I finally got the set up up and running. After setbacks and a busy schedule it finally happened, now to get cycled and eventually stock (once I have the $$$).
I went down the Aptos Creek last weekend in Nisene Marks. My dog Kaia led the way to the river for some rock collecting. She hauled the load in her new pack:
When we got home I boiled all of the rocks for the tank to sterilize and then put outside in some aquarium water with fish food to enhance algae growth, it didn't work too great but oh well We shall keep trying.
My Background finally got here and I had set up my pump manifold to go in under it:
After playing with it and testing the system, I could not put the pump behind the background as I originally planned and realized it would make servicing the powerhead difficult. I was using the AC70PH (formerly AC802). I attached the powerhead to the PVC with clear vinyl tubing at 3/4 in and 1in segments that fit tightly together between the PVC and Powerhead. for the Intake I used a piece of filter foam with a hole cut and slid over a piece of PVC with holes drilled through it. I used 3/4 in PVC for the whole project. After this was build I had to cut my background down to size and drill holes, slice holes, and make openings for water to flow through and the PVC to go through. This worked great as I was able to make them seem like part of the background and you can barely see them. I painted the exterior of the tank black so you barely notice the holes. My HOB filter fits perfectly and i used many of the river rocks to cover up the powerhead so you don't see it. I finally managed to get the venturi system working on the powerhead. It pulls air through the line as water is pushed out of the powerhead, I am hoping it will provide more than adequate oxygenation for the hillstreams once I get them.
Thanks all for the input and please share if others are thinking of doing the same. I will be putting plants and inverts in soon followed by loachies.
I went down the Aptos Creek last weekend in Nisene Marks. My dog Kaia led the way to the river for some rock collecting. She hauled the load in her new pack:
When we got home I boiled all of the rocks for the tank to sterilize and then put outside in some aquarium water with fish food to enhance algae growth, it didn't work too great but oh well We shall keep trying.
My Background finally got here and I had set up my pump manifold to go in under it:
After playing with it and testing the system, I could not put the pump behind the background as I originally planned and realized it would make servicing the powerhead difficult. I was using the AC70PH (formerly AC802). I attached the powerhead to the PVC with clear vinyl tubing at 3/4 in and 1in segments that fit tightly together between the PVC and Powerhead. for the Intake I used a piece of filter foam with a hole cut and slid over a piece of PVC with holes drilled through it. I used 3/4 in PVC for the whole project. After this was build I had to cut my background down to size and drill holes, slice holes, and make openings for water to flow through and the PVC to go through. This worked great as I was able to make them seem like part of the background and you can barely see them. I painted the exterior of the tank black so you barely notice the holes. My HOB filter fits perfectly and i used many of the river rocks to cover up the powerhead so you don't see it. I finally managed to get the venturi system working on the powerhead. It pulls air through the line as water is pushed out of the powerhead, I am hoping it will provide more than adequate oxygenation for the hillstreams once I get them.
Thanks all for the input and please share if others are thinking of doing the same. I will be putting plants and inverts in soon followed by loachies.
