Good Idea Or Am I Getting Lazy?
January 5, 2009
Like many others I am quite keen on efficiency. My free time is precious and though I don’t object in any way to the maintenance of my reef system I don’t want to spend unnecessary time at it.
For example, a good while ago I wondered if I could take the bio-media out of my Eheim canister filters. These canisters have been running since the start of the system over 6 years ago - the rock which makes up the reef wasn’t purchased as live rock but it is live now. Therefore the bio-filtration could be undertaken fully by the rocks and the canisters used for mechanical filtration and surface agitation. I didn’t do it though, having looked at the fish and soft coral reef, at the growth and the colours and how everything does so well, I lost courage. I didn’t want to experiment and cause any problem. Besides, the maintenance on the canisters is not exactly difficult or tiresome; they are only looked at once every four weeks.
Anyway I had this bright idea (only took six years for it to surface!) to automate the evaporation top-up. It’s easy to do, and Tunze for example have a good system. When the seawater level drops a sensor detects it and activates a pump, which in turn moves RO (reverse osmosis) water from a reservoir. When the level is back where it should be the pump stops.
At the moment I do a daily manual top-up which entails filling a pint jug with RO water and putting it into the aquarium until the seawater level reaches a mark on the aquarium glass.
I then started to think a little further - how long does the top-up exercise take each day? So I measured it as near as I could. The answer - about three minutes. Doubt crept in.
Then I considered the feeding regime. The food is normally supplied twice a day, in the morning and evening. It is in the evening when I do the manual top-up, which is immediately followed by feeding. So I’m at the aquarium anyway.
I also realized that when the top-up and feeding have been completed, I usually dally a while looking at the aquarium, sometimes I’ll sit down and admire nature’s marvels for quite a while. This is what the aquarium is about, enjoyment. The auto top-up idea was nearly a dead duck.
I wondered if when I was on holiday an auto top-up would help Peter who usually watches over the aquarium. There wouldn’t be so much for him to do. Then the counter - when I’m away I put on cover glasses and the evaporation reduces considerably anyway, and feeding would still be required.
Then the auto top-up reservoir itself would need to be topped up from time to time.
The idea was now definitely dead.
The aquarium holds a lot of rock and the net gallonage is 45, not a lot of seawater. With a large aquarium auto top-up is a serious consideration, but in my case I decided not.
I now have to wait for my next idea to pop out. Wouldn’t it be good if it was a hobby shaking invention, but I guess it won’t be looking at history!
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Tags: Aquarium Maintenance, Aquarium Water, Care, DIY, Equipment, reef-tankBuilding Your own Calcium Reactor
December 23, 2008
Those aquarists that own a fish only system are not overly concerned with calcium levels as it is mainly the captive reef where the level needs monitoring.
Even an aquarist with a reef aquarium could be able to maintain a sufficient calcium presence by the use of commercially produced additives or even by routine seawater changes. The former options would usually apply to small aquariums and perhaps those containing soft corals only.
The larger aquarium, particularly one that houses SPS (small polyp stony) corals, is more than likely to find that routine seawater changes do not maintain a high enough calcium level. The use of commercial additives will maintain the level but the ongoing cost is likely to be prohibitive. So what’s to be done?
There are ways to automate the provision of calcium, and one of these is the calcium reactor. This works on a simple principle, and that is that if calcium rich media is placed in a chamber where the pH is low (slightly acidic) then the media will dissolve.
In the calcium reactor aquarium seawater is slowly moved through a chamber by a pump. Inside this chamber is the media. Also fed into the chamber is carbon dioxide, which reduces the pH causing the media to slowly dissolve. The seawater is then re-directed to the aquarium carrying with it the additional calcium.
The device needs to be a little more complicated as the carbon dioxide has to be fed into the chamber at a fairly precise rate which requires a control valve. Also, the output from the device, the seawater returning to the aquarium, needs to be controlled. These controls are necessary so that in the first place the media dissolves to a sufficient extent, and secondly so that the aquarist has control over the speed of delivery of the enriched seawater. This allows more precise control over the level of calcium in the aquarium seawater.
The trouble is, a good reliable calcium reactor is not a cheap device. (Is anything I hear someone cry?) If the aquarist is not sure of his/her DIY skills then the device is still worth the price as it saves time and labour with additives, in the long term probably costs less than using additives, and affords a better way of continuously feeding calcium to the aquarium to maintain the selected level.
If the aquarist is reasonably good at DIY, or knows of someone who is and who is willing to undertake projects out of interest, then a home built device is a definite possibility.
The link provided gives good detail on material requirements and procedures with lists, instructions and pictures. There are even suggestions where the materials could be sourced. If DIY is being considered, do not be initially put off by what appears to be fairly complicated - when studied for a while it isn’t.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/sbj4/aquarium/articles/DIYCalciumReactor.htm
Tags: Aquarium Maintenance, Calcium Reactor, Care, DIY, Equipment, Water Quality
DIY Metal Halide Lighting
November 30, 2008
Do It Yourself (DIY) with a project of any kind is not for everybody. However, there are large numbers of people who do complete various projects successfully, and there is a lot of satisfaction to be had never mind the financial saving. Often the only requirement to start a project is a guide or laid out plan of action.
Marine aquarists have a lot of scope to demonstrate their skills with DIY. For example, some construct their own filters, protein skimmers, lighting hoods and aquarium stands etc. Some make the aquarium itself.
The lighting for a reef aquarium is very important for the health of the corals. Failure to provide proper lighting, both intensity and spectrum, is the road to failure. Different coral groups require different intensities of light. Where the aquarist requires intense light then metal halide systems are often chosen.
The aquarist could consider DIY for the metal halide system. There isn’t a requirement to be a qualified tradesman, just a need for a basic capability and the care to complete the job. With electrical items of course the aquarist needs to be aware that electricity and misuse are dangerous. Having said that, there isn’t any reason why a DIY project cannot be completed in this area also. However, if there is doubt, don’t attempt it. If the job is in progress and there is doubt, obtain qualified advice.
As already said, all the DIY aquarist really needs is the guideline and advice to follow. So below is a link which provides that. Using a search engine on the internet will no doubt find more sources.
There is another way for a DIY project to commence, though this one is even easier because the parts don’t have to be searched for. This method is called ‘retrofit’ and there are kits available that provide all the parts and the instructions for construction. They are very straightforward.
Before the aquarist starts it is necessary to research the intensity of lighting that is required, that is the power (watts shown by a ‘W’) of the bulb(s). This intensity depends on the type of corals to be kept and also the depth of the aquarium. This applies whether the lighting is a DIY project, a ‘retrofit’ kit, or ‘off the shelf.’
http://www.personal.psu.edu/sbj4/aquarium/mh/mhlighting.html
Tags: aquarium, Aquarium Lighting, Aquarium Maintenance, Care, DIY, Equipment
DIY Aquarium Stand Resources
November 12, 2008
There are quite a few reasons as to why an aquarist would consider building their own aquarium stand.
- The current financial climate is one that springs to mind. It is a lot cheaper to build your own than purchase ‘off the shelf’
- The challenge and satisfaction of designing and building your own stand
- The actual enjoyment of doing a bit of do it yourself
From a personal point of view I believe that I am a mixture of the above. I like to save a bit of money where I can, I like the challenge and I enjoy doing it.
There are some people who are capable of building things without the need for plans or looking at ways in which other people have built similar items however I believe that it is a good idea to see how other people have done things. There may be a better way of achieving the same result. An example that springs to mind is the creation of an aquarium stand for an in-wall aquarium - does this need to be made from wood - it could be made from builing blocks, metal etc.
Anyway for this reason I thought it might be useful to create a list of website resources where information on DIY aquarium stands can be located. Some of these site detail plans to build your own stands, others detail how the owner of the site actually built their stand and others simply give ideas.
I hope that you find this list useful. If you know of any other sites which provide this type of information which is not listed either let us know so that we can add it to the list or leave a comment below so that others can benefit from it.
Anyway on with the list…
Aquarium Stand Plans - Cost Associated eBook
How To Build An Aquarium Stand
Building Your Own Stand Calculator
Build An ADA Style Aquarium Stand
How To Build A DIY Aquarium Stand
Build A Strong, Inexpensive Aquarium Stand
DIY Aquarium Stand - First Ever Woodworking Project
Tips For Creating A DIY ADA Stand
Constructed DIY Aquarium Stand Projects
Easy, Inexpensive DIY Aquarium Stand Project
Double 55 Gallon Aquarium Stand
DarkDep’s DIY Sturdy Tank Stand And Canopy - Part 1
DarkDep’s DIY Sturdy Tank Stand And Canopy - Part 2
DarkDep’s DIY Sturdy Tank Stand And Canopy - Part 3
DarkDep’s DIY Sturdy Tank Stand And Canopy - Part 4
Building Your Own Aquarium Stand For Tanks 10 To 125 Gallons
Build Your Own Aquarium Stand For Tanks Up To 500 Gallons
Build Your Own Aquarium Stand For Large Tanks
Tags: aquarium, aquarium-stand, DIY, home-aquarium, marine-aquarium, reef-tank
DIY Protein Skimmers
July 27, 2008
The protein skimmer is considered to be an essential piece of equipment nowadays and assists greatly in the maintenance of high quality seawater. The device removes much of the dissolved organic material (DOM) that could accumulate. Anyone who has seen the dark stinky ‘yuk’ in a protein skimmer collection cup will never be without one.
All protein skimmers work on the same principle and manufacturers do not have any secret methods. What they do have is the expertise and mechanization to mass produce. There isn’t a need to buy a commercial unit however, provided the aquarist has some confidence in his/her DIY ability, and also has access to the required materials. Most have this access nowadays, if not locally through the internet.
If the aquarist takes a little time and carefully looks at a protein skimmer in a shop or at a friend’s it will be seen that they are basically simple. Seawater is moved from the aquarium and through a bubble chamber where the DOM is removed and collected in a cup. The method of moving the seawater and creating the bubbles vary.
This is not an attempt to advise that commercial products are poor - many are very good indeed and do the job well. However, they’re not the cheapest devices on the market! A basically competent DIYer can save money and still have a skimmer that does a good job, and also have the pride of ‘I did that.’ Most aquarists go for the commercial products and fair enough, but some…well, why not?
Seeing some of the skimmer plans for the first time can be a little daunting, but they’re not as bad as they first appear. Here’s a link and there is useful information here too in addition to plans:
http://saltaquariums.about.com/od/diyskimmerplans/DIY_Protein_Skimmer_Plans.htm
Tags: Aquarium Maintenance, Aquarium Water, Care, DIY, Equipment, Protein Skimmer
Can You Build A Fish Tank From Plywood?
July 24, 2008
Aquariums get more expensive as they get bigger. Well, there’s a pretty obvious statement to start with! However for the aquarist who is not keen to meet the price of a large aquarium but is able to deal with the cost of everything else there is a way around the problem. It doesn’t have to be a large aquarium really, any size applies, but the cost of smaller commercial glass or acrylic tanks makes the need to ‘get the tools out’ diminish considerably.
The way around the cost is for the aquarist to make the tank using plywood. It stands to reason the aquarist, or a DIY competent friend, should be reasonably good at cutting a straight line. The use of power tools is a great help.
The job is not as daunting as it could appear. Also, the end product is not going to look like a box that doesn’t leak with some water in plus fish. Ok, for the comedian at the back - yes the livestock can be seen as the tank has a glass front!
The first item required is a plan and once again the internet comes to the rescue. The plan here is for a 140 gallon tank, but these dimensions could be reduced or increased if ratios are kept accurate.
Here’s the link:
http://cichlid-forum.com/article/diy_plywood_aquarium.php
Tags: acrylic-aquarium, aquarium, DIY, Equipment, glass-aquarium
Save Money and Have Fun By Making Your Own Live Rock
July 2, 2008
Live rock is a wonderful bio-filtration media. The shapes of the individual rocks are attractive and very useful in the construction of an ‘open’ reef structure. There is a disadvantage however, and that is cost.
Though different types of live rock vary in weight, this weight causes transportation to be expensive. In addition, the rock is usually transported uncured, and further cost is added for the curing process (curing is where organisms that are dead are dying are cleared from the live rock so that pollution will not occur).
Another downside to live rock is the collection itself. Hopefully collection is done responsibly and only rubble and other loose rock is collected, and nothing is prised from the reef itself. There are companies that are creating live rock in the wild by leaving non-reef rocks in the sea near a wild reef until the rock is seeded. This has to be applauded, but the cost of transportation is still there.
There is a way that hobbyists can get around the high cost of natural live rock and that is to make it themselves. There are two ways to do this.
The first way involves the purchase of live rock from the retailer. However, the quantity is ¼ to ½ of what would have been purchased if the aquarium were to be furnished with all natural live rock. When the live rock goes into the aquarium, the shortfall is made up with inert porous ordinary rock. Given time, this inert rock will become live - bacteria will take up residence and other marine life will also do the same. It is a very satisfying process but is slow and that certain virtue is required - patience. 6 months plus is the time scale being looked at. If the aquarist is to use live rock as the sole bio-filtration method, for a period care is needed to make sure there is sufficient bio capacity for the livestock. It could be that if the aquarist is concerned about the size of the bio load a canister filter could be incorporated to assist for a while. When the canister filter becomes redundant it can be used for mechanical filtration.
The second way is to make the rocks themselves. This is not as difficult, or perhaps as silly, as it could sound. For this method a link is provided so that the idea can be investigated:
When at the website, expand the ‘How To Pages’ on the left hand side list (click on the + sign). Then click on ‘Aragonite’ or ‘Aragocrete’. A list will appear and a selection can be made.
It would really be good to view a healthy, vibrant fully stocked captive reef and be able to say ‘I made that, entirely, A to Z.’
Tags: Aquarium Filter, Aquarium Filtration, DIY, live-rock, reef-tank, saltwater-aquarium
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