[The Big Buddha]

Just thought I'd share a new little project. Planning on giving some CRS a go. It's a small 8g I believe. I built a quick and easy corner HMF, installed a substrate guard so if I need to remove the sponge the substrate stays put. Lighting is a 16" original fugeray at 14" from the substrate.

The last time I ran this light with the legs on this tank it was an algae farm. According to this http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/145-finnex/189944-finnex-ray-ii-fugeray-par-data.html I won't have enough light, but I can always lower the light some.
Hoping it will be enough to do low light at this height.

Using aquasoil for the first time, still leaching ammonia.

Cheers

 

[The Big Buddha]

Bump

Any advice on scaping this low light?

 

[sohankpatel]

Moss, lots of moss, if i am not mistaken, alot of stuff grows on moss and the shrimp eat it.

 

[Kathyy]

I am planning a DIY MOH* ~8 gallon tank and if the thing ends up holding water I will be installing a corner mattenfilter and using ADA AS if I decide to stock it with shrimp as well. Very interested to see how your tank turns out. Subscribed!

I am going to use a weedy moss infesting my tank to cover various leftover sticks and tank will basically be a mini-me of the big tank. The mattenfilter reminds me of the black peninsula overflow on the big tank that now seems to belong because I have 'roots' growing from it so that will be the scape's shape. For texture contrast I will be investing in some Anubias 'Petit' and probably stick some Marsilea runners in as well just because it seems a waste not to have rooted plants in ADA AS.

*Materials On Hand

 

[The Big Buddha]

Kathy, I used the clear corner guards from Home Depot to retain the sides of the sponge. Trimaco 1-1/8 in. x 1-1/8 in. x 4 ft. Plastic Corner Guard - Commercial-01184G - The Home Depot
Just be sure to get the ones that are to be nailed on, not the self stick ones that have 2 sided tape already applied.

Be sure to dry fit all equipment going behind it so it's just the right size.

The gravel guard was real easy, and makes cleaning the sponge much easier by keeping substrate out of the filter area. (if necessary)

When you silicone the corner guards shim them enough off the bottom so you can slide some paper or cardboard under neath them.
Once silicone is dry, slide a piece of paper or cardboard under them right up into the corner, install the sponge, then trace the contour of the sponge on the paper with a marker. You now have a template to bend your gravel guard. Take a piece of whatever you will use for your gravel guard ( I used a 1/16 piece of acrylic I had lying around ) and heat it up to make the bend. I used a torch and a full can of pop to form the bend. The can had the exact radius I needed. Be sure it is a little longer than needed, then trim it to the right length when it cools down by using your template as a guide. Silicone that in place and you're done.

Just thought I'd share the way I did it because it made it super easy.

 

[WaterLife]

Nice project! Looks like a professionally made product. I've been wanting to try a HMF on a river tank build. Is that pieces of glass holding the sponge form in place I see (don't see much, if any silicone though)?

But does anyone foresee shrimps climbing up the sponge wall and out the tank being a problem?

I've heard of shrimp climbing out of tanks, but not sure if that is only due to water quality reasons. I suppose you could just trim down the sponge a bit if that is the case, though some shrimp might go on the other side of the sponge.

 

[The Big Buddha]

Nice project! Looks like a professionally made product. I've been wanting to try a HMF on a river tank build. Is that pieces of glass holding the sponge form in place I see (don't see much, if any silicone though)?

But does anyone foresee shrimps climbing up the sponge wall and out the tank being a problem?

I've heard of shrimp climbing out of tanks, but not sure if that is only due to water quality reasons. I suppose you could just trim down the sponge a bit if that is the case, though some shrimp might go on the other side of the sponge.

The plan is a glass cover, sitting on the inside of the rim on those clips you can get for rimless lids.

I used black vinyl tubing on the pump, you don't even see it with the black sponge.

I used clear silicone on the corner guards and on the bottom of the substrate guard, as well as where the ends of the guard meet the bottoms of the corner guards. I used minimal silicone for a clean look. There's no extreme pressure on the guards, the water stays the same level on both sides of the sponge, it doesn't have to be sealed like an overflow.

The sponge can be trimmed as needed, I left it a little higher so I could adjust once I get my clips in the mail.

.

 

[Kathyy]

Thanks for the details, it sounds like I could actually do all that and I have quite a bit of thin acrylic sheet laying around. Maybe I'll even try bending it so I don't have to buy anything. Love my heat gun! Might get on that now as I am having to wait for the tank silicone to cure anyway. It looks neat and should stay neat looking over time too.