[Quaz]

Here's the tank with just one little Cherry Red Shrimp for now

I have java moss and neat kind of java fern

It's lit by a desktop LED light from Home Depot

From the back you can see the java moss a bit better and the filter lines.
I wanted a clean look so I found these nice plastic hooks at walmart to run airline hose for an intake and return line which runs through a aqualifter pump made by TOM aquatics.

More pics to come

 

[Quaz]

Nice neat filter lines out of view

Intake (Dang those snails) I may have to rethink the intake.

Return outlet. I've been running this up through the light for surface agitation for light shimmers and gas exchange, & and to keep surfactants from collecting at the top

Handy Dandy little clip from Wally world

And hidden under my desk is the filtration. The first couple days this supplied the perfect flow but has since slowed down to a drip/ 2 seconds so I'm getting a zoomed 501 turtle filter and securing it under my desk and modifying it to fit my airline tubes.

What do ya'll think?

 

[SearunSimpson]

The Zoomed 501, as from what I have heard from many users, is that it is not strong enough to pump 'up' from under the tank, and does best sitting next to/behind the tank at the same level so the motor doesnt burn out and the impeller stops. I would think of instead spending the money over and over again on getting Zoo501's, is to make the investment into a Eheim or Xp1 and just have it sit under your desk. You can still go to Lowes or whatever and get clear tubing for it too.

 

[yikesjason]

in a closed system like that, the 501 wouldn't have to "lift" any water, only over come the friction of pushing it through the tubes. There is a siphon occurring in closed systems that negates the required lift.
Using airline tubes could be a problem though, they might be too small.

I like the tank though, where did you get it?

 

[Quaz]

Thanks guys. I think that if I mount the 501 under my desk which would be 6'' under the tank I wouldn't have a head pressure or gravity fight. My only worry is a snail going into the intake and blocking the impeller or clogging the line. I will probably hide a sponge behind the rocks and put the intake line in it. I'm not up for investing much in this tank right now. Unless I can trade or sell some of my other used equipment for it.

Jason: I think I found that little desktop betta tank at Petco. There has been a lot of neat little betta tanks that've come out in the last few years that lend themselves to cool little reefs, vivariums, or what ever.

This is my first planted tank and I'm really getting into it.

 

[paulrw]

i have a 2.5g w/ a 501 it sits about 6" under the tank and moves the water with no problem, great little filter. xp1 might be to big

 

[H82LOS3]

Wow i like it alot, i wish my tanks are rimless

 

[susankat]

Looks good. Watch that java moss it can overtake that little tank real quick.

 

[Quaz]

for now I could use any over grown java moss for a 76gal 1/2circle amazon paludarium. My 501 should be in at Petsmiths today. Being such a small tank I may need the flow reduced a bit since I'll be using a single stream instead of the spray bar that comes with it.

 

[H82LOS3]

Looks good. Watch that java moss it can overtake that little tank real quick.

Hahaha yea very true, my java moss in my 10gal tank already taking the whole left side of the tank

 

[Quaz]

Well I have the 501. secured a couple "L" braces for it to stand on under my desk and now I'm just waiting for the silicone to dry where the airline and the 1/4'' 501 tubing come together.

I didn't find barbed reduction fittings for the two lines with out doing some indepth searching and I figured any barbed fitting that'd go into an air line would reduce the flow capacity even more so with such a narrow opening. So I slid the air line about an inch n' a half down the 501 line and put about an inch of silicone in the junction. Should work like a champ. Not the prettiest but it'll be under the desk. Pictures coming when it's all dry and opperational.

I feel the bug coming over me with planted tanks now! Uhh Ohh...

 

[H82LOS3]

Any updates?

 

[beedee]

got photobucket?

 

[BenWehr]

It's me (Quaz)

Well, it didn't take long for the shrimp to jump out, sand to get in the filter and start making noise and algae to start growing and.... I wasn't spending much time at the office to watch and care for everything. So that was fun for a while.

Here's the new use for the 501 turtle filter and another, slightly larger tank from Petco I'm working on.
The filter

The tank

Just finished putting it together and the water is getting a little tan and cloudy. Don't know if this driftwood has been cured yet or not

 

[H82LOS3]

Oh lol u changed username??!

I like the tank but my suggestion is remove some of those rocks on the right side and attach some of kind of moss around the driftwood. Also have you boil the driftwood? Maybe it'll help to get some of the tanning out

It's me (Quaz)

Well, it didn't take long for the shrimp to jump out, sand to get in the filter and start making noise and algae to start growing and.... I wasn't spending much time at the office to watch and care for everything. So that was fun for a while.

Here's the new use for the 501 turtle filter and another, slightly larger tank from Petco I'm working on.
The filter

The tank

Just finished putting it together and the water is getting a little tan and cloudy. Don't know if this driftwood has been cured yet or not