CRS Spec Journal

[MABJ]

Phew that's a lot to respond to! Thank you!

-I don't think I'll be picking up that light unless I really need to, I kinda like this stock light.

-As for leaving the cray in there, I agree he's neat as all hell! I like him a lot, even more as he's been alone. But this tank is going to be a species only tank for SS-SSS crystals from Nick. I actually just ordered my solution tank it should solve everything. It is another Deep Blue Professional (The best siliconed, rimmed tanks I've ever handled) tank. One gallon with a divider down the middle. I haven't figured out exactly how I'll do biological filtration along with mechanical, but I don't believe I'll need much. There will only be two crayfish in it. If I have an abundance of bad neos, a few neos too. It'll be full to the brim with mosses and driftwood.

-Filtration, yeah I heard about that before, but I'm trying something completely new now. I'm going to do a canister on this tank I will custom fit the tubes and pipes and *hopefully* it will make this tank 100% CRS ready.

-Spec leaking... Wow this is one of the best quality tanks I've ever owned.. And I've had a lot of different tanks in the past. I've never had a leaking issue with mine, and this will be my second year with it soon. I hope it holds out. I move it 6 times a year lol.


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[MABJ]

Oh and the plants growing on the driftwood are still there lmao. I just kinda let them go. I'll snap a picture. Tbh I think it is grass 0.O. 🙉



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[mr2]

Originally Posted by MABJ

Phew that's a lot to respond to! Thank you!

-I don't think I'll be picking up that light unless I really need to, I kinda like this stock light.

-As for leaving the cray in there, I agree he's neat as all hell! I like him a lot, even more as he's been alone. But this tank is going to be a species only tank for SS-SSS crystals from Nick. I actually just ordered my solution tank it should solve everything. It is another Deep Blue Professional (The best siliconed, rimmed tanks I've ever handled) tank. One gallon with a divider down the middle. I haven't figured out exactly how I'll do biological filtration along with mechanical, but I don't believe I'll need much. There will only be two crayfish in it. If I have an abundance of bad neos, a few neos too. It'll be full to the brim with mosses and driftwood.

-Filtration, yeah I heard about that before, but I'm trying something completely new now. I'm going to do a canister on this tank I will custom fit the tubes and pipes and *hopefully* it will make this tank 100% CRS ready.

-Spec leaking... Wow this is one of the best quality tanks I've ever owned.. And I've had a lot of different tanks in the past. I've never had a leaking issue with mine, and this will be my second year with it soon. I hope it holds out. I move it 6 times a year lol.


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A canister huh? I'm guessing like a toms mini or something, sounds sweet. Ya know that's kind of overkill though, you could just get a cheap hob filter and combined with the specs internal filter it would be just fine. You could get a big one like a tetra whisper 20 and mod it to fit, or just get this one that fits with no modification and the best part is it'd only cost you 9 bucks!
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=9821
the inlet on the hob pulls water in and down, the same way the specs design does no custom plumbing required. As you know I am using the filter floss, so I just poked the inlet pipe of the hob through it, but I was thinking it would work great if you froze the foam filter the spec comes with and then drilled a hole for the hob inlet pipe. The canister would be nice for the increased water volume though. You could also do a sump like I'm doing in my thread, with a 1/2" PVC overflow, but if you're moving constantly that would be a pain in the butt.

As for the specs leaking, yes they do tend to leak a tiny bit after a long time of use. The owner of my LFS has had a bunch set up and they all do it after am few years. I bought the spec the day it came out and mine started leaking 6 months ago. It's really not a big deal, just a few drops and once it gets down to about an inch from the rim it stops leaking strangely. I wouldn't go putting it on a mahogany desk or anything is all I'm saying, it's not going to empty itself overnight or anything though.

As for your mini crayfish holding tanks, you can make some DIY tiny sponge filters. Just go get 2 fluval chi filter sponges from petco for 2 bucks each, they're like a round cylinder of foam with the inside drilled out. Then get a short length of tubing the same diameter as the hole in the chi filter sponge (it's the same size as the aqueon water changer tubing cause that's what I used) drill holes in the tubing inside the foam piece so water can get through the foam, and run an airline tube down to the bottom of your brand new 3 dollar sponge filter! You could also run them both off one air pump using a gang valve. Lmk if you want me to snap a pic of my setup like this.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by mr2

A canister huh? I'm guessing like a toms mini or something, sounds sweet. Ya know that's kind of overkill though, you could just get a cheap hob filter and combined with the specs internal filter it would be just fine. You could get a big one like a tetra whisper 20 and mod it to fit, or just get this one that fits with no modification and the best part is it'd only cost you 9 bucks!
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=9821
the inlet on the hob pulls water in and down, the same way the specs design does no custom plumbing required. As you know I am using the filter floss, so I just poked the inlet pipe of the hob through it, but I was thinking it would work great if you froze the foam filter the spec comes with and then drilled a hole for the hob inlet pipe. The canister would be nice for the increased water volume though. You could also do a sump like I'm doing in my thread, with a 1/2" PVC overflow, but if you're moving constantly that would be a pain in the butt.

As for the specs leaking, yes they do tend to leak a tiny bit after a long time of use. The owner of my LFS has had a bunch set up and they all do it after am few years. I bought the spec the day it came out and mine started leaking 6 months ago. It's really not a big deal, just a few drops and once it gets down to about an inch from the rim it stops leaking strangely. I wouldn't go putting it on a mahogany desk or anything is all I'm saying, it's not going to empty itself overnight or anything though.

As for your mini crayfish holding tanks, you can make some DIY tiny sponge filters. Just go get 2 fluval chi filter sponges from petco for 2 bucks each, they're like a round cylinder of foam with the inside drilled out. Then get a short length of tubing the same diameter as the hole in the chi filter sponge (it's the same size as the aqueon water changer tubing cause that's what I used) drill holes in the tubing inside the foam piece so water can get through the foam, and run an airline tube down to the bottom of your brand new 3 dollar sponge filter! You could also run them both off one air pump using a gang valve. Lmk if you want me to snap a pic of my setup like this.

Wow awesome stuff.

Please do lemme know how you do yours. I was just going to buy some online. I don't have a petco around unfortunately.

I'm nervous now! I've never siliconed anything.

The canister isn't toms mini, as I've heard terrible things about it.

It is a zoomed 501! I am planning on yanking the stock filtration, maybe I can use it to fashion a filter for the new tank lol. I'll modify the tubes to fit the spec.

I wanted the extra water volume, extra filtration + mechanical filtration. I'm planning on CRS and I don't like the occasional ammonia spikes I get with the stock filter.


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[MABJ]

I think I had a smashing success.

I received my zoomed 501 today. It took a learning curve to put it together, figure out how it runs, ect. I assessed the tubes, and I still may cut the rubber tubes, but I used a copper tube cutter to cut my thick plastic pipes.

I measured, measured again, cut them and assembled things. I rinsed the unit out, then I hooked it up with the old filtration system still in place. It works reaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllly well.

I might not even pull the stock pump? Everything seems to be perfect. You be the judge.



First picture is before I got it all into position.



Everything is now on and in position.




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[MABJ]

Part two, got cut off :/



The bar forced me to turn the log a little, but I like it better.



The filter intake is protected in the chamber, and it sucks up the mulm that gets through!

Everything works so perfectly.


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[zoragen]

Nice tank!

I love the DW

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by zoragen

Nice tank!

I love the DW

Thanks so much! Appreciate the compliment.


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[mr2]

Looks nice and clean.Perfect placement if you don't get too much flow you could definitely use the fluval stock pump if you wanted.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by mr2

Looks nice and clean.

Thanks verry much! I may have to do this on all my tanks lol. It is good filtration. I'll just need to figure out how to take care of my filter slit now. I need to block it before I get my CRS.


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[MABJ]

Originally Posted by mr2

Perfect placement if you don't get too much flow you could definitely use the fluval stock pump if you wanted.

Awesome! I'm thinking the same thing.

The thing was making a great deal of noise at first, and I was confused... I guess the system was working the air out. It is silent now.


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[MABJ]

Everything has been really good so far.

No pics really to update yet, but I tested the water today and it is perfect, 100% ready for CRS ;(


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[Sake]

How did I miss this journal? As far as the stems, I think you're right looks like grass. Any idea on when you'll be ordering the CRS? Why not get some super glue gel and just glue your anubias down? A dab and you're done, that's what I did to mine. They don't have to be glued tightly down just enough to hold it until the roots attach.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by Sake

How did I miss this journal? As far as the stems, I think you're right looks like grass. Any idea on when you'll be ordering the CRS? Why not get some super glue gel and just glue your anubias down? A dab and you're done, that's what I did to mine. They don't have to be glued tightly down just enough to hold it until the roots attach.

Hehe I'm just too lazy. Also haven't decided where it should go. Thoughts?

I did that with my other Anubias.

I'll be ordering them as soon as I get the OK from Speedie weather wise, and as soon as I get the cray into his own tank.


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[Sake]

I say glue it on the driftwood right under the water line, where it will emerge, but that would probably be too much light and you'd get algae. Or you could do it on the highest point on your rocks, looks a bit shaded there, I can't really tell from the photos.