise me if what you build actually filters water better Joey! Nice job.

Joey, Awesome video and tutorial. I really enjoy your channel. How difficult do you think this would be to add a self priming button or something to that nature like you see on the marine land filters? Or, adding an aqualifter like you showed in the pvc overflow.

You're thee Man I get great 👍 ideas from you

you are the best...The King of DIY

The King! Thanks bro!

Oooooooh!! Thank you very mucho. I am going to build a canister filter, but its my first time and I feel nervius!!...but thanks for your video, I understand much better the function about these canisters filters.....sorry for my bad english, jejejeje...I send you good vibes from Guatemala City, thanks a lot!!

You are the greatest... keep creation man... you are inspiration...

Awesome build

Is there a recommendation for a check valve for this DYI filter?

Great I think, love the lid,

Hi is it possible to have a complete list of everything I need so I can go to the hardware store and pick em up (as you can tell I’m not a handy man)

I'm loving this video, if possible can u give me the spec, so I can u flexible tubing, and the other components that I need. Going to go on my 90 gallon african cichlid tank. Thanks alot

I built a similar filter using these videos, however I ran into a problem with the lid leaking. Did some googling and it turns out that Gamma Seals are infamous for having defects and it's hit or miss with these lids. Doing some more googling I found on a gun forum that replacing the gasket with a fatter silicone o ring (size 378) fixes this problem. The o ring doesn't fit perfectly into the groove under the screw top lid and it does raise it a bit, however I can confirm that this does in fact fix the problem with it leaking.

A really fantastic video. I am seriously going to try and do this. One question though, how does the bucket fair under pressure? One of your biggest fans from south Africa all the best.

hey joey. would love to see your take on a cheap and effective sump. or even a canister sump hybrid.

G'day Joey, bloody great videos mate!! I realise this is pretty old now, but I have a quick question - why do you only use wool padding without the additional layers of coarse and medium sponge?

BEST canister filter video I've seen thus far..... And trust me..... I've seen hundreds

I am going to build this as I was just pricing the FX6. My question concerns my individual filter and animals. I currently am using a defective 306 with six large goldfish and a 3 yr old turtle in a 55 gallon tank. First questions -->Will this neutralize all the nitrates etc or will I still need to add the "stuff in the tank" to do that? I currently am using fluval liquid additives plus I have a de-chlorine bag and charcoal bags in my filter system with all those little pads they say I need.. Am I understanding this that the lava rock replaces all of that? What about new tank syndrome when I first start it? Do I still need to add a bio booster? Thanks, Jenn

Bucket + PVC + others accesories + Pump+ spending Time = better for me to go straight and get a FLUVAL canister filter. 👍 also this pump look too bulky. But thank you for sharing

I know this is just a demo but if they followed your example there could be a major problem with water all over the house. The PVC glue you used is missing a component. PVC glue comes with a another can canned the cleaner. You use the cleaner the same way you use the glue but without the cleaner first the glued only joint can easily fail, especially those connections under pressure from the pump.

When you guys say gamma lids leak, do you mean it leaks water out or it's sucking air. I had the filter working for a week and I ruled out the jebao, because I tested it in my tub. I'm going to change the o-ring soon and test it. But does this system need to be sealed.

Yay part 2! Thank you. I was a bit shocked at why you barely put any mechanical filtration in it. Just a very thin layer of bedding??

love your channel and your ideas keep up the good work

Hi Joey, do you know what I could do to make this suitable for a 40 gallon breeder tank? I am still unsure on FOWLR or freshwater, but this seems like a good way to go as far as filtration.

Literally awesome sir I also tried it an it was working smoothly great thanks to u. 👍🏻💪🏻🙏🏻

Hi Joey, I was wondering if you could also use the 6000 pump. The 4000 is harder to find and it costs about the same. However I have seen where these pumps should be submerged. Is it OK for them to sit outside of the tank?

I cant thank you enough. I was torn apart by the price of filters when I snagged my 120 gallon tank. Its been sitting because I just could not justify spending so much on a filter and this really just opened my eyes to how simple filters really are and I will 100% be using this video to build my own.

this would be something for our Pleco tank, the masters of pooping... :) Great video as always!

Are there any certain recommendations for the inflow-outflow size of the pipes? I'm not sure if it will matter, however I want to make sure it's well balanced. I'm thinking of using flexible tubing as mentioned in the video to better customize the pump position. It also looks like you're using different size ball-vales. Any reason for that?

Joey, big fan, but I just don't see how the gamma seal lid can work. I tried it on two canisters; one lubricated, another dry-fitted. They both sucked in air (at the screw top, no bucket imperfections) and looked like they would implode, and of course shot out water once the power was off :( They just don't seem designed to hold pressure. Now I have a good prefilter so I can safely glue these shut without worrying about anything other than long-term maintenance, so it wasn't a total bust, but I just don't know if I can trust these seals unless you have some new advice for me. Thank you for what you do, you and others like you are essential for the progression of this hobby. -Tim

very simiular to the pvc filter. but yet different. awesome job joey

Hi Joe, I love your channel. Please! keep it up. I question though. Why it has to be air tight? I mean normal bucket could do that job. isn't it?

Joey.. When you will be (almost) done with DiY for aquariums (you already did A LOT of stuff)... you can always do some DIY fixing things in the house or doing things for the house / Home projects for your (our) house ! We already know that you do a lot of things in this hobby... I'm sure you can have ideas for a house too haha

awesome built and great idea.

Great video. Can I use the same sort of diy filter for a pond? I have a bath tub I'm looking to make a pond out of and have been looking for a way of filtering it by using the overflow hole as inlet to filter and the taps and/or plug hole as outlet. The bath isn't going to be sunk in ground so it safe for the kids. Thanks

Great video thank you! I made o e and have been through two gamma seal lids, first one was the original, second was the gamma2, both leak at the oring drawing in air until the output starves of water. I'm contemplating installing a vent tube higher then the tank to relieve internal pressure on the gamma seal.

Just wondering, a little over a year later, how the Jecod pump is holding up?

Way better than my build. Thanks Joey

awesome job Joey.... i will be building one for my 55 gallon cichlid tank 😃

Thanks for finishing. been waiting on it

keep up the good work i did 2 of those filter but can you do a project about UV filter

Love your videos they are very helpful!

Great video!!! Can you use more then one bucket inline? Maybe 3 buckets?

Hello, im slightly confused on the PVC sizing... you mention using 3/4 inch but are using 1 inch uni seals. Will the 3/4 inch fit the 1 inch uniseal? Are certain portions different size PVC? Thankyou

For about the cost of building one of these DYI filters, you can buy a Sunsun or Polar Aurora canister filter, both of which work great!

Hey Joey. Thanks for the video and channel. I recently did this build and i cant understand why my water flow turns itself on and off every few minutes..any suggestions

Hey, Joey! I know this was long ago, but I would love to see a video of a build of this with the vinyl tubing you mentioned. I tried finding the pieces myself, and I ended up with a Frankenstein type monster. Please help!!!

Nice 1 bro👌 Love from INDIA 🇮🇳

Joey, how long do you typically wait after bonding PVC before you expose it to your livestock?

I just finished this build, works superbly but the cost will be closer to two hundred by the end of the day.

Awesome! would the lava rock / poly fiber alone cover all the filtration needed for a 150 gallon or is carbon / ammonia media needed as well? 2 days , 20 videos watched !

what pump do suggest I i use for my 55gl tank ?? I'm making a DIY canister filter what is your take on the eco185 ? or what do you recommend ? thank again love the videos

I have a submersible pump...would have to drill holes at the bottom of bucket and use a container like you showed on the sump filter.

Getting air coming through the gamma seal lid for causing my water coming back to the tank to have a ton of bubbles in it.. tried buying a 2nd lid nd it made no difference.. maybe pump is pushing more water in than it's pulling? Any help wld be much appreciated thanks and awesome videos man!

Cheaper just to buy one with pump and other stuff but really like the video. I was thinking of mini one for Betta drip system but still looking.

very good video JOEY!!!

Hey buddy I'm building this setup for a 60 g setup, I have a 2100gph pump. Would this be too much for it? If so do you think limiting the flow by slightly closing the intake ball valve would work?

Considering giving this a try, how is it noise wise in the end?

thanks 4 da info👍

Great idea! Did you manage to do it in an aquarium? (Not just demo?)

Can this work with an outside pond?

I always lived your videos, they have helped me immensly in my venture into the hobby. I do have a question though, can you internalize the pump?

Using a couple of these on my pond however I am pumping water in for the bottom of it and since my pawns over 3000 gallons I just daisy chain them but has been working great

do you think you could do a video on a diy gravel syphen

Thank you so much

Joey, Would an inner intake & elbow attached to an up lift provide better filtration or no need?

awesome. love that under water shot.

yep realy like this one

hi love your videos :) im new to starting my first big tank just wondering if id need something like this for a 122cm*38cm*42cm tank? i think my tank is 200lts (about 50 gallons)

went back to store got new snap on lid it working fine now

YOU ARE MY HERO!!!

Hey Joey, I have an airline tube and strong power head on my canister filter, which is full of ceramic media. With both on, I only get tons of water going but no air or bubbles through the media. Does that mean my filter isn't really doing much besides mechanically filtering my water?

How do you still feel about that pump now that you have been using it another year? I am about to build a couple of these

im building a similar setup for a 10gal nano freshwater tank, any suggestions on pumps ?