DIY Waterfall Tank

ElNino9 · 11-06-2012, 03:00 PM

So I have seen these tanks used for Wabi Kusa and I think it would be a really fun DIY tank build. Has anybody made these before?
to sum up what they look like for those who don't know, its like 4 leveled tank, the bottom is just like a normal tank, then there are 3 levelsabove. One question is how to get the filter to work to take water from the bottom locating the water too the top so it makes the waterfall.
thanks for any help! Mike

AVN · 11-06-2012, 03:50 PM

You can drill holes for pipes and attach an inline pump to pull water from the lowest level to the top one.

A HOB filter will never be able to accomplish this for you. Canister would do better.

You could also use submersible pumps with tubing that goes to the top if you want to avoid drilling.

ElNino9 · 11-06-2012, 05:30 PM

Where to get these tubes and pumps?

AVN · 11-06-2012, 05:36 PM

... online or in fish stores. :|

**HighDesert** · 11-06-2012, 06:08 PM

There are a lot of DIY instructions online if you Google for them. I usually do that when I am looking at making something I'm not confident about constructing. Then I can kind of winnow out the ridiculous and pull from the best ideas.

ElNino9 · 11-06-2012, 09:15 PM

Yeah I have been looking online, but I thought I would get everyone's opinion here since there a lot of good ideas and people on this forum!

AVN · 11-06-2012, 09:27 PM

I get most of my stuff from Ken's fish or Amazon.

Diana · 11-07-2012, 04:57 AM

I would use a small fountain pump, available at most hardware stores. Test fit, and buy some vinyl tubing that fits the outlet of the fountain pump.
Put a sponge over the pump if you find it gets too dirty too often. They are not great at pumping debris. I find Java Moss and dog hair (I have a long haired dog) are the worst.

The size of the pump will depend on how high the total lift is, and how much water you want to move. The smaller tabletop fountains are usually OK to a foot high, perhaps 2 feet, but will not push much water (60 gph with no restrictions). That may work if you just want a slow trickle, enough to keep the Wabi Kusa damp in a small set up, but no real waterfall sound effects.
A bit larger (perhaps 100 gph) would be fine, and would give you more water fall sounds, if you had a spot, perhaps a special rock ledge, where the water could actually fall.
A larger set up (a couple of feet long, 3-4 tiers, perhaps 20 gallon capacity in the bottom) might call for a larger pump than that, or else you may have to use (or make) something like a spray bar at the top. You don't want it to actually spray, but you want water to be released from several spots along the length of the display.

ElNino9 · 11-07-2012, 11:27 AM

Great info! Thanks so much!

lochaber · 11-07-2012, 09:07 PM

If you have a pet/fish store nearby, look at some of their pumps and powerheads. A few types have estimated flow rates at different heights.

11-06-2012, 03:00 PM	#1
ElNino9 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mattawan Posts: 127	DIY Waterfall Tank So I have seen these tanks used for Wabi Kusa and I think it would be a really fun DIY tank build. Has anybody made these before? to sum up what they look like for those who don't know, its like 4 leveled tank, the bottom is just like a normal tank, then there are 3 levelsabove. One question is how to get the filter to work to take water from the bottom locating the water too the top so it makes the waterfall. thanks for any help! Mike

11-06-2012, 03:50 PM	#2
AVN Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,065	You can drill holes for pipes and attach an inline pump to pull water from the lowest level to the top one. A HOB filter will never be able to accomplish this for you. Canister would do better. You could also use submersible pumps with tubing that goes to the top if you want to avoid drilling. __________________ [Secret Entrance]

11-06-2012, 05:36 PM	#4
AVN Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,065	... online or in fish stores. :\| __________________ [Secret Entrance]

11-06-2012, 09:27 PM	#7
AVN Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,065	I get most of my stuff from Ken's fish or Amazon. __________________ [Secret Entrance]

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11-06-2012, 05:30 PM	#3
ElNino9 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mattawan Posts: 127	Where to get these tubes and pumps?

11-06-2012, 06:08 PM	#5
HighDesert Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (53/98%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 1,060	There are a lot of DIY instructions online if you Google for them. I usually do that when I am looking at making something I'm not confident about constructing. Then I can kind of winnow out the ridiculous and pull from the best ideas.

11-06-2012, 09:15 PM	#6
ElNino9 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mattawan Posts: 127	Yeah I have been looking online, but I thought I would get everyone's opinion here since there a lot of good ideas and people on this forum!

11-07-2012, 04:57 AM	#8
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,013	I would use a small fountain pump, available at most hardware stores. Test fit, and buy some vinyl tubing that fits the outlet of the fountain pump. Put a sponge over the pump if you find it gets too dirty too often. They are not great at pumping debris. I find Java Moss and dog hair (I have a long haired dog) are the worst. The size of the pump will depend on how high the total lift is, and how much water you want to move. The smaller tabletop fountains are usually OK to a foot high, perhaps 2 feet, but will not push much water (60 gph with no restrictions). That may work if you just want a slow trickle, enough to keep the Wabi Kusa damp in a small set up, but no real waterfall sound effects. A bit larger (perhaps 100 gph) would be fine, and would give you more water fall sounds, if you had a spot, perhaps a special rock ledge, where the water could actually fall. A larger set up (a couple of feet long, 3-4 tiers, perhaps 20 gallon capacity in the bottom) might call for a larger pump than that, or else you may have to use (or make) something like a spray bar at the top. You don't want it to actually spray, but you want water to be released from several spots along the length of the display.

11-07-2012, 11:27 AM	#9
ElNino9 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mattawan Posts: 127	Great info! Thanks so much!

11-07-2012, 09:07 PM	#10
lochaber Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 738	If you have a pet/fish store nearby, look at some of their pumps and powerheads. A few types have estimated flow rates at different heights.