New Rack And Tanks

[Tolak]

Rooster, those manifolds are beautiful, makes me want to break out the car wax!

TY BigC, that link has some nice air pumps as well. I would go with a small linear, they use less power, and last longer. The air pump will be filtering several tanks, this is not an area to economize.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Tolak, what do you mean by small linear??? Is this a type of pump or the manifold??

Those manifolds do look more at home in a car engine than a fish tank, very pretty!!

Another great looking manifold at an awesome price

 

[Tolak]

A small linear air pump. They run quieter, and have longer life between service intervals. The only real service on a good linear air pump is replacing the rubber diaphragms, these usually last at least two years.

What you are doing is building a small one rack fishroom. Much of this is learn as you go, and custom built to your own specifications.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Learn as you go is definately the right expression. Thought I knew a fair bit about fishkeeping until I started these threads to get me going on the project.

Do you have any online examples of linear airpumps Tolak so that I know what I am looking for, thanks for all your advice by the way!!

 

[Tolak]

http/www.swelluk.com/koi-carp/koi-pond-a...-pumps-105.html

The Evolution, Nitto, and Yamitsu are by appearances linears. I'm running an Alita AL-80, around 50 outlets running ATM, somewhere around 950 gallons today.

 

[ghent_3rd]

If I buy an air pump and site it above the rack of tanks that I am installing am I right in saying that I do not a non-return valve on it?

I think I am right in saying that this is only for when their is a risk of water syphoning back into the pump, guessing that cannot happen when the pump is higher than the tank.

Think I am going for the Tetratec APS 400 that is suited for tanks between 250-400 litre. I am having 5 tanks at abut 45 litre each so should be able to split the 2 outlets that it has quite comfortably and give me the power I need to run my filters. Defintely going for the homemade sponge filters now. They are just so easy and a lot cheaper also!!

 

[ghent_3rd]

Well blow me down, I have now found ready made sponge filters online for £3.12 each, what a bargain!! Can't decide whether o go for tese or build my own now I will probably save myself about £10.00 if I do it myself but with the extra work I m not sure it is worth it, just how much better will my home made ones be compared to Algarde 45's as demonstrated in link below.


Algarde sponge filter

 

[OldMan47]

Ghent, I can't tell how big the filter surface on the commercial ones are and obviously don't know how big you intend to make yours. For a sponge filter, much of the capacity relates to how much surface is available for the bacterial colonies to occupy. This is a case where to some extent bigger is really better. None of them are worth much as mechanical filters anyway.
You are right that you don't need a check valve to protect an air pump located above the tank.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Ordered the 1st of the tanks today!!!

Using that as a guide for the guy doing my rack to build it for me, he said it would be easier if he had an actual tank to work with.

After ordering this I nearly bought this from eBay but it was just a little too big, what a sausage!!!

Awesome Tank Set-up, anyone interested???

 

[ghent_3rd]

OK so change of plan!! Had to bump this back up to let you all know there has been a slight change in the rack design as the 18x12x12 tanks would have stood way too high with 5 stacked up and also would have protruded too far into the bedroom unless I lost my double bed, loce my fish but that ain't happening, especially being free and single........anyway I digress!!


Now going for 4 tanks @ 18x10x10 one on top of each other and an 18x12x12 that I had already ordered sat next to them on another stand. Still gives me the 5 tanks with the bigger one being split into 2.

My sister's bro is an absolute DIY whizz and has told me exactly how we are going to wire in the lighting, filters and heating!! It means nothing to me. I just said to him as long as it works and I can maintain it then I haven't got an issue!!

I will be adding a link to my main thread in another part of the forum detailing full tank set-up and my choices of species going into each tank.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Here is the newest thread, got to get a journal up and running once the rack is in place and the tanks are ready to go.

Rack and Tanks

 

[ghent_3rd]

My new tanks hold about 30 litre each, should I use a 25 watt or 50 watt heater???