[MCSLABS]

Today's project, make use of this old glass 2 gallon cookie jar.

Using a take out plate from Waffle house, a clear plastic tube from a candy cane wrapper, piece of styrene tubing, polyester material, silicon and hot glue.

Be tomorrow before I can put water in it and some plants. The substrate will be sand (crushed white feldspar). I'll let the grandkid pick out a Betta, (ONE) not putting a divider in this tank.

Just thought I'd share.

The air stone (tubing) is a very small piece of styrene tubing, the end melted and fused together. I then took a sharp needle and pierced tiny holes in the end. I'll connect this to a piece of PTFE tubing I have laying around. Should look good when finished (I Hope)

I used the tight woven polyester material to keep the sand on the side it belongs.

 

[PlantedRich]

An active mind is a terrible thing to waste. Glad to see you are keeping it busy! 0

Keep posting as the project moves along. Why not try a few things when you get time? After all it's only time taken away from really worthless things like watching politics on TV!

 

[MCSLABS]

I try to stay busy, not much for TV in the day time anyway.

Waiting on my pumps and clear PVC to get the filter I made back on the tank. it needs it. This HOB with a blue filter pad is just above worthless in my opinion.

Pics of the completed tank, didn't like the rock and will probably take some of the substrate out.

Got any ideas what to plant in this thing. I'm also devising a way to light this thing via fiber optic cable. Just a thought

 

[MCSLABS]

Final resting place, just need some plants and a fish

 

[mistergreen]

When you put a betta in the jar, I would take off the lid for air/O2.

Sand probably is not the best substrate for circulation. It's too compact.

 

[MCSLABS]

The lid is not sealed on to the jar, it has silicone droplets to prevent it from sealing. There is an air stone in the back ground if you look. It looks like sand but is actually crushed white feldspar, which has a larger grain size to it. It is circulating well right now.

 

[mistergreen]

Oh, right. Where is the hole for the airline?

 

[MCSLABS]

I used approx 10 gauge teflon tubing to supply air through the gap in the lid. I ended up bending over the end, used a small pull tie to seal, then punctured holes through it with a 31 gauge hypodermic syringe. Makes for really small bubbles with out the use of an airstone or wand.

 

[PlantedRich]

Are you far enough along on the fiber idea to show us? At one point I did work with fiber multiplexers but never anything with visible light. Really interesting stuff but not one I've used.
Random thoughts on what I might try?
since space is tight and lighting may be awkward, an odd arrangement might suit. Maybe some of the cheap LED sources like a bulb or two shining through the sides or back to light a plant. That might leave the fish being backlit and just crossing through the light at times. Odd, quirkey, for something different.
But then you may already have a handle on your idea!
I find my world is changing all the time so I go with the flow and don't resist it. When it doesn't work, I change it or admit defeat and move on.

This is a link to an old post about a round globe I worked for a time. I see now that most of the pictures are missing due to computer glitches and changes. Maybe you can read between the lines for how I used lights for heating the globe if you are debating heat.

 

[MCSLABS]

I'm teetering between a fiber optic light which is still quite bulky and would require some glass modification of the lid or using a single high output LED siliconed into the top of the lid. The wires could easily be hid, it would give the effect I'm looking for. I'll still play with the fiber optic idea and may give it try when I get a chance.

 

[MCSLABS]

Meet JoJo the Beta, grandkid picked it out and named it.

Got a few plants for it as well, plants aren't cheap

 

[MCSLABS]

JoJo didn't make it through the night, never lost Beta fish before. It was having a strong cough response when I put him in the tank, and looked pretty lethargic before I put him in. I'll do several water changes here over the next few days just to ensure I have no toxicity in the tank.

 

[PlantedRich]

Got the bubble working? I found that my round tank did not fit what I needed because as the water level was kept higher , the surface area where gas exchange happens was also cut way back. Any chance of surface film, etc. to block air?
Right about the plant prices. I am lucky enough to have several places/ ways to get plants that cost no money as such. It feels better to trade fish that I don't want for plants that I do but raising plants and using the small ones for projects is even better.

 

[MCSLABS]

Got the bubble working? I found that my round tank did not fit what I needed because as the water level was kept higher , the surface area where gas exchange happens was also cut way back. Any chance of surface film, etc. to block air?
Right about the plant prices. I am lucky enough to have several places/ ways to get plants that cost no money as such. It feels better to trade fish that I don't want for plants that I do but raising plants and using the small ones for projects is even better.

Thanks,
Bubbler is working good, lots of air in the tank. I really think I had to much toxicity burden going on, new substrate, lots of silicone only 24 hrs old, new plants, hot glue stick, etc. I did 4 complete water changes, it holds about 4 gallons. Will wait for a period of time then do another water change before getting any more fish.

I did have some help today doing the water change.

 

[PlantedRich]

Yes, animals of all sorts can be strange. They seem to want to help most when you need them the least!

 

[MCSLABS]

She spent most of her time on my back biting my head while I was trying to siphon the water out of the tank.

 

[MCSLABS]

Hadn't had time to rig up the fiber optic cables yet but needed to supply more light to keep the plants alive, they were suffering with the low light situation. A $6 work light and a Philips 6500k bulb should take care of the problem. Water is still a bit cloudy, hopefully it will clear soon.

 

[MCSLABS]

Had to redo the Nano tank a bit. The sand wasn't allowing enough filtration so switched out half of the sand with some pea gravel. Added some new plants from the drainage ditch and the addition of a new Blue Betta. I'm pretty pleased with this so far. When time permits I'll figure out some fiber optics for it.

Blue seems pretty happy with it so far

 

[MCSLABS]

Interesting observation. Blue here likes to look out onto the world, so I showed him a pic of Red Betta in full flare on my phone. He immediately became aggressive and lauched himself at the side of the glass. It was interesting.