Matthew Ford A3

Parts List and Costs

Part Cost
1” PVC Pipe $3.96
PVC Female Adapter $1.14
All Purpose Sand $3.98
Fluval Carbon Filter $3.19
Fluval Foam and Biomax Renewal Kit $4.99
Great Value Basket Coffee Filters $1.27

Total Cost $18.53

Instructions for Assembly

1. Cut a two-foot section of one-inch PVC pipe.

2. Crumple up a single coffee filter and place it inside the pipe. With the help of a push rod,
move the filter three quarters of the way down the pipe.
3. Place the carbon filter inside the pipe and push it down the pipe, just behind the coffee
filter. A small hole may be cut in the bag so that some of the carbon media can be
removed to allow the bag to fit inside the pipe. When placing the bag inside the pipe,
make sure the hole is closest to the top of the pipe.
4. Place another crumpled up coffee filter in the pipe, pushing it down just behind the
carbon filter.
5. Take the bag of ceramic filter media from the biomax renewal kit and push it down the
pipe, just behind the coffee filter. Once again, a small hole may be cut in the bag so that
some of the ceramic media can be removed to allow the bag to fit inside the pipe. When
placing the bag inside the pipe, make sure the hole is closest to the top of the pipe.
6. Take the small foam block from the biomax renewal kit and put in the pipe just behind
the bag of ceramic filter media. The foam block may be trimmed with scissors to allow it
to fit inside the pipe.
7. Stack three coffee filters inside each other, and place one to two tablespoons of sand in
the center. Carefully push the filters with sand down the pipe, just behind the foam block.
Make sure the top of the filters are closest to the top of the pipe.
8. Once again, place a crumpled-up coffee filter in the pipe just behind the filters with sand.
9. Finally, place the female PVC adapter on the bottom of the pipe.

Flow of Dirty Water

1. First, water flows through a single coffee filter to remove any large particles.
2. Next, water travels through the three coffee filters with the sand in the middle. Sand is
used because it removes any mineral impurities such as manganese and iron, as well as
any small debris. The sand is placed in three coffee filters to prevent it from being carried
off with the water as it travels through the system.
3. After that, the water travels through the foam block, which traps any debris before
entering the ceramic filter media.
4. Following the foam block, the water travels through the ceramic filter media, which
captures impurities such as arsenic and microbes.
5. Next, the water goes through another coffee filter to capture any debris, and to prevent
any ceramic filter media from being carried off with the water.
6. After that, water travels through a carbon filter. This removes toxins such as nitrogen
oxide, lead, and sulfur oxide. In addition, it improves water clarity. The carbon filter is
placed towards the end of the pipe because it performs best when it has pre-filters.
7. Finally, the water flows through a single coffee filter to capture any last impurities and
prevent any carbon filter media from being carried off with the clean water.
CAD Sketches