The Self Sustaining Tank (Sort Of)

[redskygrave]

Okay guys, my goal is to do just that. A self sustaining tank minus feeding the fish/vacuuming.
 
I have a 75 gallon tank, I have a canister filter to take the junk i want out, and an Automatic Fish feeder. The tank has fully cycled using fishless cycling.
 
I've created a PVC overflow and I have freshwater (perfect for fish) coming in at the same time. The rate it goes is about a gallon an hour, which by my math should replace 90% of the water a week slowly keeping the fish happy as can be.
 
Idk if anyone has done this project, let me know what you all think. I get married in 17 days so it may push the project along faster or slower depending on how close i am to the date. 
 
 

 

[mike455555]

you have water entering the tank?  is it dechlorinated?  and your maths must be wrong
 
1x24= 24
24x7=168 gallons a week 
 
168/75= 2.24 (so its a 224% change a week) 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, theoretically that's true Mike, but the truth is that it won't be turning over the full volume of the tank - without a high circulation rate as well, you will have some dead spots where the water doesn't leave.

 

[redskygrave]

Eagle is right. When water is dripping in it will not automatically replace old water. It mixes in and you slowly dilute the water until it becomes new. 
 
On mike's question: It is coming in through a line connected to my kitchen sink; the water isn't chlorinated or has any form of chemicals in it, so it is safe to put in straight from the tap. Lucky me.

 

[McCool]

Very cool idea. You should start a journal. Would love to see how you are putting it all together.

 

[DrRob]

I've seen similar ideas but only on the bigger tanks where 10% water changes would be a mammoth task. I believe that the 1000 gallon journal has a similar set up.
 
The closer we get to rivers and streams the closer we get to perfect conditions.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Indeed the 1000 Gallon project does have a continual overturn of water.
 
 
That's actually how 'nature' does it after all.  In ponds or lakes, a small amount of water comes in and a small amount comes out.

 

[redskygrave]

I live about 200 yards away from the Snake River in Idaho, so we get pretty nice conditions. I'll start a journal the closer I am to getting it ready. Right now I'm learning the plumbing so i don't break anything!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It sounds fascinating...
 
 
 
Out of curiosity, what are you going to do with the "waste" water?

 

[redskygrave]

I have a homemade overflow with a line that is connected to the drain near my hotwater heater. When I do my journal ill show how to do all of this so that people can see how easy it is.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Very, very interested to see this come together!

 

[DrRob]

If you lined that into a water butt with an overflow into the drain it'd make a great garden fertiliser system.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If you lined that into a water butt with an overflow into the drain it'd make a great garden fertiliser system.

 
 
That's exactly where I was going with that question.  

 Great minds and all that...
 
 
My plants are SO healthy with my fishy water.  They get rave complements from folks all the time.

 

[redskygrave]

It's too bad I live in a one bedroom with my soon-to-be wife. We don't really have any plants other than a few herbs we keep for cooking (we use the fish water for that). 

 

[DrRob]

Sounds like a good enough reason.