18' x 9' x 3.5' catfish tank build in progress.....
- Thread starter necrocanis
- Start date
Tig too expensive for my blood right now. Someone sends me one I'll do my best to raise it over 30" so it can go in lol. There will be more TSN in the future. I've got one on order right now at the lfs.
gangster;2971261; said:
"I've even got a plan for running plumbing and a sewer line to the garage so that I can put a constant drip on this thing! I would like to keep my water params perfect. Only problem is I probably should run it through a reverse osmosis filter, or drinking water filter before the water goes into the tank. Any suggestions?"
Suggestion: A constant drip system is a good idea, I have one and I love it! If you have it set up correctly you wont have to do water changes, ever! Let me explain first and my disclaimer is: this is just my opinion but I do speak from experience, I'm using this system right now and my fish are breeding so the water has gota be fine.
You already know how much water you need to change in a given period. 10% every two weeks, 20% every week, whatever has been working for you will continue to work for you with the constant drip system. Lets say you change 300 gallons every week in one massive water change. That comes out to 1.5 to 2 gallons an hour. Set up your drip system for that amount as a starting point and adjust if needed. Obviously you want to go as little as possible but still keep the water parameters in check.
Benefits: I don't need to pre filter the water coming out of the tap, this is of course your call, too filter or not too filter. I don't think it's necessary with this small amount of water, it's a very small amount going into your tank over a long period of time. Pre heat: I don't pre heat the water, winter time in Montana this might not be an option? Cold water holds less dissolved solids and more dissolved gasses. When the cold water is added to the warmer tank water it cools the tank a bit but it's not extreme, that tank heaters can keep up with it easy. If they can't then add more heaters. The benefit is the low dissolved solids in the cold water actually pick up more crap (literally) and take it out the drain. The higher dissolved gasses in the water dissipate rapidly when the water is warmed almost instantly when it enters the warmer tank water. Remember this is a very small amount of water (relatively) over a long period of time. Benefit 3: less stress on the fish. It's just my opinion but one massive 300 gallon water change versus 2 gallons an hour had gota be less stressful on the fish! Benefit 4: run the old water to the back yard garden for plants and wife stuff.......free water ( she was going to water the garden anyway)
I've been doing this for two years now and I love it! Fish seem to love it too (breeding)
Suggestion: A constant drip system is a good idea, I have one and I love it! If you have it set up correctly you wont have to do water changes, ever! Let me explain first and my disclaimer is: this is just my opinion but I do speak from experience, I'm using this system right now and my fish are breeding so the water has gota be fine.
You already know how much water you need to change in a given period. 10% every two weeks, 20% every week, whatever has been working for you will continue to work for you with the constant drip system. Lets say you change 300 gallons every week in one massive water change. That comes out to 1.5 to 2 gallons an hour. Set up your drip system for that amount as a starting point and adjust if needed. Obviously you want to go as little as possible but still keep the water parameters in check.
Benefits: I don't need to pre filter the water coming out of the tap, this is of course your call, too filter or not too filter. I don't think it's necessary with this small amount of water, it's a very small amount going into your tank over a long period of time. Pre heat: I don't pre heat the water, winter time in Montana this might not be an option? Cold water holds less dissolved solids and more dissolved gasses. When the cold water is added to the warmer tank water it cools the tank a bit but it's not extreme, that tank heaters can keep up with it easy. If they can't then add more heaters. The benefit is the low dissolved solids in the cold water actually pick up more crap (literally) and take it out the drain. The higher dissolved gasses in the water dissipate rapidly when the water is warmed almost instantly when it enters the warmer tank water. Remember this is a very small amount of water (relatively) over a long period of time. Benefit 3: less stress on the fish. It's just my opinion but one massive 300 gallon water change versus 2 gallons an hour had gota be less stressful on the fish! Benefit 4: run the old water to the back yard garden for plants and wife stuff.......free water ( she was going to water the garden anyway)
I've been doing this for two years now and I love it! Fish seem to love it too (breeding)
It is awesome, but why not just use the 7kw heater that will only run when the water is below the temperature that I preset it for? Just have to pump water slowly through it is all. Cost is around $100. I don't really have a way to run pipes from my hot water heater to the garage to keep the water warm. Otherwise I might consider it! I love your setup though.
Get the electric version like I'm getting of the tankless hot water heater. You can mount it anywhere even upside down.
nolapete;2972630; said:
That is what I'm getting! hehe
Just have to save the money is all. Seems like everything takes so long because I always have to save money lol. I'm gonna try and order 1 5gal bucket of the blue max so I can at least get the first coat on there during my birthday! I plan on plumbing the tankless heater so that I can run a line to it when I am doing water changes to this tank and the ponds in the garage. Will have to use a 2way valve on it! I just plan on pumping the water through it continuously at the flowrate needed to keep the water at a constant temperature. It has an internal thermostate that will shut off the heater unless the water gets lower than the preset temperature.
