Returning to the hobby, bamboozled by all the changes

Dragonstar · 11-07-2009, 05:20 AM

Do labyrinth fish need still water? I'm going to have a cannister filter going in this tank.

I'm not set on a dwarf puffer at all. But to clarify, I will be the one truly maintaining the tank... I wouldn't leave that responsibility in the hands of a 7 yr old. The joke there was that "maintain" means "bump into on a regular basis." I will use this as an opportunity to teach him about maintaining the tank though.

I did get the plumbing today so I can put some bulkhead fittings in there. My mineralized soil is a week or two from being ready, then I might emerse some carpeting plants. Or just plant the thing all at once, who knows.

SearunSimpson · 11-07-2009, 09:56 AM

I'm not sure about all labyrinth fish, but Betas for one are not a fan of current.

jhoops · 11-07-2009, 10:02 PM

Labyrinths like gouramis won't mind the current but most bettas get stressed by too much current. However the shorter-finned plakats are generally better swimmers but I don't know if they could handle a cannister filter

Dragonstar · 11-08-2009, 03:27 AM

I guess this would be a good time to ask whether shrimp can handle some current?

Dragonstar · 11-08-2009, 04:27 AM

I have some more pics and progress. There were two unsightly holes with lots of glue around them. So I bought 3/4" bulkhead fittings to put in. Tonight I drilled the holes with a cheap 1.5" hole bit from Harbor Freight tools (got a set of 13 hole bits for $3.99 cause they were on clearance). I used water to lubricate, went slow, set the tank end up on a board, pressed my foot on the tank and drilled in from the inside out. The holes were really clean so I'm happy with the result.

Here's the MTS I'm working on (closeup below)

Below is the tank with bulkhead fittings and the "stuff" I've bought/made to go with the tank in the background (DIY filter, shoplights, 14W CFL daylite bulbs.)

Closeups of the bulkhead fittings:

Down_Shift · 11-10-2009, 04:53 PM

this looks like a awesome diy

Dragonstar · 11-10-2009, 11:48 PM

Thanks! This is my first time with:

soil
plants
acrylic tank
cannister filter

and so far, tank aside, it has been all DIY. So DIY Co2 is a definite possibility for another DIY first in the list.

I think I'll move this to a tank journal, cause this is really getting to be what this thread is.

11-07-2009, 09:56 AM	#17 (permalink)
SearunSimpson Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tsawwassen, BC, Canada Posts: 960	I'm not sure about all labyrinth fish, but Betas for one are not a fan of current. __________________ "You think you have tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes it's not tomorrow; it's now- and that's all you have" - Marc Johnson Ehei-Pimpfen 276 yo!

11-10-2009, 04:53 PM	#21 (permalink)
Down_Shift Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Beantown Posts: 828	this looks like a awesome diy __________________ www.mattwan.net // www.slayerzinc.com cRSX krew #1

11-10-2009, 11:48 PM	#22 (permalink)
Dragonstar Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 27	Thanks! This is my first time with: soil plants acrylic tank cannister filter and so far, tank aside, it has been all DIY. So DIY Co2 is a definite possibility for another DIY first in the list. I think I'll move this to a tank journal, cause this is really getting to be what this thread is.

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11-07-2009, 05:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
Dragonstar Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 27	Do labyrinth fish need still water? I'm going to have a cannister filter going in this tank. I'm not set on a dwarf puffer at all. But to clarify, I will be the one truly maintaining the tank... I wouldn't leave that responsibility in the hands of a 7 yr old. The joke there was that "maintain" means "bump into on a regular basis." I will use this as an opportunity to teach him about maintaining the tank though. I did get the plumbing today so I can put some bulkhead fittings in there. My mineralized soil is a week or two from being ready, then I might emerse some carpeting plants. Or just plant the thing all at once, who knows.

11-07-2009, 10:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
jhoops Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 12	Labyrinths like gouramis won't mind the current but most bettas get stressed by too much current. However the shorter-finned plakats are generally better swimmers but I don't know if they could handle a cannister filter

11-08-2009, 03:27 AM	#19 (permalink)
Dragonstar Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 27	I guess this would be a good time to ask whether shrimp can handle some current?

11-08-2009, 04:27 AM	#20 (permalink)
Dragonstar Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 27	I have some more pics and progress. There were two unsightly holes with lots of glue around them. So I bought 3/4" bulkhead fittings to put in. Tonight I drilled the holes with a cheap 1.5" hole bit from Harbor Freight tools (got a set of 13 hole bits for $3.99 cause they were on clearance). I used water to lubricate, went slow, set the tank end up on a board, pressed my foot on the tank and drilled in from the inside out. The holes were really clean so I'm happy with the result. Here's the MTS I'm working on (closeup below) Below is the tank with bulkhead fittings and the "stuff" I've bought/made to go with the tank in the background (DIY filter, shoplights, 14W CFL daylite bulbs.) Closeups of the bulkhead fittings:

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