Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
-I dug out my old de-humidifier, and realized that the reason it wasn't working is that the rear was all clogged up and air couldn't flow. So it's plugged in now, and making a difference already.

You're right aboout the carpet. I wish I hadn't built stuff on top of it...There is more of it hidden than there is exposed now...so I just have to keep it dry as best I can. I'll get out what is accessible soon...but I'm still going to have to be careful about spills.

The humidity will come down in there. I still have to build covers for most everything,and that will help. but now, with the dehumidifier going along with the fans, I can manage for a bit longer.

Mike
 
very good point ive heard those stingers can be nasty
 
Finally had some time to read up on some other people's progress (thanks NolaPete).

So, I've been waiting 24 hours between coats because it stays sticky...It's supposed to stay sticky...LOL.

I'll have it done today...and start filling it tomorrow afternoon.

Mike
 
If you are applying thin coats, a couple hours is about all you need between coats unless you're spraying with calcium chloride.

You can't fill it tomorrow. You have to wait for it to cure. Get a moisture meter from Home Depot or Lowe's. When the membrane is at 15% moisture or less it's cured. Just because it is dry, doesn't mean it's cured. Bare minimum 48 hours after last coat.
 
I have also found that building systems with minimal splashing of water can help allot with water loss/evaporation.

I built a sump with a bio tower and algae scrubber that is for a 55g tank. The sump is a 15g tank. I was needing to top it off every day (there is about a 2'5" zone the water level needs to be in). I thought this was a bit excessive and thought the algae scrubber was evaporating a massive amount of water (as it was my first experiment with an algae scrubber) but it ended up being a combination of other things.

The algae scrubber was splashing allot, and the drain line from the tank going to the top of the bio tower was producing allot of bubbles that were popping and getting water all over around it and the return line was splashing allot in the top of the tank. Small water droplets have a large surface area and evaporate relatively quick. This water was evaporating increasing relative humidity in the room. The room is quite large so the humidity was not what I noticed, it was the water level in the small sump.

I made adjustments to these issues and now I only need to add water to the system about every 4-5 days. This was on a small system. On a much larger system this would be amplified. So, I would go through your system and do what you can to reduce water loss through any means you can and it will help with evaporation and humidity as well.
 
glad your startin to get the humidity under control
 
Went to Meijers and bought a great big massive 5.5 gallon tank to sport my 3 fancy new egg tumblers. I'm about to set it up and try these things out. There is one female downstairs carrying eggs.

I bought some Methylene blue, some new airstones, and a little bitty in-tank filter gizmo, so it should be ready to go just as soon as it's filled and the temp is right. This will be interesting...I hope I can net the female before she spits out the eggs...lol.

Also, for the 2 rays that are still coming...They are still coming... It's actually a good thing they've been delayed because the female apparently spit out a hook over the weekend, and is now being watched closely to make sure she starts eating again. She's been in the US for over 7 months with the hook in her...so I'm hopeful that she will be ok. Either way, she is in the most capable hands that I know of...

Mike
 
cant wait to see those fry
 
Clearwater guy;4136548; said:
Went to Meijers and bought a great big massive 5.5 gallon tank to sport my 3 fancy new egg tumblers. I'm about to set it up and try these things out. There is one female downstairs carrying eggs.

I bought some Methylene blue, some new airstones, and a little bitty in-tank filter gizmo, so it should be ready to go just as soon as it's filled and the temp is right. This will be interesting...I hope I can net the female before she spits out the eggs...lol.

Also, for the 2 rays that are still coming...They are still coming... It's actually a good thing they've been delayed because the female apparently spit out a hook over the weekend, and is now being watched closely to make sure she starts eating again. She's been in the US for over 7 months with the hook in her...so I'm hopeful that she will be ok. Either way, she is in the most capable hands that I know of...

Mike
Click to expand...
wow! that is quite remarkable about the ray. was it a big hook? also when i used to raise frontosa's i got so annoyed at messing with the tumblers that i opted to use strainers. like youd see for sifting flour and other food items. jut lay or silicone down an airstone bar across the tank (lengthwise) and put your strainers across the tank accordingly. alot easier. :headbang2
 
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