How I Constructed My Mini Shower Filter

by Richard Renshaw

Picture of Mini Shower Filter

This mini shower filter is meant to be a supplement biological filter addition to a small pond's filtration system or a stand-alone biological filter for a quarantine tank.

The Fiskars Veranda plastic planter boxes are reasonably sturdy and have a rolled lip at the top that can be used for hanging.

A friend gave me the idea of using PVC pipe to construct the frame for hanging.

I decided to use 1/2" PVC pipe for the tray hanging frame.

To reinforce the 1/2" PVC pipe legs, I added 1/2" steel rebar which fits snug inside 1/2" PVC schedule 40 pipe.

I capped the bottom of the PVC pipe legs to keep water out.

A little trick I used was to assemble the 1/2" PVC hanging frame "dry" (without any glue) except for the glueing the caps on the bottom of the legs.
When I got the PVC pipes and PVC fittings together and fitting right in the bottom tray box, I then used purple PVC glue primer for glue.
I used a plastic gluing technique where the glue is drawn into the joint by capillary action. The purple primer contains MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) which is used to glue acrylic plastic and will act as a light weight glue for PVC in this manner.

List of materials:

4 - 1/2" PVC Cap
4 - 1/2" PVC Tee
4 - 1/2" PVC 90° El
4 - 24" PVC 1/2" pipe
4 - 1.75" PVC 1/2" pipe
2 - 9.25" PVC 1/2" pipe
2 - 15.25" PVC 1/2" pipe
4 - 24" 1/2" Rebar

The bottom Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box will not contain any media and has a 2" bulkhead fitting and 2" PVC pipe water gravity flow return to the pond.

For the bottom of the top tray I decided to replace the bottom with a piece of plastic fluorescent lighting egg crate I had.
The plastic fluorescent lighting egg crate provided better water flow than drilling holes in the bottom of the pot.

I cut out the bottom of the top Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box.

The top Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box with the plastic fluorescent lighting egg crate.

The top Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box with plastic media.

I chose to make a drip plate for the top tray rather than use a spray bar. I found a square plastic pot tray at a local nursery that was the perfect size for a drip plate. I drill some holes in the tray to disperse the water. The drip plate is for water distribution. Too many holes, the water will not be distributed. Holes too small, they may become clogged. I wanted the DIY drip plate tray to hold a little water. I tested the drip plate flow with the incoming flow and can easily take the drip plate out and drill more holes. If I drilled too many holes, I can replace it.

The top Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box with plastic DIY drip tray.

I decided to cover the top tray with a redwood cover to protect the media from falling debris and sunlight.

For the middle Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box I decided it would be stronger to drill a bunch of 1/2" holes (which I forgot to take a picture of) rather than use the plastic fluorescent lighting egg crate.

This is the middle Fiskars Veranda plastic planter box with lave rock for media.

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