Help! J-P's Set up

[Dadof4]

Well, you can do this with a FW set up too with some modification. If you were to keep your puffers on the bottom and run like an DSB with a kind of river biotope set up on the top it could be interesting.....

[J-P]

Ok... I did a little research and the compartment on the right side of the 2nd picture / the entire 3rd picture looks like the sump / refrigerum. It makes some sence now.. the water flows down into that component, gets sumped, flows through the refrigerum (I don't know how to spell this word), over the wall and down the other side forcing the water flow to enter the next compartment through the bottom of the tank as opposed to the top.

I also read that there is a single pump / multiple tank system but I am a little confused on that subject.

[J-P]

Dadof4, here are the additional pics that you requested. I beleive it is in fact a hydroponic system. It would explain why there is so much sand in a FW tank for fish that don't burrow... BTW.. each segment of the top half is totally contained except for the over flow into the next tank. The filter system would HAVE to be hydroponic to not have some type of filter in each segment.

[Pufferpunk]

I would send an email to Melev:
http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html

[J-P]

ok... thank you.. it is done and awaiting reply.

I am not sure if FW tanks are his thing though....

[Dadof4]

I would send an email to Melev:
http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html

Yeah, what she said. I'm at a loss for how this would work....

[J-P]

I finally got in contact with Jeff the owner of an LFS and the person who sold me the tank. Here is an outline of our conversation:

J-P
Hello Jeff,
We're just about ready to set up the tank here and it's looking good. I was wondering what type of filtration set up you were using.
Thanks
J-P

Jeff:
Hi J-P,
When I had the tank running we used the sump/overflow set-up as the filtration system, loading in carbon bags, ammo bags and lots of ceramic rings. We had the carbon bags and ammo bags (you really could get away with just carbon or a mix system most likely) in the overflow (up top) which forced water through them. Depending on how full you make the bottom will impact whether you should place rings (which work best fully submerged) or bio balls, which excel with water flowing over them in an unsubmerged state. Because I used top and bottom as tanks, I used rings (in media bags to keep it clean.) I had lots and lots (now running other systems) which I kept in the sump portion of the bottom tank. My friend had been trying to convince me to put a grate on the bottom of the downspout and just fill it with the rings as a visually better system, but I'm sure you can figure it out. Using a system like that will work fine, depending on the bio load that you give it.

J-P:
Hello Jeff,
It also looks like it was fairly heavily planted along the bottom. Hyproponic filteration? I was thinking of doing that.
All the best,
J-P

Jeff:
That is exactly what was on the bottom and for exactly that purpose.
Best of luck with it!

Now all I have to do is learn about hydroponic filteration and lighting but, I'm a happy guppy now.

[Pufferpunk]

Was that a hydroponic kitty I saw above?

[J-P]

Was that a hydroponic kitty I saw above?

I think so... dumb guy likes to poke his head in the shower while I'm in it and sits on the rim of the bath tub while I'm in it also (sometimes he falls in and I get my legs torn up).

P.S.
PP sent me an excellent link on Hydroponic set-ups. http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article69.html

Definately worth the read, even if your tank is smaller than the one I am introducing. My only comment on the refrigerum is that I would keep it above the display tank if possible. Here, we have frequent power outages, some times for days at a time and having your refrigerium overflowing will not be a pleasant experience. It wouldn't be too difficult to get a cheap cabinet or wardrobe to house your pumps, food, medical suplies and refrigerium (dont forget to get some lights and a simple timer) all housed and hidden.

[Flutter]

Haha. Silly cat.

[J-P]

ok.. here's the game plan:
Thurs Dec 10th the new carpet in the basement gets laid and I am hoping the contractor can knock out the wall on the same day. We move the tank in and I start cleaning and doing the leak test.

If all goes well, I can begin to cycle the tank. I am thinking of having a planted cycle and dropping the songe media from my existing tank every second day (I have 2 filters on the existing one, so I'll alternate filters on every other day). As for the amonia source .. wife has a truck load of frozen shrimp in the freezer I can use without her seeing.

For how long do I leave the shrimp in the tank? Should I change it every week or just until the tank is finished cycling? I have a feeling this is going to take longer than a few weeks to do.

aslo... is it safe to put the cleaning critters in while the tank is cycling?

[Pufferpunk]

Any animal can suffer from ammonia/nitrite poisoning.

[J-P]

Any animal can suffer from ammonia/nitrite poisoning.

thank you!! I just didn't know if the cleaning critters, who have a different diet, were subject to the same rules... I'll hold of on them...

[J-P]

Also .. I was wondering if any one has kept a FW puffer with a FW stingray? Will the puffers harass the ray or will the ray eat the puffers??

[Pufferpunk]

Depends on the puffer.