So I have a new system going and I'm dealing with an algae bloom since I Didn't paint my tote. I was lazy and am paying.
I wanted a quick filter so I took a 5-gal bucket, drilled a 1" outlet hole on the side at the bottom. Then I put in a sediment trap from a car washing kit on the bottom, with the top of it higher than the hole I drilled. Then I added some landscape fabric to cover the side walls and the bottom, pushing it down in the middle. Then on this I added a small plastic bucket we had from when my kids were younger. I drilled several half inch holes around the bottom of that and the sides. Then inside this I stuffed burlap that I had cut off and folded over about six times. I pushed it down in the middle and have my pump output going into this. The flow rate is good and it doesn't back up out of the bucket.
I'm hoping it will grab enough algae to clean the water and then I can simply hose off the components from time to time. It's been running for 13 hours. I think the water was looking more clear after a few, but really hard to tell.
the only thing I had to buy was the burlap, had everything else laying around. the burlap was $10 for 100' at home depot. I'll post some pics and updates to report how it worked. I have it sitting on my grow bed which is not ideal but I'm not very plant heavy yet. I can move it later.
