First Setup plan
- Thread starter Redoog
- Start date
yes xmas lights. the bottom pic is 100 blue lights. The pic above that is 100 blue AND 100 multi colored leds red blue green orange, look close you can see the colors on the background, kind of a wierd sheen.
I will replace the 100 multi with 100 more whites. total 500 white 100 blue led xmas lights.
btw tank is 72x18x18 acrylic
i was useing just and air tube, thought it took to much air, so i used an airstone and feed a tube down from the top, it works about the same, maybe a little less air and noise.
right now i have some cheap plastic valves, that do not work at all. I plan to try some brass valves, and a bigger air pump.
fyi I got a fusion quite power 500 for about $20. LFS around here carry them, and one I was at had a 700 for like $27. which i wanted, but that was at a lfs kinda far away, the one close by only had a 500 in stock, so i got it, they are rated by number of accs, which is hard, since that way i am only running 4. But one is a 48" wand, one is the sandfall, and other two are dual airstones. 500 is rated at 7 700 is rated at 9
I will replace the 100 multi with 100 more whites. total 500 white 100 blue led xmas lights.
btw tank is 72x18x18 acrylic
i was useing just and air tube, thought it took to much air, so i used an airstone and feed a tube down from the top, it works about the same, maybe a little less air and noise.
right now i have some cheap plastic valves, that do not work at all. I plan to try some brass valves, and a bigger air pump.
fyi I got a fusion quite power 500 for about $20. LFS around here carry them, and one I was at had a 700 for like $27. which i wanted, but that was at a lfs kinda far away, the one close by only had a 500 in stock, so i got it, they are rated by number of accs, which is hard, since that way i am only running 4. But one is a 48" wand, one is the sandfall, and other two are dual airstones. 500 is rated at 7 700 is rated at 9
need some advice.
1 I am not thrilled with seeing the odds and ends along the top above the background. I was thinking about this. I have to shut everything down to change the valves, and tweak the sump. So i was thinking of masking off the best i could, and just shoot everything above the rocks with some black fusion paint?
2 what is a good air valve? I got the plastic ones from lfs, but they dont shut off, and do not regulate very well?
3 what about air wands. I have some of the cheap green ones that you can add together. but I am not happy with the amount of air it gives off. I want something that throws a good air curtain, so when i feed, i can keep all the food from going to the overflow?
1 I am not thrilled with seeing the odds and ends along the top above the background. I was thinking about this. I have to shut everything down to change the valves, and tweak the sump. So i was thinking of masking off the best i could, and just shoot everything above the rocks with some black fusion paint?
2 what is a good air valve? I got the plastic ones from lfs, but they dont shut off, and do not regulate very well?
3 what about air wands. I have some of the cheap green ones that you can add together. but I am not happy with the amount of air it gives off. I want something that throws a good air curtain, so when i feed, i can keep all the food from going to the overflow?
Some brainstorming:Redoog;3699393; said:
- I'd try to conceal it with some extra background.
- You could try making some L shaped background bits that match your existing backgrounf and silicon them in over the odds and ends to form a shroud. Leave some gaps for water to pass through. This could give your background a look of greater depth.
- You could get some fake floating plants and bunch them around the odds and ends - I do this to conceal my recirculation nozzle. Fake plants look real once the algy starts to grow on them. Hanging style plants would look great dripping down your background.
- Use sticks to hide the odds and ends, make them they look like they are poking out of your logs or growing from above.
- Use a combination of everything with some imagination so enhance your allready gorgeous tank
Sticks!! now that might be a great idea. I want removability, I could use the same rubber band method i did for the stumps maybe with some thought.
What kinda effect would regular dead wood from the back yard have on tank water I wonder?
My drift wood pieces must have been very low on tannins, because the water was never tea colored. But I have read where wood will lower the PH,, and I still need that.
THANKS MATE
What kinda effect would regular dead wood from the back yard have on tank water I wonder?
My drift wood pieces must have been very low on tannins, because the water was never tea colored. But I have read where wood will lower the PH,, and I still need that.
THANKS MATE
anouther question you might know. I have my pump plumbed with pvc all the way. I am getting some vibration because the line passes through 4 holes before hooking to the tank. Mostly just a little noise.
Do you think if I remove the hard line at the pump and use a short piece of flex hose that would make a big differance? I see you have yours that way.
Do you think if I remove the hard line at the pump and use a short piece of flex hose that would make a big differance? I see you have yours that way.
Hard wood is best - it will last. In Australia I use mallee root because it is extremely cheap firewood and a natural looking hardwood. The stuff is loaded with tannins so I soak it for months and then put biochemZorb in my sump to soak up the tannins.Redoog;3699586; said:
I've thrown all sorts of stuff in my tanks over the years. Softer woods like eucalyptus decay in the tank and slowly fall apart, making a mess. Expect it to only last a year or 2 unless.... you coat the wood with epoxy. Then it lasts forever. (I've heard you shouldn't use epoxy coated wood with plecs) Epoxy coated wood releases no tannins but tends to float. I think this would be ideal for you. I haven't done this myself but a few mates have.
Be careful with your deadfall. Some saps are poisonous and beware of chemicals that may be on it. Make sure it is completely dried out then give it a good soaking - maybe even a boiling. I like to test things before they go in with my prize fish - if you soak the wood in a tub then put a cheap test fish in the tub for a while and you will have the answer.
Short answer - yes. I only use flex hose for that very reason. I hate mechanical noise!
If you still get vibration then put some rubber or similar around the PVC where it passes through the hole to dampen noise.
Its a pleasure - thanks for helping out with my filtering problem
