Tank birthday, 55+ years

[siggy]

My lfs had 2 of those contraptions out for the big sale. I seen they have an open frame motor.....ever get zapped by that thing.

 

[Paul B]

My lfs had 2 of those contraptions out for the big sale. I seen they have an open frame motor.....ever get zapped by that thing.

You never use it without getting zapped. :eek: If you use it in the morning, it wakes you up fast. The motors, which are iron probably from 1955 Oldsmobiles rust out badly and were never designed for salt water. The main problem is the seal around the shaft. The filters run by creating a vacuum inside that pulls water in. Diatom powder is like glass and wears the seal very quickly and air gets in. The impeller is right at the top so a tiny bit of air stops the thing from working and when that happened you have to run it up side down. Of course doing that allows water to get into the motor so You can't touch it or you get zapped so you run it over a bucket on it's side. Eventually too much air gets in so you have to throw the entire thing against a wall and have a glass of Harveys Bristal Cream while you watch re runs of "I Love Lucy".

The thing should be designed with a magnet drive so you don't need a seal. I have some magnet drives laying around but never get the time to redesign the thing. I ordered a new motor and housing from a guy who I think makes them in his garage but it looks like a much better design. I didn't get it yet but I will report on it when I do. I can't run my tank without a working diatom filter. They are a great tool and I use it to stir up my gravel a couple of times a year and sometimes when I collect NSW because my NSW is full of sand, chopped up worms and Mermaid hair.


I also never understood why the XL unit has a much smaller impeller than the normal unit. Maybe it's me. :confused:

 

[Fin]

I remember the electrifying experience. :-)

 

[Paul B]

Shocks are good, What do you want to do, Live forever!!! :cool:

 

[Paul B]

I built an algae scrubber and installed it but I didn't light it yet so it is just pouring water over a screen hanging over the tank. No leaks yet. Well there were some, but I fixed them before I had to order a canoe. I am putting in my barn wood wall today with the barn doors in the center but first I am doing the electrical work. (I know a good electrician.:rolleyes:)
I am adding a switch near the bed and 2 steampunk sconces that will be over the barn doors and to the sides. Right now I just have holes in the walls for the wiring.

 

[siggy]

Shocks are good, What do you want to do, Live forever!!! :cool:

I am doing the electrical work. (I know a good electrician.:rolleyes:)

 

[Paul B]

I finished by barn wall in my Master bedroom just now and tomorrow I will hang the barn doors. It looks really cool and I expect a cow to walk out of the thing. But I hope not.:eek:

 

[Paul B]

I got my newly designed diatom filter motor yesterday and ran it all night. The thing works beautifully and I will thank the guy who builds them. It is so much better than the original diatom filter.
It is plastic so it doesn't rust. You can run it continousely and it doesn't leak. My tank is so clear that the fish are freeking out because they think they will fall to the bottom.
I am eliminating the algae and it is slowly dying so this filter can suck it out. Thats because i don't think inside that silly box. If I was inside the box I would have changed the water, then came on here all beside myself with that look on my face. You know the look. :confused: Thats the look people get when they get algae and they keep changing water and the algae keeps growing longer until they give up and open a produce stand from their tank, then when they run out of water to change, they become the manager of the french fry machine at Burger King. :rolleyes:
The algae will leave when it wants to. Unless of course you keep changing the water. :cool:
But thats what that box is for. All that excess algae.

Yesterday I bought a baby watchman gobi, an algae bleeny, a big decorator crab and something else, but I forgot what it was. I threw them all in there and they are loving the new place. My long spine urchin, that I got as big as a marble is really liking the algae as he never gets any. He grew about 6" but I have no idea what he was eating.
But anyway, all is well. I hope everything is great with you guys and girls, if anyone is mistakingly reading this

 

[fishybizzness]

Where did you get the new motor? Was it a custom build?

 

[Fin]

Yeah, inquiring minds want to know where you scored the motor. I wonder if I can find my old glass body? You probably have both the plastic and glass bodies. Can you still get the filter element?

 

[Paul B]

I will get back to this

 

[Paul B]

I finished my barn wall. I just need to add a trim to the top. All pallet wood.

 

[siggy]

That turned out Really Nice!

 

[Fin]

Looks cool! Also like the floating bed. Pretty neat!

 

[Victoria M]

wow, Paul that is really pretty.

 

[Brew12]

I finished my barn wall. I just need to add a trim to the top. All pallet wood.

That turned out fantastic! The supermodel must be thrilled!

 

[dbraun15]

Looks great Paul! I'm on to my next pallet project in my man cave. I have an existing bar that is made out of oak plywood and I'm covering sections in pallet wood and also doing a pallet wall behind the TV...really liking the look so far!

You surely can't beat the price!

 

[Paul B]

That is really nice. I love it.

 

[Paul B]

My tank had cleared up quite nicely and I can start adding some more corals. Most of the algae is gone and the rest is dying and I will suck it out. Today I also added a temporary light on the algae scrubber to see if it does anything. I also had a small flood. I have been having a lot of floods lately and I am starting to feel like Noah.

I was putting up some sheetrock next to the tank and the sheetrock hit the fitting that comes out of a 7 gallon bucket hanging from the ceiling.
The fitting broke off and the bucket, which was full and started to shoot water all over me and the sheetrock. I had trouble putting down the sheetrock because it was a big piece and I had to wrestle it in the spot to get it there and now water was shooting all over my face so I couldn't see what I was doing. I eventually put down the sheetrock but I was soaked and water continued to pour out of the bucket. I could put my finger on the fitting to stop it but I had nothing to put under it and I didn't want to stay there all night. I let go and ran to get a bucket while the water was shooting out like 3'.
I got the bucket under the hose and collected the rest of the water. Then I got a mop.

The fish are still laughing. :rolleyes:
My tank had cleared up quite nicely and I can start adding some more corals. Most of the algae is gone and the rest is dying and I will suck it out. Today I also added a temporary light on the algae scrubber to see if it does anything. I also had a small flood. I have been having a lot of floods lately and I am starting to feel like Noah.

I was putting up some sheetrock next to the tank and the sheetrock hit the fitting that comes out of a 7 gallon bucket hanging from the ceiling.
The fitting broke off and the bucket, which was full and started to shoot water all over me and the sheetrock. I had trouble putting down the sheetrock because it was a big piece and I had to wrestle it in the spot to get it there and now water was shooting all over my face so I couldn't see what I was doing. I eventually put down the sheetrock but I was soaked and water continued to pour out of the bucket. I could put my finger on the fitting to stop it but I had nothing to put under it and I didn't want to stay there all night. I let go and ran to get a bucket while the water was shooting out like 3'.
I got the bucket under the hose and collected the rest of the water. Then I got a mop.

The fish are still laughing. :rolleyes:

 

[Victoria M]

Umm Paul, you need some rest friend. You wrote that all out twice...lol.