Rivermuds Test Tank

[zennzzo]

I agree...lower flow rates can create more dwell time in the filtration. There have been times I don't get to the pre filter in my 650g pool/pond and the flow slows way down, (estimate of 1/2 the flow) I still get zero Ammonia/Nitrite readings. At best I am turning over the pond at 2-2.5 times per hour, restricted, I might be below 1 time per hour...
(this only prolongs cleanings,lol) but proves to me that lower flows can still do the job...

Rivermud, it is refreshing to have yet another thinking mind on the boards. Thank you for your efforts and sharing them...

 

[Rivermud]

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I've done a lot of thinking.. I keep getting ready to head to the local "Home Dumpster" to get parts for one thing or another but I keep stopping myself. I had an idea last night that really sounded interesting since we have all of this discussion about algae scrubbers as of late. Kind of funny, I know algae scrubbers have been in the industry forever but for some reason they are just now becoming popular.

Anyway, the idea stems from a thread in the breeding section regarding breeding shrimp. Shrimp can be filter feeders as well as algae feeders. Ghost Shrimp are an example of filter feeders while Cherry Reds would be algea feeders. Since we now are trying to use algae scrubbers in out systems why not make them a dual purpose filter. I like to think like Alton Brown (food network fame) in that things should have more than one use or purpose, single purpose items are really only niche based and can be addressed with more creative products and ideas.

Now I don't know what kind of water flow a shrimp can handle, or if they will leave the water like a crawdad, but imagine if we could use shrimp as filter feeders and algae feeders in a "Algae Feeder" system. Instead of the completely vertical flow some algea scrubbers use, it would use the very lightly sloped version. There would be a Shrimp Area at the bottom of the section for their living area. If they can climb the scrubber area they would have an endless supply of foods. Having filter feeders in there would help address the other dissolved compounds that may not be handled or addressed with the algae scrubber in a freshwater environment.

Just think, quadruple bonus now. We now use the algae scrubber to feed a colony of shrimp. We also have shrimp that are filter feeders to help filter our water along with the algae scrubber. These Ghost Shrimp can be used as supplemental feed for our cichlids, and the Cherry Reds can be sold for a pretty decent ammount to local stores as well as on sites like AquaBid.

Thoughts?

 

[Rivermud]

http://twinfalls.craigslist.org/mat/1057908560.html

Is that a good deal or should I go searching other options

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Yes that is a good deal.

As for the shrimp thing, I have never seen any aquarium shrimp come out of the water, merely because they breathe through their gills. Fish that can come out of the water (snakeheads come to mind) have systems for breathing from the air.

Also, the algae scrubber will only filter the water if the algae is removed from the system itself. That is how it works, and that is why it works sooooo good. Algae scrubbers merely grow the algae off of the nutrients in the tank water. If you never harvested the algae then you would never remove anything from the tank (and the algae would die because it would overgrow itself). By harvesting the algae you are promoting growth because you are giving the algae another place to grow (where you had scraped the other algae off).

That being said, i am sure you could try it, but if it does not work it theory it probably wont work experimentally, you know?

I am actually trying to come up with some good ideas for you to try with this tank... I had some a few months back but lost my computer (sister left it outside during a hailstorm, 5 minutes later the screen was cracked and the computer was soaked)

I just want to add, before I wrap up this response, that you should not put turtles in that tank if you end up successful with the underwater land thing. Turtles are large creatures and require quite a bit of space, plus UVB light for basking which would be impossible to do because UVB is filtered out by just an inch of water, or a single pane of 1/4 inch glass.

 

[Rivermud]

Yes that is a good deal.

As for the shrimp thing, I have never seen any aquarium shrimp come out of the water, merely because they breathe through their gills. Fish that can come out of the water (snakeheads come to mind) have systems for breathing from the air.

Also, the algae scrubber will only filter the water if the algae is removed from the system itself. That is how it works, and that is why it works sooooo good. Algae scrubbers merely grow the algae off of the nutrients in the tank water. If you never harvested the algae then you would never remove anything from the tank (and the algae would die because it would overgrow itself). By harvesting the algae you are promoting growth because you are giving the algae another place to grow (where you had scraped the other algae off).

That being said, i am sure you could try it, but if it does not work it theory it probably wont work experimentally, you know?

I am actually trying to come up with some good ideas for you to try with this tank... I had some a few months back but lost my computer (sister left it outside during a hailstorm, 5 minutes later the screen was cracked and the computer was soaked)

I just want to add, before I wrap up this response, that you should not put turtles in that tank if you end up successful with the underwater land thing. Turtles are large creatures and require quite a bit of space, plus UVB light for basking which would be impossible to do because UVB is filtered out by just an inch of water, or a single pane of 1/4 inch glass.

I do not plan to ever have amphibians in the tank. So no worries about turtles. I would only build it to prove the theory that it's possible.

As for the shrimp, I have no idea if they'd walk up the ramp growing the algae or not. My hope is that they would. They would in essence clean the scrubber themselves as food. Now I understand they probably couldn't keep up and I'd end up cleaning it anyway, it would be a very nice way to address their food needs while not having them in the tank. They would harvest it, I'm counting on the algea eating shrimp to "scrape it off" and eat it... that's the theory. If they can eat enough to allow it to continue to grow and not overgrow itself then it would be a very good deal indeed. Not saying it will work that way but it would be nice. Shrug..

Two types of shrimp and an algae scrubber.. ahh the dreams lol

 

[ozpkchris]

i like this idea'

 

[Knowdafish]

Nice build and nice collection of R.V. awnings too!

 

[wow_it_esploded]

I do not plan to ever have amphibians in the tank. So no worries about turtles. <What about reptiles?? Sorry, had to be a smartass > I would only build it to prove the theory that it's possible.

As for the shrimp, I have no idea if they'd walk up the ramp growing the algae or not. My hope is that they would. They would in essence clean the scrubber themselves as food. Now I understand they probably couldn't keep up and I'd end up cleaning it anyway, it would be a very nice way to address their food needs while not having them in the tank. They would harvest it, I'm counting on the algea eating shrimp to "scrape it off" and eat it... that's the theory. If they can eat enough to allow it to continue to grow and not overgrow itself then it would be a very good deal indeed. Not saying it will work that way but it would be nice. Shrug..

<Providing that they did clean it, you would not notice any benefit in nitrate or phosphate reduction because it is all still in the system>

Two types of shrimp and an algae scrubber.. ahh the dreams lol

<If you believe, you can achieve>

Teehee

 

[Rivermud]

Not entirely true. Bio Filtration works by breaking things down into different parts. From extremely dangerous to not so much. I know for a fact that I'll need to clean the scrubber. I'm not looking for it to be a closed system. I don't think a scrubber on it's own can be the sole filtration. I am simply trying to find another use for it. If it can work as a shrimp refugium of sorts then all the better since I can raise supplemental feeders as well as some to sell.

Update:

I just bought myself a bar. This is going to take the vast majority of my time and money. I will still be working on the projects but they will be on the back burner for awhile while I get the bar up and going. Heh, heck I suppose I'll update you with all the bar projects as well.

 

[CHOMPERS]

The shrimp are an excellent idea. They can recycle the waste back into a source of food. In SW systems copepods live in the scrubber and are the source of recycled food.

Good luck on the bar. That will be a project unto itself, but the rewards can be great. Sounds like a lot of fun too.