In need of design ideas for a big filter tube...

[Racersk]

Racersk , That tank is not long for this world.
That stand/dolly is seriously inadequate.

Totally temporary, I am going to move it to its temp location and shore up the middle before I top it off and move my fish in it. I am pulling down my 55 gallon tonight most likely and I need a place to put my 'school' into, that should be fun!

By the way, those casters its on are rated for like 400lbs a piece and there is a pad that the tank is sitting on and a frame I fabbed up. This won't gfet any rocks or nothing, just filtration and plastic decorations, so all I am really holding is water, fish and the tank (acrylic sides/glass bottom)

8.35 x 75 = 626.25

(1 gallon in lbs x total capacity filled= total water weight)
divided by 4 to each wheel = 156lbs per corner.

And again, I am shoring up the tank before I reach this number in the middle specifically so there won't be any flexing before this gets stacked over the other tank in it's final home.

I just hope I'm right.

I will be testing the water I'm working on in the tank now seeing how what my parameters are now before I start adding tank water. I'm really trying to avoid a cycling when I move the filter then the fish, trying to get this all done this weekend if possible.

 

[Racersk]

This tube would definatly be mounted on my wall. Seal 1 end. Cut a big oval in the top. Mount 2 "J" hooks on wall. Tape then paint half of the back black. Sand. Door build in wall to hide canister filter. School of some gnarly tetra or danio. Then mount a light above it. That would be a sickkk night light.

This was my first thought, but for a single Betta, but it just made more sense as a filter...

This one is sealed BTW, I can get another that is just a tube if anyone is interested...It's still available.

 

[CA-Delta]

I just hope I'm right.

Me too.

I would be less concerned with the casters and more concerned with flex.
Good Luck.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Actually, I'm liking the idea of the dolly stand. I have a 40g on the floor with my fry in it and I have a 75g that is also floor bound. I don't have a place designated for either but mobile tanks will solve that problem.

 

[Racersk]

Actually, I'm liking the idea of the dolly stand. I have a 40g on the floor with my fry in it and I have a 75g that is also floor bound. I don't have a place designated for either but mobile tanks will solve that problem.

If I was to make it permanent, I would build the frame from metal angle iron and weld the casters to the bottom about 10" in from each end to take more load and not create such a span like my first set up is...I'm hoping to only be using it for a weekend...

Before

After

I will be getting some materials, I have a total of 60" to play with, otherwise I'll start to block the electrical panel. I figured some sort of cement block base for the added weight handling, I'd do a steel frame, but no budget limits spending.



On another note... After I moved all my fish, my lone Bala shark (the last that hasn't died...) has developed serious eye pop with cloudyness etc, I did adjust the PH up (was low enough to be concerned) and I am using about 20 gallons of the older water and I have my Cascade 1200 set up on the tank in it's temporary position.I didn't notice this problem in the 50 gallon before I moved it....

Pics..
New temp home...

Bala problem eye.

good eye for comparison.

I added the last of my Primafix (about a teaspoon maybe) to the temp tank and I'm hoping for the best tomorrow. I am planning on cleaning the filter tomorrow and vacuum out the leftovers from netting all the fish today(pleco poops are stringing up the place!)

Updates to follow.

 

[Racersk]

Bottom tank in and leak testing now...

Going to substrate with 'FloraMax' black 24lbs worth for plants, then 20lbs of 'SuperNaturals' black sand over the top. I will get more of this when I can afford it, as it was $17 a bag, and PetSmart only had one bag.

I am shooting for a complete blacked out substrate for the bottom tank and 'bling' for the upper one. I used black contact paper on the bottom tank, bubble wrap silver coated insulation under the tank with a black rubber mat between the floor and insulation.

I used 4x6 boards ($5.42 EACH FOR 14' BOARDS) and I am using 4x8x16 solid blocks for the uprights, cheap and easy! 4 blocks on end per side, for 32", plenty for lighting, and I was able to make enough room on the side for the canister filter and a hang on 'side' Magnum 300 for carbon cleaning.

I made sure that I can dump a 5 gallon bucket into this tank for water changes(man what a pain in the old setup) and the lighting is simple x2 2 18" ballasted florescent fixtures with aquarium bulbs. I also JUST added the planted substrate and waiting for t to settle before I add the sand.

I will be adding that tube later once I get the temp tank on top of this setup and my school is in it..

 

[Racersk]

Oh, and my Bala is looking much better today, hardly has cloudy eye, but I can see a bump in the center, which is I guess swelling? I dunno, but he is eating OK..

 

[Racersk]

Oh and before anyone states the obvious, I know this isn't near the amount of substrait need for this build, but it's going to HAVE to do till I can afford the rest... $107 bill at petsmart for substrate and chemicals for this is going to get me in trouble with the wife me thinks!

 

[Racersk]

Haven't gotten to the tube filter yet, still readying my bottom tank for my poly's and friends.

An update though, I found where my other little Sengal Bichir went...

I cleaned my canister filter and found a decomposing little copse in the bottom, aparently when I was taking things down, I left the intake tube uncovered too long and the little guy was sucked in, CRAPPY!

The others are doing alright, not fantastic though...but at least I know what was causing my high nitrates that I couldn't get rid of even in another tank.

I will be stopping by the same store I posted in the Bichir media area and will seriously consider getting my first Ornate. They are $40 and smaller, but about the same size as my smallest albino sengal. Now that I have a ton more room!

Wating on the temprature to increase, then I will swap over my Cascade to the new bottom tank (still holding water after the reseal!) to get the water crystal clear again, as I only have my Magnum on it, so just a little mechanical and carbon in it, but the intake is attached to my in tank heater , it gets a current going and is very effective at heating my tanks.

specs:
new tank @ 76* and rising no Nitrates, nitrites, amonia, or chlorine. PH is good and it now has a bed of Flourite and black sand, with a couple of plants (hornwart?) and a couple of rocks

old tank (moved to 75 gallong holding tank)
80* 40ppm Nitrates, nitrite 0-.5, GH 25-75ppm, 0 chlorine, KH 40, and PH ~6.5
No substrate plenty of air and it stinks! But the filter is now clean and I feel better now that I have some closure on my little one...

I need to get my fish moved tonight!

BTW the fish count for my biggest Poly is now 1 small Bala, 4 little barbs, 2 bigger barbs and a few glass shrimp, I pulled 5 out of my old tank that are now in the holding tank but I originally started with 10.

 

[Racersk]

Done

My 'World tank' on top with my 13" common, 7" spotted Highfin, and 8" chocolate Plecos and one two tail gold fish-nabbed out of the pond after an outer pond experience -jumped out of the hole in the netting for the fountain, found it before it was pounded to death by the water...stupid goldfish...

And my 'African' Tank, housing all the rest for now...including a couple of baby Japanese trapdoors from the pond, to help with cleaning duties with the glass shrimp. By the way, I am going to try to keep this tank African -fish- only (had to specify as I about contradicted myself with the snails!

'spud' (Senegal Birchir) is clearly visible left of center rear next to the Texas holey rock, my Albino Birchir is in the left lower corner...




Now time to get serious with the World tanks filter, I know those Plecs will start making the water nasty in a hurry...currently running a already seeded sponge for a 100G and a corner box on the other side, good and temporary!

I have a smaller pond pump to use for this, other than that I will need filter media, I can get that this week- plastic shipping strapping, washed of coarse. I might end up cutting the top down or something, as it is pretty tall.

Either that or can any one give me an idea to add a fitting to a curved 8.5" tube?!

Dimensions of thee tube are:

8.5" by 47" tall, 1/4" wall thickness, either acrylic or polycarbonate, the bottom is sealed (glued), and I can't think of a way to seal it further with silicone, I might just fill it up before work and let it sit with water...near the garage door...while I am planning and gathering.

Any other last minute suggestions for my mega filter?