[Octantis]

I got this tank for Christmas for my desk at my office. It's my second tank. My daughter has a Betta in a 2.5 gallon tank at home. I enjoyed it so much I got my own.

I've been lurking on this site for months learning the ins and outs of planted tanks. Then I decided to take the plunge.

This tank is a Fluval Spec 3. It has three different types of plants in it. Anubias Nana on the left, Anubias Nana Barteri in the middle, top and right, and Staurogyne Repents in the front and right.

The substrate is Floramax black or midnight. It is the gravel stuff and not sand.

The driftwood has been submerged for 2 months and boiled for over an hour and it still releases tannins albeit at a much slower weight. It's mounted to a piece of slate under the substrate as it still floats.

The big rocks came from the side of the highway near my house. They've been boiled and tested with vinegar. The little rocks came in a bag that I picked up from Michael's for $2.

The pump tube is a custom job. Another user on this site posted a pick and links and for the life of me I can't find it back. In any case they are Zoomed replacement parts for their Nano 10/30 filters.

The rubber elbow is a PTC-11
http://zoomed.com/ecom/ProductDetail.php?id=414&category=0

The tube and plug are PTC-13
http://zoomed.com/ecom/ProductDetail.php?id=595&category=0

The suction cup and clip are PTC-7
http://zoomed.com/ecom/ProductDetail.php?id=559&category=0

The parts are really cheap but shipping wasn't free. I had to cut down the tube some as it would have stuck into the substrate.

I have yet to put a Betta in there as I just started the cycle but I'm hoping that the flow is to his liking.

 

[Octantis]

This tank is about 12 hours old. I added the water using a piece of air tube as a siphon into the pump housing. It took for ever but kept the cloudiness down. I didn't wash the substrate either.

I wanted to buy the plants from a local fish store but they were 99% sold out. They weren't expecting another shipment until after next week. Instead I purchased them and the substrate from Pet Smart. The driftwood came from a local fish store in Springfield MO when I was there over Thanksgiving.

 

[dru]

I am wondering if these parts would work on the Spec V?

 

[Octantis]

I believe so but can't answer for certain. You take off the twisted nozzle on the spec but leave the rounded gimbal part. Then the rubber elbow slides over top. The fit is snug enough but there's lots of play.

 

[dru]

One more question: did that stopper come with the spraybar?

I have the zoo med 501 and didn't get a stoper for my spray bay. That always seemed strange to me.

Nice tank BTW! That piece of driftwood is awesome.

 

[Octantis]

One more question: did that stopper come with the spraybar?

Yes the plug did come with PTC-13 which is the bar. I wasn't sure if it did or not so I ordered an extra plug and ended up not needing it.

I think the part number for the plug was PTC-46 in case you are interested. You could also use some sealant or some cork to plug up the hole.

I don't have a fish in here yet but the water is moving enough to make the Anubias near the left edge sway in the breeze. If it turns out to be too much for a Betta I'll probably drill a second set of holes. Will keep you updated.

Nice tank BTW! That piece of driftwood is awesome.

Thank you.

 

[kman]

Nice! So if I'm not mistaken, you simply popped off the stock fan-shaped outflow sprayer, and instead put an elbow and spray bar (or just a pipe that your drilled?) from some ZooMed spare parts, to lower the flow rate? Very clever mod, and doesn't mess much with the tank's aesthetics, I like it.

What are you doing for heat?

 

[Octantis]

Nice! So if I'm not mistaken, you simply popped off the stock fan-shaped outflow sprayer, and instead put an elbow and spray bar (or just a pipe that your drilled?) from some ZooMed spare parts, to lower the flow rate?

You got it. I used the ZooMed spray bar as well. The holes in it at the moment are what came stock with that part. It may need some more holes or the holes made bigger.

Note, this is not my design. I found another user on this site that had done it before and I just copied. If I remembered where I saw it I'd give him/her credit.

What are you doing for heat?

I used the Hydor 25W Submersible Aquarium Heater.Another user on here said it fit well in the Specs and had adjustable heat control. It comes with suction cups and fits every easily inside of the pump compartment on the spec.

 

[kman]

Interesting. I have an unused Finnex canister filter laying around at home with a very similar collection of spare bits, perhaps I'll give that a shot to see how well it works in my Spec 2g.

 

[dru]

Any updates?

How are your mods working out?

 

[MaiDoM]

Nice mod!

I've been looking for these parts in Canada but can't find them anywhere. I also did 5 hardware stores and none of them have the good tize pvc pipe / elbow

 

[Octantis]

Any updates?

How are your mods working out?

I started a tank journal (in my signature) if you want to follow along). Currently fighting diatoms but I think I found the source of my Silica.

As for the mods they are working out well. Had to punch in some extra holes in the tube for the Betta to be happy with the flow. The rubber elbow and suction cup are magnets for some sort of film. It's whiteish and easily removed. If left on for too long some algae starts to grow on it.

 

[Octantis]

Nice mod!

I've been looking for these parts in Canada but can't find them anywhere. I also did 5 hardware stores and none of them have the good tize pvc pipe / elbow

I'd guess that Zoomed would ship to Canada. Not sure if that is more trouble than it's worth.

Was thinking at some point I should make and sell my own mods for profit.

 

[aclark092]

Very nice, I like that piece of wood. Fits very well!