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Standard Rectangular Aquarium:

 

I couldn't find a good picture of it on the internet so I created one in turbo cad and rendered it in Simply 3D.  Your basic 75 gallon black frame, rectangular tank.


Configuration:

Item Number Description
1 Tank
2 Black Wood Base w/Doors
3 Home Made Canopy - Aeryn-Proof
4 Access Door On Canopy
5 Light 4' Single Bulb
6 Undergravel Filter w/4 Lift Tubes
7 Powerheads
8 5/8" T
9 5/8" Flexible Vinyl Tubing
10 Canister Filter
11 UV Filter
12 Automatic Fish Feeder
13 Dual Outlet Air Pump
14 Battery Backup Air Pump
15 Prevent Reverse Flow Valve
16 Flexible Silicone Airline Tubing
17 Foam Filter
18 Adapters
19 Valves
20 Biowheels

    The setup is really very simple.  The tank sits on a wood base with two doors underneath for storing the canister filter and miscellaneous equipment.  Filtration is provided by an undergravel filter and external canister filter.  A UV filter is installed after the canister filter.  A Bio-Wheel may be installed after the UV filter in the future.  The undergravel filter is powered by powerhead pumps and the canister filter in lieu of air bubbles and an air pump.  Aeration is provided by the powerheads and the canister filter.  The powerheads have air regulators on them to adjust the amount of aeration.  The added bonus is using four lift tubes to increase water flow down through the undergravel filter.  This is a "normal" forward flow UG setup that pulls water down through the gravel and up the lift tubes.  In contrast to a "reverse" flow UG filter that pulls water down the lift tubes and pushes water up through the filter.

    I had to build a canopy to keep my beloved Aeryn (cat) from getting in the aquarium.  Not that I was worried about her getting at the fish as much as her falling in and drowning.  The added bonus is you can raise the light above the top of the tank a couple inches.  This helps cut down of the heat from the light affecting the tank.  And on top of the canopy, I plan on having cabinets to store more aquarium paraphernalia.

    The difficulty is adapting the clear hard plastic lift tubes from the undergravel filter to the flexible 5/8" vinyl tubing, "T"ing them together to connect to the input side (suction) of the canister filter.  A trip to the local hardware store and Lowes with a sample of each in hand was the trick to finding fittings that would work.  I found adapters that I could glue the lift tubes into (clear silicone) and screw a vinyl tube adapter onto.  Unfortunately there were white and grey respectively.  Clear would be best but the local Aquarium Shop didn't have what I needed.  And of course a "T" for the 5/8" vinyl tubing to T the two center lift tubes together to go to the input of the canister filter.

adapters.jpg (56631 bytes)

    The battery operated Air Pump and stone will go on when the power goes off, it uses 2 D cells.  Added an automatic programmable electronic fish feeder that has an air pump connection to keep the food dry and prevent clumping.  Added a dual outlet Air Pump for the automatic feeder by one of its outlets and "T"eed to the battery backup pump on the other outlet for the air stone with a check valve after the T to prevent back siphoning to either pump.  All parts obtained from PetSmart.  Objective is to replace the stone with a foam diatom filter.  That way I can get some extra biologic filtration as well as backup air in case the power goes off.

    Overall it turned out well and I am pleased but will continue to adjust it to get it perfect.


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