ChemBob Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 @H20CultureLabs is that just window screen from the hardware store? Will must egg scattering fish have eggs that fit through that? Specifically I'm looking at pencilfish and rainbow shiners. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 @ChemBob The standard size of egg for a zebra danio, considered to be the model Characin, is .7mm. (Source egg diameter - Zebrafish Danio rerio - BNID 101661 (harvard.edu)) Although egg sizes differ between species, this is a good approximation. The screen I used has a mesh size of approximately 1mm, so the eggs should have some wiggle room to fall through. Rainbow shiners may have larger eggs, this paper may help: Fall 2002 pt. 1 (nanfa.org). It should work well with pencilfish though. I would experiment a bit, after all, that's half the fun! (and half the frustration). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 To provide a safe and secure 2nd layer of shelving, I utilized a steel floating shelf bracket to not only shore up the shelf to the wall to prevent the entire cabinet structure from tipping, but also to utilize the studs in the wall to hold up some of the weight from the 2nd layer of aquariums. By making the shelf out of 2 x 6 pine construction lumbar, I have full confidence that it will be able to maintain the 400 lb of weight from the four aquariums which will sit upon it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 You’re flying through this build! Sounds like you’ll have no worries with this rack. It’s really well built and has a lot of thought put into it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 On 2/23/2021 at 2:21 AM, H20CultureLabs said: I think this new project of mine is novel because it utilizes a sliding rail system usually used in cabinet making that I have not seen utilized for an aquarium rack. By placing these aquarium on cabinet sliders, the aquarium can be moved away from the shelf they normally rest on, greatly increasing the amount of available aquarium which can be accessed for maintenance and catching of livestock while maintaining a small footprint. What fun! Love your thinking-outside-the-box solutions‼️ Looking forward to seeing how it facilitates your fish-breeding goals. 🐟 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 3, 2021 Author Share Posted March 3, 2021 @OceanTruth @Anita Thank you very much for the kind words. It was coming together quickly, but my busy work schedule had put a hiatus on the project for a couple of days. In the meantime, here is a pic of all of the aquariums being pulled away from the cabinet as part of a safety test. No tip-over, no spilling, worked great! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Great work on passing the safety inspection! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 No new rack updates today, I have not had a chance to work on it the past could of days. Instead, here is a picture of a baby pygmy sunfish (This one is an Evergladei) with a belly full of baby brine shrimp. (Aquarium Coop Brand, of course) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Very cute! Do you feed your pygmy sunfish anything else other than live baby brine? I heard they are picky eaters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 5, 2021 Author Share Posted March 5, 2021 @OceanTruth They will not accept flake foods right away, although I suspect they will take Vibra-bites. By far the easiest thing to feed them are micro-worms grown with mashed potato mix. Mine gobble them up! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 5, 2021 Author Share Posted March 5, 2021 More progress today! Drilled the last four aquariums and painted the last four trays! Installing tomorrow. Excited to see all eight set up together. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Looks like you’ll be playing with tanks and fish real soon! Can’t wait to see the rack all together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 Ok! Was able to get some more work done. The drain system is now plumbed. The rear bulkheads drain to a 1/2in barb which is connected via vinyl tubing to another 1/2in barb which can connect to an outside PVC drain. This way, the aquariums can move but water changes are easy. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 More progress today! The final four aquariums and their trays are affixed and ready to be filled! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Great job! Definitely the coolest looking rack system I’ve seen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Great rack system 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 A slightly different subject, but with temperatures in my area finally rising above freezing at night I started the outdoor brine shrimp pond. Right now its just salt, fertilizer, and garden trimmings to generate some green water. More to follow! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 That is very cool! I definitely want to get into live food culturing. Cory blew my mind when he showed his outdoor brine shrimp pond on a vid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 @OceanTruthIts a super cool way to grow them. Since the water is salt, no mosquitos can live in it, which is a huge bonus. One day I'd like to try it with a salt water daphnia strain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Brilliant idea! Then I remembered I have stupid chickens who would drink the salt water and get themselves sick. 🤦🏼♀️ So I would probably have to cover the pond anyway. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 A little more work done today! The center brace is in, and the top aquariums are filled! All that is left is to install the top, the drains for the top aquariums, and the trim. So far, working very well! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 Here is a spooky picture for everyone; the successful safety test of the top aquariums. Its a bit unnerving seeing 400lbs of water just "hanging" there, but its great to see that it not only works, but it appears to be safe as well. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 1 minute ago, H20CultureLabs said: Here is a spooky picture for everyone; the successful safety test of the top aquariums. Its a bit unnerving seeing 400lbs of water just "hanging" there, but its great to see that it not only works, but it appears to be safe as well. That is very impressive!🤩 I wonder, to reduce excessive wear & tear on those drawer slides over time, how about cutting a short length of 2"x4" to create a temporary brace? You could wedge the brace under an extended shelf to help take some of the load off the drawer slide. Just a thought. 🤓 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 @AnitaAbsolutely! A great idea and I plan to do so. For quick stuff though, I feel confident that I can slide the aquarium out and grab fish, shrimp, etc for a min or two and slide it back into place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 (edited) 9 minutes ago, H20CultureLabs said: @AnitaAbsolutely! A great idea and I plan to do so. For quick stuff though, I feel confident that I can slide the aquarium out and grab fish, shrimp, etc for a min or two and slide it back into place. Exactly! You wouldn't need it for a quick looksee. 👍 ORD 💜 Edited March 11, 2021 by Anita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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