Help! J-P's Set up

[xrayjeeper83]

To bad shipping to america would be such a pain, id love to take your trimmings off your hands

[Flutter]

I'll take those trimmings too depending what they are

[J-P]

most it will be Bacopa (possibly carolina). Java moss will be distributed throughout the other tanks. Java fern also needs a trim (windelov) and transplant.

[J-P]

Stupid me... I got this circulation pump fo I could get more current along the front pane of the tank so the SAPs could have some fun. It is 1250 gals per hour! That thing has as much force as a jet tub! When I first plugged it is it nearly ripped all my plants out. I played with it a little adjusted it and the only way I'm got to make it work is to physically move stuff away from the glass. At the moment it is pointing slightly upwards to agitate the surface.

Needless to say, the fish freaked out when I turned it on

[xrayjeeper83]

haha

[soggydrysuit]

This might sound daft, J-P, but have you ever considered putting some sort of 'earthquake' bearing under your tank frame? I used to work for a jap company that made them for buildings - so why not a rack of tanks?

Basically, two steel plates a rubber bearing and bolts into the floor under each leg...

[J-P]

Not a daft question at all. Since this section of Canada is not prone to earthquakes and this is only the 2nd I have heard of in my lifetime (first time experiencing one here), I had never thought to build one. Even after the quake I didn't think about it. It is an excellent suggestion! Not that I am capable of doing anytime soon but now that it is on record, I can refer back later

Thank you for the suggestion! I do know what you are talking about but if you have any pics that would be helpful also

[soggydrysuit]

I'll see what I can find about on the web. If I don't get back to you very soon, try checking out Kobe Steel (JP) for earthquake bearing ideas.

I'd tend to be looking at automotive suspension parts because I'm sure you could find some tough square blocks of rubber from a truck or something like that. Some 1/4 inch thick steel plate with four half inch bolt holes drilled? Six to eight inches square, possibly? One for each leg Sort of rubber sandwiched between steel plates

I'd also wonder if you wanted it rigidly bolted down. Maybe so - the whole frame might wiggle off! But if too rigid, the tanks might shatter. They are in that position now, probably so bolting may be no worse than where you are right now.

You'd probably have to replace the rubber every few years because of perishing etc. Pain but you'd at least be able to plan when you have everything in bits!

Imagine: 'My fish tank set up is so big I need earthquake bearings on it!'



BTW, we get quakes here in the UK. But normally only about 2 or 3 on whatever scale it is, which I always get wrong.

Maybe I have this totally wrong but I think the idea is to damp out at least some of the shear.

Maybe some of you who do live in earthquake prone zones might like to comment on this?

[J-P]

Those in an earthquake zone may or may not be reading this thread ... but it is an excellent idea for the DIY section.

Yes the tank is that big.. not sure about replacing the rubber though. Jacking up a 7 tonne tank is not an easy job to do. At this point I am willing to let it be. If and when we move, and if the tank comes with us, I'd set it up that way. Without a total break down there is no way it can be implemented. If I could get 2 fork lifts into the living room, then things would be easier

That just reminds me.. I wonder how arapaimag's tanks faired? Did anyone message him?

[J-P]

Strange thing happened today... don't know if it the ambient room temp had to do with it or what...

I set the bubble counter a couple days ago to a slow trickle. Over the last couple days it was fine. This morning I woke up and it was streaming like crazy! I wonder if the higher temps have caused the CO2 to gas more quickly. I corrected the flow and hope the water hasn't become too acidic.

I'm due for a water change tomorrow anyway so I'll have my fingers crossed that everyone will be ok.

[RTR]

Do you have it just bubbling, or are you using a CO2 reactor in a pumped line? If the latter, non-trivial changes in flow can make a big difference in most water, can sedate or kill fish. If the former, it more likely just to off-gas.

[J-P]

It is a DIY CO2 reactor with a line. There was more CO2 entering the reactor than it could handle and many large bubbles floated up and gassed off. I also woke up to the most disgusting grinding noise coming from the reactor so I took it off line and will look at it tonight and probably reposition it so it is more easily accessible.

I did a head count and all the fish are still there and seem to be doing fine

[J-P]

Well the winter is coming and what people do to avail massive evap. I was thinking of cling wrap for portions of the tank but that would make feeding a little difficult... any other thoughts?

[xrayjeeper83]

I need to figure out what to do with evap in my tank. My wet/dry has to be topped off every other day or so

[Flutter]

We top up every day. Or we should...