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Remodel of my rainbow tank


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That is stunning!

You how there are certain fish you're into . . . and certain fish you're just not into? I could never really get into Rainbowfish. I have kept a few small-sized species . . . but somewhere deep down I do think I could have fallen completely in love with those big Boesemanis . . .

Your plants are tremendous! I'd love to learn how you keep them all so beautiful. 

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Posted (edited)
On 10/7/2024 at 8:08 PM, Fish Folk said:

That is stunning!

You how there are certain fish you're into . . . and certain fish you're just not into? I could never really get into Rainbowfish. I have kept a few small-sized species . . . but somewhere deep down I do think I could have fallen completely in love with those big Boesemanis . . .

Your plants are tremendous! I'd love to learn how you keep them all so beautiful. 

Thanks man. I feel ya on the fish you just can’t seem to get into. For me it’s tetra of all kind. I’m just not a fan of the personality, or lack there of. Maybe I’d try some silver dollars or something else big, but meh…

As for the plants. Lots of trial and error. I have heaps of ruined plants trashed to prove it.

I try to make sure there is 0 excess nutrients at all times . Constancy of adding nutrients (food, fertilizer). Go easy on the easy green, I use 1/2 the dosage recommendations and spread that over two applications, all my tanks are way overstocked though. Change one thing at a time (light / nutrient) and wait at least a week.

Most of my tanks have what I call “living filters”. They are an overhead sump out of a planter I saw on YouTube. I have lavarock alone, plus plants. Can’t have algae if there’s nothing for it to eat.

Plus they just look epic!

IMG_2873.jpeg.59899e7b5306ab01bfe5be8b9866fb46.jpeg

 

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Edited by NoCo tap water
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Posted (edited)
On 10/7/2024 at 9:07 PM, Fish Folk said:

@NoCo tap water that's a brilliant design! Do you mind sharing your pump-up system details, and how you drilled a safe outflow in that planter without leakage? I love it. I use a different aquaponic design, but with the same general concept...

IMG_8490.jpeg.a5aa467fac839f468396aa87ef9c4161.jpeg

Wow that is super clean and well done! My stuff is held together with zip ties and hope.

Ive experimented a little bit on each of the 3 I’ve made. Everything was done on a shoestring budget, I regret skimping on things like tubing. They were all made for under $35 each (with pump). When I built them I intended them to also be mechanical filters but I could only “kinda” make it work on one, and it’s ugly. So now they are just bio. My pumps and tubes are sized for that flow, currently it’s got to be less than 75gph on 2/3 of them,  take photos tomorrow with some light.

These are the outlet elbows I use, and I use two, way oversized as a fail safe.

https://a.co/d/bRDIV8I
 


This is the supply side. I use it on 2/3 of them. The last just dumps over top.

https://a.co/d/g7XU61a
 

Pick your poison on the pump, but mind the lift height rating, run from the bottom of the tank. I don’t recommend a pond bag like you see here, it clogs, should have gotten a black pump.

IMG_2852.jpeg.03e2a0ea35479002f49c5f8e1170fd9e.jpeg

IMG_2873.jpeg.812e2d0048d511aeaea483e07bf71949.jpeg

Edited by NoCo tap water
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On 10/7/2024 at 11:28 PM, NoCo tap water said:

Wow that is super clean and well done! My stuff is held together with zip ties and hope.

Ive experimented a little bit on each of the 3 I’ve made. Everything was done on a shoestring budget, I regret skimping on things like tubing. They were all made for under $35 each (with pump). When I built them I intended them to also be mechanical filters but I could only “kinda” make it work on one, and it’s ugly. So now they are just bio. My pumps and tubes are sized for that flow, currently it’s got to be less than 75gph on 2/3 of them,  take photos tomorrow with some light.

These are the outlet elbows I use, and I use two, way oversized as a fail safe.

https://a.co/d/bRDIV8I
 


This is the supply side. I use it on 2/3 of them. The last just dumps over top.

https://a.co/d/g7XU61a
 

Pick your poison on the pump, run from the bottom of the tank. I don’t recommend a pond bag like you see here, it clogs, should have gotten a black pump.

IMG_2852.jpeg.03e2a0ea35479002f49c5f8e1170fd9e.jpeg

IMG_2873.jpeg.812e2d0048d511aeaea483e07bf71949.jpeg

It's a great idea! Mine were developed by a neighbor / aquarist friend. He has a patent pending on a filtration design that solves the pump / filter problems. He actually 3D-printed most of the Aquaponic set up for me to test drive. I've given it a few different rounds...

IMG_1700.jpeg.55cc2f2576f548d3ac5552653d

 

IMG_1698.jpeg.c9d2c640938d27a2495da44d40

 

IMG_1701.jpeg.95259f04d15441dec27e265094

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Posted (edited)
On 10/7/2024 at 9:36 PM, Fish Folk said:

It's a great idea! Mine were developed by a neighbor / aquarist friend. He has a patent pending on a filtration design that solves the pump / filter problems. He actually 3D-printed most of the Aquaponic set up for me to test drive. I've given it a few different rounds...

IMG_1700.jpeg.55cc2f2576f548d3ac5552653d

 

IMG_1698.jpeg.c9d2c640938d27a2495da44d40

 

IMG_1701.jpeg.95259f04d15441dec27e265094

Omg That’s stunning. I wanted to rest mine on top of the tank directly (with wood) but I got too concerned about having to remove it to get into the tank for what ever reason. Love that solution!!

Edited by NoCo tap water
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Posted (edited)

@Fish Folk

Sump photos

Mk1 - barb tank. My first attempt, learned a lot about drain noises, lots of trial and error. This one is my highest flow and an ugly attempt at mech filtration. That’s my last filter sock and I do not plan on any mechanical filtration in the future . Only one that is fed over the top of the wall.IMG_2895.jpeg.9fc0ff6fd3d12e444798569ab3290358.jpegphoto from underneath looking up of the drains. Black hard pipe is there to prevent the chance of a pinch to the soft drain lines , I regret my choice of tubing.IMG_2896.jpeg.e2135fbb5aa92a2e63a1031223333e68.jpeg

 

Mk2- Rainbow tank. My best one if I’m honest.

inlet- I have the pump on a timer to turn off one a day and back flow as it clogs often due to the oversized pump on its lowest setting and pond filter bagIMG_2900.jpeg.2718f722a9a10342b99130005ee711b6.jpeg

Drain( currently seasoning some media for my darter tank that I completely forgot about until just now )

IMG_2901.jpeg.c01128497ed7591366e3eff0ae291360.jpeg

 

Mk3 - Guppy pond. This one was created with lower flow and no mechanical filter from the start. It does have a uv light by the drain though. currently remodeling almost all my tanks , got some guppy today!!

inletIMG_2899.jpeg.3c9cab332625f4dd9232cd516bffd6cd.jpeg

Drain (uv under that carbon , in a cage from a plastic plant cup thingy. Only one with a single drain line as the pump is tiny IMG_2898.jpeg.c0479cad6b2ecfad632e58d9e3aa5a1b.jpeg


This filter is the background for my darter tank.

IMG_2903.jpeg.ef1206a87352907624abbb88e40ee2be.jpeg

 

guppy!

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Edited by NoCo tap water
Wanted to point out the joy I got from being able to type Mk1, Mk2 and not feel like a tool
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