My Annual Review

[GrayScale]

What angle are the outlets pointed at? Are they pointing directly at each other or more at a 45* angle towards the middle of the tank?

Overall, I like it! Keep it up!

 

[ZoddyZod]

What angle are the outlets pointed at? Are they pointing directly at each other or more at a 45* angle towards the middle of the tank?

Overall, I like it! Keep it up!

cheers....45 degrees towards the middle. I was thinking about lowering one so that the streams don't cross, but was worried I wouldn't get enough surface agitation and thus oxygen exchange from the single filter.

 

[SaTiVa1984]

I'm curious to why you have put cat litter below the sand?

Sorry if this is a newbie question, but ive never heard of people doing this before.

it's a tip I picked up in the planted section. It acts as a nutrient sponge so over time it will collect nutrients from the water coloumn and store them for use by root feeding plants. It's also very very cheap compared to the 'proper' nutrient loaded substrates

also that play sand looks a very nice colour, every type i have looked at has been a horrible dark yellow/orange, any ideas where i can find that in the UK?

Argos

Argos! thanks, proberbly the only place i have not looked haha.

I always thought cat litter had some sort of chemical in it tho.

I have been buying sand from the local pet store, quite expensive and over time i lose alot of it when syphoning. think its time i switched to play sand.

Thanks.

 

[GrayScale]

Is there possibly any way to make one of the outlet tubes about an inch longer so they aren't the same length and one is deeper in the tank than the other?

 

[ZoddyZod]

I always thought cat litter had some sort of chemical in it tho.
Thanks.

some does include deoderizers and other things, but some stuff is just simply clay with nothing added.....that's the stuff that can be used in aquariums.

 

[smokeyjo]

I can only see 1 problem. That's not my tank lol. Really nice set up mate

 

[ZoddyZod]

Is there possibly any way to make one of the outlet tubes about an inch longer so they aren't the same length and one is deeper in the tank than the other?

yeah quite easily......but the spray distribution from the nozzle would negate that small difference over the 4 feet between them. One wouuld either have to be half way down the tank or I could look to create a circular stream at the surface, but that would probably destroy the amazon frogbit as there would be no area of relatively calm water.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I do not have any critiques. I really like your tank. I am not experienced enough to go beyond that Looks very nice though

 

[the_lock_man]

Same as me, the wifes friends are always curious and my mates are like, "you fish gay".

So many jokes, such little time....

yeah, the wife wasn't so keen on the size of it when it arrived.

And again.......

 

[ZoddyZod]

yeah, the wife wasn't so keen on the size of it when it arrived.

And again.......

are you suggesting my male appendage was delivered to me???

 

[Dieses Madchen]

SO wrong

 

[the_lock_man]

yeah, the wife wasn't so keen on the size of it when it arrived.

And again.......

are you suggesting my male appendage was delivered to me???

Moi?

 

[Lufbramatt]

About the flow issue, I have 2 external filters on my 4.5ft tank and have found the best way to control the flow is to have both the intakes to the filters in the same corner at different heights (in my case back left) this creates an overall flow in that direction which helps detritis to be carried into the filter rather than get caught in turbulence and settle on the bottom. I then have one spray bar on the right hand short side on the tank, and the other spraybar roughly in the middle on the back of the tank. this creates a current down the front glass and up the back glass, imagine a spiral ending at the filter intake. Very little waste settles on the substrate. Both the spray bars are about an inch under water pointing about 20 degrees upwards to agitate the surface for gas exchange.

 

[ZoddyZod]

About the flow issue, I have 2 external filters on my 4.5ft tank and have found the best way to control the flow is to have both the intakes to the filters in the same corner at different heights (in my case back left) this creates an overall flow in that direction which helps detritis to be carried into the filter rather than get caught in turbulence and settle on the bottom. I then have one spray bar on the right hand short side on the tank, and the other spraybar roughly in the middle on the back of the tank. this creates a current down the front glass and up the back glass, imagine a spiral ending at the filter intake. Very little waste settles on the substrate. Both the spray bars are about an inch under water pointing about 20 degrees upwards to agitate the surface for gas exchange.

hmmmm, that sounds like an excellent proposition. However it does mean invesment in 2 spary bar kits and at least 1 set of new pipes (current ones will not be long enough to reach both ends of the tank).

yet another thing that I have to collect change for (no bank card traceability), hide in a secret location until enough is available, then sneak the parts into the house under the wifedar.......how I will ever manage that with the 4ft piece of wood I've got my eye on is beyond me.

 

[Tizer]

i have the same problem with my clay/play sand base, the play sand is so light it just has a mind of its own and i often end up leaning into the tank and scooping it back into place with my hands. If i did it again, i wouldnt use play sand, it needs soemthing heavier. To be honest, its going to be a real nightmare, but this summer im going to have everything out and redo the substrate from scratch. That will be fun