Creating A Mini-fuge Using A Hob

[dixaisy930]

I would like to try and make a little mini-fuge for my 29 gallon out of a HOB filter (I was thinking an aquaclear). I was just planning on filling it with macro (probably chaeto), to culture pods. Would the water movement "wash" all of the pods out at once, or would they just sparatically make their way out of the fuge?

 

[Mr Miagi]

They can handle plenty of flow. Id say close to 0% would be washed out. Many of these HOB 'Fuges are actually for the removal of waste and nutrients rather than the culture of 'pods, because there volume for pods, and its ability to add a constant supply would be minuscule.

 

[Matthew5664]

If the water supply to the fuge was at the top and the flow from the fuge was at the top then the life (pods) down the bottom would be fine. Once it gets too crowded in there they will live higher and higher up then you'll start to get them comming through to the tank.

PS. For a cheaper option get yourself a largish plastic tub (storage container type) and lay some sand in the bottom and some LR then supply it with tank water from a small pump 600lph will be fine. Then have a hole in the side and using a domestic watertank tank connector from B&Q (£3) then have the water flow back to the tank. Mounting could be a problem. Might have to build a little shelf to sit it on, but you could make a feature of it.

 

[BigIan]

They can handle plenty of flow. Id say close to 0% would be washed out. Many of these HOB 'Fuges are actually for the removal of waste and nutrients rather than the culture of 'pods, because there volume for pods, and its ability to add a constant supply would be minuscule.

so what size fuge would you suggest for a 30 ish gallon?
I ask as we have recently set up a hob fuge (roughly 8 gallon)

 

[Matthew5664]

There isn't a right or wrong size.

One of my friends has got a 48x24x30 tank and has a 6x2x2 fuge running in the garage

My tanks a 48x18x18 and my fuge is 12x12x9

Its just the bigger you go the more food it will produce and the better nutriant export it will do.

 

[n3ont3tra]

One of my friends has got a 48x24x30 tank and has a 6x2x2 fuge running in the garage

6 x 2 x 2? As it feet???