New Rack And Tanks

[ghent_3rd]

My sister's boyfriend is building me a rack to install approx 5 tanks, one on top of the other. The dimensions are going to be approx 18" x 12"x 12" and I am just wondering the best way to heat and filter these aquaria.

Obviously these are not big tanks but the only way I can think of heating them is with individual heaters as it is going to be in my bedroom so cannot heat the room to constant temperature or I will be sweating!! The main help I would like is with iltering as I don't really want to be buying a separate filter for each tank, which is the best way to do it, not a problem if it involves an airpump either.

I am going to be stocking several different species, a few suggestions are Pygmy Puffers, the smaller species of Cory, White Cloud Minnows, Red Crabs or Aquatic Frogs and of course splitting one of the tanks in half and having the good old Bettas. Any other suggestions for this type of tank would be great but what I am really hopeful for is advice on the filtration.

Thanks again!!!

 

[Rooster]

Can you arrange a sump "system" ? that way you can filter and heat in one go !

Or single heaters will work, but be expensive to buy (notice "buy" not "run" ! ) and air filters - maybe too noisey ?
Depends if you DO want to go the system route or not...


Are you SURE the bedroom is tough enough for all that weight....

 

[Tolak]

Five of those tanks equals about 55 gallons, a weight I wouldn't be too concerned about, but the water weight alone will be around 500 pounds.

I would go with air driven sponge or box filters, if you go with a sump filtration you will be sacrificing one tank for filtration. If you don't mind having all tanks the same temperature, and loosing a tank for filtration a sump would make for real easy maintenance.

One larger air pump and a manifold will work for sponge & box filters. Overflow boxes or drilling for a bulkhead & overflow will work for a sump. The sump would be a bit more work at first, but you will make up for it in future maintenance.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Thanks for that guys, what is the difference between a sponge filter and a box filter??

I am guessing that sponge filters will make a fair bit of noise due to the bubbles and not sure whether that will be ideal in a bedroom.

 

[Tolak]

Sponge filters are lower flow, mainly bio filtration; http/www.petwell.com.hk/f901filter.jpg

Mine run at about two bubbles per second.

Box filters can be run as bio or mechanical, or a combination. I run mine as mechanical, with a pretty constant flow rate. http/www.wetthumbaquatics.com/Supplies%2...x%20filter3.jpg

Sponges aren't that noisy if you keep the flow low. Put enough air through a box filter & it will filter as well as a hob filter. I run a combination of both in many tanks, the boxes being mechanical means I can turn down the flow to almost nothing if I don't want to hear them.

 

[susankat]

With the different temps that all the fish you have chosen, a sump that will house the heaters wouldn't be advisable, or you can just use individual heaters for each tank. I would go with a linear pump and sponge filters, which the filters you can make your own.

Congrats on the stand. I just got one that will hold 6 15 gal long tanks and the tanks to go with it. Can't wait to start setting them up. They will be used for breeders.

 

[ghent_3rd]

How on Earth would I set-up the pump to run all the filters?

I am a fairly experienced fishkeeper but have never taken on anything like this before. Any websites that could help me would be greatly received!!!

 

[susankat]

Just use some gang valves, that you hook up to one line and then the valves will split it to however many tanks you need it on. They are also adjustable so you can adjust the flow accordingly.

 

[Tolak]

Pipe valves, with runs of pvc pipe, or pre-made manifolds; http/www.jehmco.com/html/air_accessories.html

I have pvc run all around my fishroom, 50+ pipe valves, all run off of one pump. For a more compact setup, and if you are less handy the pre-made manifolds might be a better option.

 

[ghent_3rd]

So I take it the maniold just drops onto the end of the airline and then I run airline from each of the outlets into each separate airstone in the tanks?


If I were to use individual valves what size PVC pipe do they drop into?? From a quick lnce at the website you gave me Tolak I think you may be right in the manifold set-up. Don't want PVC pipe running all over my bedroom!!!!

 

[Rooster]

These come in loads of flavours !

 

[ghent_3rd]

1 airline in, 6 out, just what I need!!!

Thta's ace Rooster, whereabouts is the best place to get them from around us as I am not a million miles away from yourself??

Mail order is good for me also.

 

[Rooster]

1 airline in, 6 out, just what I need!!!

Thta's ace Rooster, whereabouts is the best place to get them from around us as I am not a million miles away from yourself??

Mail order is good for me also.

Any good shop ! But theres not a lot of those about these days (ducks for cover ! LOL)

Ive have seen them in one of the garden centre based ones around Nottm... might have been Sawley, but they are available on Ebay cheap enough.... save your petrol !

 

[ghent_3rd]

What do I need to search on ebay, is it "manifold"??

Will this airpump be suitable to supply to supply the manifold to run the 6 sponge filters that I will be using??


Evolution Airpump

 

[BigC]

http/www.swelluk.com/koi-carp/koi-pond-a...valves-535.html