Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics
- Thread starter Clearwater guy
- Start date
I bought those tumblers as a starting point. They work "ok" but the screen isn't fine enough. some of the eggs fall through initially.
Here's some pics from this morning of the swimming pool. A bit sunny, so it was hard to get them....but they turned out decent enough I suppose.
Here's some pics from this morning of the swimming pool. A bit sunny, so it was hard to get them....but they turned out decent enough I suppose.
I went to Lowe's yesterday and bought a huge list of supplies I needed to knock out some more projects. Then I had to order some 3" bulkheads to make it all work.
The main project is to plumb the new Ray pool, but that one I can't finish without the bulkheads. The 2" overflow in the original pool doesn't flow enough, so I'll modify it as well. Each pool will have (2) 2" overflows that pair into 3" pvc. Then both of the 3" pvc pipes will go into the sump via the 3" bulkheads.
This requires an entirely new sump, which I need anyways. I decided to stick with the pond liner for the sump, but I'm going to tear it all apart and do it right. I bought a 4' x 8' piece of 2" blue foamboard to make the floor and the lid, and plywood to make the walls. It will be way bigger and hold about 10x the amount of biomedia, and will house 2 pumps instead of one. It's going to be about 8'L x 2'W x 2' tall. Initially, the pumps will run the pools separately, but I may go back later and install a check valve and combine them. That way I can shut one pump off and reduce the flow through both pools at once.
Since I'm waiting on bulkeads for the main project, I have 2 secondary projects to build-
I need to make a barrel filter for the swimming pool. I don't expect the water in there to stay clean for long as it is...and with the Iron in my water, I expect it to soon turn orange. I have a whole-house greensand filter in the works to tackle that issue, but it will be a while. I am converting an old water softener into the greensand filter...but the Media is expensive to fill it!
Another project is to build a drain-pipe system for all of the basement tanks. I'm going to use 1 1/2" pvc with 1" tees that come up about a foot at several locations in the room. Then I can simply put the end of the siphon hose in one of the tubes and it will drain right into the sump-crock and be pumped out. Most of my water spills are from lugging overfull buckets out of the fish room...and then carrying new water back in.
Then I need to rig everything with top-off floats to re-fill. Initially I thought I was going to need a large barrel to bring the water up to temp before it goes to the tanks, but I think it will be fine if I keep the flowrate slow into the tanks.
The drain, and the topoff floats will make maintenance way more manageable! I don't have all the floats and stuff to do the fill portion yet...but the drain will be very nice to have.
Off to work!
Mike
The main project is to plumb the new Ray pool, but that one I can't finish without the bulkheads. The 2" overflow in the original pool doesn't flow enough, so I'll modify it as well. Each pool will have (2) 2" overflows that pair into 3" pvc. Then both of the 3" pvc pipes will go into the sump via the 3" bulkheads.
This requires an entirely new sump, which I need anyways. I decided to stick with the pond liner for the sump, but I'm going to tear it all apart and do it right. I bought a 4' x 8' piece of 2" blue foamboard to make the floor and the lid, and plywood to make the walls. It will be way bigger and hold about 10x the amount of biomedia, and will house 2 pumps instead of one. It's going to be about 8'L x 2'W x 2' tall. Initially, the pumps will run the pools separately, but I may go back later and install a check valve and combine them. That way I can shut one pump off and reduce the flow through both pools at once.
Since I'm waiting on bulkeads for the main project, I have 2 secondary projects to build-
I need to make a barrel filter for the swimming pool. I don't expect the water in there to stay clean for long as it is...and with the Iron in my water, I expect it to soon turn orange. I have a whole-house greensand filter in the works to tackle that issue, but it will be a while. I am converting an old water softener into the greensand filter...but the Media is expensive to fill it!
Another project is to build a drain-pipe system for all of the basement tanks. I'm going to use 1 1/2" pvc with 1" tees that come up about a foot at several locations in the room. Then I can simply put the end of the siphon hose in one of the tubes and it will drain right into the sump-crock and be pumped out. Most of my water spills are from lugging overfull buckets out of the fish room...and then carrying new water back in.
Then I need to rig everything with top-off floats to re-fill. Initially I thought I was going to need a large barrel to bring the water up to temp before it goes to the tanks, but I think it will be fine if I keep the flowrate slow into the tanks.
The drain, and the topoff floats will make maintenance way more manageable! I don't have all the floats and stuff to do the fill portion yet...but the drain will be very nice to have.
Off to work!
Mike
Anyone know how much Lemon Juice and Wine I can add to the water, and if Tilapia will eat Garlic and Dill?
I always thought that beef could be euthanized with Jack Daniels ... That would be an awesome steak...
It's dinner time. I'm hungry.
I always thought that beef could be euthanized with Jack Daniels ... That would be an awesome steak...
It's dinner time. I'm hungry.
Just doing some Birth guessing...It's been 98 days since I first got the Motoros. The 2nd female should be giving birth any time now....but she just wants to keep eating... I'm ready this time though, everything is totally prepared.
Yeah, I slacked...I'm still trying to sort these new fish and figure out which ones are female. I tried vent sexing them, but even with methyl blue, they all look the same. I thought I would do better with the larger fish, but I think it's harder. The 4" fish, I actually had some luck and only made a few mistakes which I was able to go back over the course of a couple days and check out.
I finished the drain system that goes into my sump crock, so I no longer have to carry buckets of water that spill all over the carpet.
The carpet is actually dry now.
I have not eaten any of the Tilapia...We encountered a small problem. My wife has an issue with eating anything that we have fed...and I'm not very good at killing things. I've cleaned hundreds and hundres of fish over the years...I think I'm going "soft"...But it's easier when you catch them out of a lake or river rather than raising them myself.
I think what I need to do is have a few friends over and pass a bottle around. Friends are great for helping to overcome "wussiness"...especially with a little bit of alcohol. Usually it isn't about fileting fish though. It usually starts with someone saying "I bet I can jump over the fire"...or the classic..."hey ya'll, watch this!"
I'll get some pics of the fish in the 150g later. The new filter is actually keeping it pretty clear. Also, with the drain system installed, I've already started catching up on water changes. As soon as I get a water supply to the tanks, it'll be a cinch. Can't wait to get my greensand filter installed so I have perfect water for both systems.
I think the Motoro female that gave birth recently has been hit up over the last few days. She's been getting bite marks fromt he 2 males she's with, and yesterday I noticed some bites and a "hicky" on her belly...
The largest of my Motoro's should give birth at any time. I think today makes 101 days since I brought her home, and she had gotten pregnant right before I bought them....so she's just gotta pop...She's at least 110 days. But she still just wants to eat like crazy and isn't acting like she's ready yet.
bonus photo-lol... I'll get more of the fish stuff later.
Mike
I finished the drain system that goes into my sump crock, so I no longer have to carry buckets of water that spill all over the carpet.
The carpet is actually dry now.
I have not eaten any of the Tilapia...We encountered a small problem. My wife has an issue with eating anything that we have fed...and I'm not very good at killing things. I've cleaned hundreds and hundres of fish over the years...I think I'm going "soft"...But it's easier when you catch them out of a lake or river rather than raising them myself.
I think what I need to do is have a few friends over and pass a bottle around. Friends are great for helping to overcome "wussiness"...especially with a little bit of alcohol. Usually it isn't about fileting fish though. It usually starts with someone saying "I bet I can jump over the fire"...or the classic..."hey ya'll, watch this!"
I'll get some pics of the fish in the 150g later. The new filter is actually keeping it pretty clear. Also, with the drain system installed, I've already started catching up on water changes. As soon as I get a water supply to the tanks, it'll be a cinch. Can't wait to get my greensand filter installed so I have perfect water for both systems.
I think the Motoro female that gave birth recently has been hit up over the last few days. She's been getting bite marks fromt he 2 males she's with, and yesterday I noticed some bites and a "hicky" on her belly...
The largest of my Motoro's should give birth at any time. I think today makes 101 days since I brought her home, and she had gotten pregnant right before I bought them....so she's just gotta pop...She's at least 110 days. But she still just wants to eat like crazy and isn't acting like she's ready yet.
bonus photo-lol... I'll get more of the fish stuff later.
Mike
