CThompson Posted August 7, 2005 Author Share Posted August 7, 2005 I've edited Craig's image to show what's what under the tank. Craig, is this correct? ← Thanks Baz - yes spot on. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brayden's dad Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Thanks Craig, now I understand what you've done & it's similar to what I'm doing. I'm teeing off from the sump pump & into a 20"high, 6" PVC tube (sealed at both ends). Mine will be the coil type, ie, the water will travel down 3/8" tube coiled around the inside of the 6" pipe & empty out at the bottom. Up the guts of the pipe will be rainguard with bioballs taking up the centre void. My tank will have a low bioload (2 large Oscars) so, although my flow will be slower than yours, it should be sufficient. Obviously, the exit point for the water will also be at the top. When I saw your design, I thought about using the Seachem item, but the web page does indicate that it can become saturated. As my denitrator will be permanently sealed at both ends, I'll stick with the rainguard/bioballs. It should do the same trick. Alot of this dentrator stuff is experimental anyhow. Good idea on use of the biomat. I bought some of this stuff 12 months ago & it has since become superfluous. I've been looking for a good use for it & can't think of a better one than what you've used it for. I do have another couple of questions. Are your bioballs submerged? That looks like a water level line in the first post. I don't think it is or the horizontal section of the sump would overflow (if I understand your set up correctly). What is the bio-matrix in the horizontal section of the sump? Why is it there? Is it to remove more oxygen prior to the water entering the denitrator? Best regards, Troy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Troy - a lot of the vendors web sites state it gets saturated, however Seachem's own page states that it works via anerobic bacteria within the structure of the medium. here's the link + a snapback to my post... However, here is Seachem's own FAQ on it --> click me ← Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieStar Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 got any new pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wui39 Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Wouldn't mind seeing it stocked up now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted November 10, 2005 Author Share Posted November 10, 2005 Yes it is fully stocked (a little to so in regards to the brichardi young). I'll work on obtaining some shots. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 Did you have any success thinking out the brichardi numbers? I remember mentioning my friend's 8x2 had the same problem, didn't I? Well it was solved when the silicone joint failed & his parent's lounge room got flooded! We only netted all the ones we could get so a lot were lost in the substrate, still probably had over 100 saved though in for more pics too please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted November 11, 2005 Author Share Posted November 11, 2005 caught out about 60 or so with trap. Need to use the trap more.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anchar Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 Craig...would adding a predator (maybe something from the Alto or Syno group) help keep your brichardis under control? Andrea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted November 14, 2005 Author Share Posted November 14, 2005 I put calvis in there, but I think I have the worlds first vegetarian locality.....What synos would you suggest. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anchar Posted November 15, 2005 Share Posted November 15, 2005 Possibly one of the smaller ones such as S. petricola Craig. They might help vacuum up some of the brichardis at night whilst they are sleeping . Andrea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trofius Posted November 15, 2005 Share Posted November 15, 2005 the best tang predators i have experienced are L.elongatus, this guy inhaled a 5cm cylindricus!! half chewed his head of and spat him out, he also cleaned up anything smaller than 3cm. The big mouth ful of teeth was still small aswel at 13cm. but maybe something similar but smaller like attenuatus, would be good for hunting around the rocks buescheri are not scared of much either they will take a hit if it means food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted November 15, 2005 Author Share Posted November 15, 2005 I've got fifteen petricola in there already. Haven't noticed them make a difference Mind you, they did grow incredibly fast Lepidiolamprologus elongatus and attenuatus sounds like I'd be putting the cat amongst the pigeons. How would I organise them to eat the brichardi young, and leave alone other fish such as nigripinnis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrdog Posted November 15, 2005 Share Posted November 15, 2005 Any pics for us ? We'd love to see some. Jamie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckmeister Posted November 15, 2005 Share Posted November 15, 2005 I've just ordered a new tank that I thought was large (well I guess it is considering I live in a townhouse ) and have decided to use a sump, so I hope you dont mind me pinching a few sump idea's. Excellent setup BTW and one awesome tank Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted November 15, 2005 Author Share Posted November 15, 2005 Jamie, I'd be happy to put some more photos up, but haven't got a digital camera . The last shots were taken by me with a friend's camera when he visited, and were taken in five minuets. To take more shots won't be as simple as that as I will be trying to take photos of the fish, which will need more time, and possible the loan of someone’s camera over several days. Chuck, You’re welcome to use the ideas, none in the sump are probably original, but if you want further information, I'd be happy to answer any questions if I'm able. For those interested, the Trickle Draw Filter is working REALLY well. I have four different grades of mechanical medias in there, from efimech (first) to Aquasonic's Polishing Mat (a really fine, finer than white filter wool tough reusable media) in the last draw. From here the water is separated via a diffusion plate built into the bottom and the water is spread evenly over the bioballs contained in the bottom of the Trickle Draw tower. Every draw is filled completely full to the top, which has helped stop the noise from falling water (10.500 lph approx), causing the water to run through each draw from draw to draw, and not fall from the bottom of one to the top of the next. It is very quiet and I have to stand to listen to hear if it is operating. It gets noisier once the media (white sheet wool in two draws) starts to get dirtier, which is a good reminder to me that I need to clean it. I cleaned the glass (including portholes), cleaned out three draws (one advantage of the Trickle Draw Filter is I only have to clean the media that need it), and did a water change last Saturday. It took a bit over an hour, and most of that was spent waiting for the tank to empty - even pumped out at over 2000lph, and filled again with the same pump takes time. It takes longer to fill than empty as the pump has to battle against some head, where as taking the water out, the pump has a meter of water above it encouraging the water out. All in all the actual labour was about 30 minutes. The water is crystal clear, there is NO build of mulm in any visible area of the tank bottom . Who was it that said you can’t maintain a deep tank? I'm currently working on a new tank, to replace the one my K1 colony are currently in. It is not as big as this tank at 6 by 2 by 2.5. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trofius Posted November 16, 2005 Share Posted November 16, 2005 Craig honestly i dont think you could, elongatus are pretty unbiased when it comes to food, or fingers. maybe the attenuatus would be ok, mine are still small at 7cm, but they leave the nigripinnis alone, not sure what they will do with their fry when it happens but. wait and see i guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Craig has emailed me some more shots of his tank. Here they are This is a full tank shot with the blue LEDs on only Closer up with the LEDs A shot of the over all tank and fish As above but a bit tighter in. Paracyprichromis nigripinnis male, female bottom back, Cyprichromis Sp. Jumbo leptosoma "Kitumba" As above with more Kitumba in shot. The dominate male Kitumba Cyathopharynx foai "Sumbu" at his nest. Synodontis petricola Feeding time - got to love those petricola! Neolamprologus calvus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTR73 Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 SENSATIONAL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trofius Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 hey Craig Looking good! how high have you got the rocks piled? any special precautions taken? worked out how to remove fry yet? Ohh and if you ever catch any kitumba fry from the tank keep me in mind please. have you found any fry in the filter overflow yet, or ist it screened off to prevent this.. Again sensational job, i guess pics will never do that tank justice, would be great to see in person one day, if i ever get that far south.. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted December 14, 2005 Author Share Posted December 14, 2005 how high have you got the rocks piled? any special precautions taken? Stacked them with a propensity to fall backwards, that is, their own weight holds them in place as they are leaning backwards towards and in some cases on the back glass (19mm thick). With their weight (bassalt) they are not going anywhere. Ohh and if you ever catch any kitumba fry from the tank keep me in mind please. No worries. have you found any fry in the filter overflow yet, or ist it screened off to prevent this.. It is screened, both at the overflow with "predator mesh" and the inlet to the Durso (with Aquasonic's cylindrical mesh). Again sensational job, i guess pics will never do that tank justice, would be great to see in person one day, if i ever get that far south.. I'm told it looks much better in person Thanks for your comments. I've nearly finished a 6 by 2 by 2.5 and while not as big as this tank, nor have as many one-offs (such as port holes and the trickle draw filter) it will look just as good. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Craig, Nice work, the lepto's are stunning. I am curious of the height and width, as I cant find it in a post. It looks like 3000 x 1050? x 800? Just my guess. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted December 20, 2005 Share Posted December 20, 2005 Is there anything you wish you could change? I wouldn't use the same tank maker. ← Why not? What happenend? What are the dimensions and literage of this tank? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted December 20, 2005 Share Posted December 20, 2005 I am curious of the height and width, as I cant find it in a post. What are the dimensions and literage of this tank? Have a read of Craig's original thread about the building of the tank http://www.aceforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=18627 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 24, 2005 Share Posted December 24, 2005 Thanks Ged, so its 3000Lx1100Hx660W for just under 2200 litres external. Around 2000L internal volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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