46 replies to this topic

[Jezza]

Cabinet: Melamine cabinet with 6x 90x45 structural pine posts from top to bottom and steel lintel spanning the front (all made entirely by myself)
Pump: pondmax 4800Lph
Filter: Pondmax PF6000 pressure filter with backwash and UV
Piping: 25mm clear tube with PVC baskets and spray bar (all made by myself)
Heating: 2x 300w Hydor inline external heaters
Lighting: 2x 150W MH 2x twin 36W PC, 1x 36W growlux fluro
CO2: Direct injection pressurized system with 6.8kg CO2 cylinder and generic (eBay) regulator (will upgrade to brand name regs, solenoid and ph controller)
Substrate: eco complete (approx 9 bags ~ 80kg)
Plants: Too many to list
Several rotalias, swords, crypts and loads more
Fish: 4x German blue rams
4x Apistograma Baenski (inka 500)
4x Apistograma Aggissi double red
1x Siamese algea eater
13x Peppermint bristlenose catfish
20x Cardinal tetras
20x Glass shrimp
10x Rummynose tetras
7x Otos
14x SAE
4x Glass Catfish
1x Albino bristlenose catfish


A big thanks to all those who kindly donated plants:
Anson
Andrew
Kyle
James
Dave
Mike
Gavin
Craig
(And others? i hope i haven't forgot anyone)

Here it is after finishing the PVC plumbing

With the benchtop on (Solid Jarrah facia on 38mm HMR substrate)

And with the tank on

[Jezza]

With the pump and filter in place

After many attempts to stop various water leaks, i converted to 25mm clear tube. The tube that is rolled up on the left is for draining the water, and at the end of the other loose tube (on the ground) is the connection for the garden hose for water changes.

[Jezza]

Finally i have some plants in it.
The stocking was used to perform a 'fishless' cycle (NH3 and NO2 were at 0 after 3 weeks)

My CO2 direct injection. An air stone is inside the white PVC fitting, which is screwed to the T peice (25mm tube to 25mm tube with 15mm thread T)
This is directly after the pump, before the filter - no bubbles come out into the tank so 100% disolve)
The white foam 'box' is to minimise noise.

A few more plants are added and the out-flow pipes finished off


One of the peppies


Loads more plants added
Most are still small and hard to see on the photo but in a month or two it should be getting full

link to larger pic of the same:
http://i168.photobuc...n4228edit-1.jpg

Still to do:
Install MH lights
Build and fit surround for on top of tank
Fit doors (solid Jarrah)
Add more fish (small schools of rummynose, cardinals and other tetras)

[Jezza]

MH lights fitted to a makeshift frame

more plants added

planning and building the timber surround



with the surround frame in position and MH's fitted

[Jezza]

my 'medication delivery system' - used to dose dino spit directly to when its needed


finishing off the surround

ready to varnish

lights fitted (2x 150W mh, 2x twin 36W PC, 1x 36W growlux fluro) with electronic timer power-board

Done!

After giving my plants a trim.

apologies for the bad photos - i lost my tripod attachment, so all photos were done 'free-hand'

[jared82]

Damn man its looking good those peppy's is nice :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Managuense]

good to see the plants i gave you are doing well in there. haha. tank is looking great Jezza. so jealous lol

Kyle

[Blakey]

are you using the digital PH and co2 control system?

[Jezza]

thanks guys
blakey - the PH controler seems to have died, (got it from ebay) so at the moment im running CO2 24/7, (PH steady at 6.8) but will get a new one soon i hope...

[dazzabozza]

I luv your plumbing, heating and filter setup. That's a pond filter I take it? Wot sort of flow rates are you getting? Noise levels r ok?

Dazza

[DR14GoNF14SH]

Mate, thats looking sensational! 8O

What a quality set up...very nice sir...

e. :wink:

[Den]

Nice setup,

What caused you to change from PVC to clear tubing?

Not sure if you are aware but those heaters are known to stop working, but the light still comes on, so it can trick you if you dont pay regular and close attention to your temp, it happened to me unfortunately overnight during winter and caused me some probs. The 300watt model is aparently the problem one, the 200watt model is supposed to be reliable, I'm assuming u have x2 200 watters?.

Cheers
Den

[Andrew]

Nice setup,

What caused you to change from PVC to clear tubing?

Cheers
Den

I am wondering that too For the 3 tier 8x2 rack I am currently constructing, I have stuck to all PVC for a neat finish

[shortie]

Nice setup,

What caused you to change from PVC to clear tubing?

Not sure if you are aware but those heaters are known to stop working, but the light still comes on, so it can trick you if you dont pay regular and close attention to your temp, it happened to me unfortunately overnight during winter and caused me some probs. The 300watt model is aparently the problem one, the 200watt model is supposed to be reliable, I'm assuming u have x2 200 watters?.

Cheers
Den

ive heard of this too. not quiet sure what to think of them yet. but theyre a good idea
nice looking tank. quiet an intrigate piping stystem you got going lol
regards matt

[KrAmEr]

The pumps a bit noisy hey?

One day im going to do a planted tank but ATM I cant be bothered....

[Jezza]

thanks for all the comments
yes it is a pond pump, and it is quite noise, but you do get used to it. when i get round to putting the doors on it should make it better.

the reason i changed from pvc to clear tube is because the pvc kept leaking from all the thread joins (i did use thread seal tape but it did not work). i made the mistake of not pressure testing before putting the tank in place and filling it, and because i had some pipes beind the tank that were leaking, i could not get acces to them to fix them. So after about 2 weeks of trying all sorts of sealant with no luck, i gave up and converted to clear tube. Not quite as 'profesional' looking, but still reasonably neat for my liking.

[Den]

From what I can see the threads apear only near your taps, you could have used the taps that have glue type joins instead of threaded.

[Jezza]

From what I can see the threads apear only near your taps, you could have used the taps that have glue type joins instead of threaded.

correct - but i should have thought of that prior to starting, but i got so annoyed with the leaks that i decided to do away with PVC. One advatange the clear tube is that it is easier to add on more bits later (e.g extra UV etc)
Next time i will try again with PVC, and use the knowledge i gained from my mistakes of this time...

[Den]

Don't worry dude I understand, leaks and noise can drive any normal person crazy.

And a tip to fellow fish keepers, never, ever use pond equipment in the home until you thouroughly test it outside first! its noisy and it usually leaks no matter how much money you spend!!!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Jezza]

And a tip to fellow fish keepers, never, ever use pond equipment in the home until you thouroughly test it outside first! its noisy and it usually leaks no matter how much money you spend!!!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

i will second that. the seals for the filter conections leaked, dispite have a seal on them, i ended up siliconing them on.
And another bit of advice - dont over-tighten a hose clamp. it can crack the fitting without you realising (untill you see the major leak)