What's the most HILLBILLY thing you've rigged up on your tank?

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Is it sad that I'm googling dump bucket tanks now? I can see the pros to this.

Also surge buckets, 1980's all the rage.
If you didn't have one, you weren't hip. Heeee

 

[lbacha]

Also surge buckets, 1980's all the rage.
If you didn't have one, you weren't hip. Heeee

I think In the correct application a surge bucket is still a good concept. The main issue is microbubbles and salt creep but for simplicity it can’t be beat in larger tanks. In smaller tanks they usually ended up being more of a pain than they were worth and powerheads are so much easier especially the variable ones we have now.

I would love to set up an indoor tidal pool with a huge surge device at one end that cascaded water over the rockwork into the pool

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I think In the correct application a surge bucket is still a good concept. The main issue is microbubbles and salt creep but for simplicity it can’t be beat in larger tanks. In smaller tanks they usually ended up being more of a pain than they were worth and powerheads are so much easier especially the variable ones we have now.

I would love to set up an indoor tidal pool with a huge surge device at one end that cascaded water over the rockwork into the pool

About 60 miles away, a free public aquarium site, at a site called Cabrillo beach. They have a surge device, it's a large acrylic cylinder standing upright , below the water level. It creates a vacuum to draw water into it and then breaks vacuum and water creates surge. Different idea on surge waves.

 

[shred5]

A refugium/magrove swamp..
It actually worked well...
It had so much life in it...

 

[vetteguy53081]

State of the art aquarium stand ( Not mine thank goodness) You get to rock the tank all you want !! Comes with Power supply in the ideal place to get wet !!

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

State of the art aquarium stand ( Not mine thank goodness) You get to rock the tank all you want !! Comes with Power supply in the ideal place to get wet !!

Light it up, baby. Heeee

 

[WVNed]

My new sump. West Virginia engineering.

Not sure why anybody is looking at this but here is the fully operational version now.

 

[NeverlosT]

My new sump. West Virginia engineering.

Dude that PVC heater holder is genius!! I need to make one to keep my heaters from dangling everywhere!

 

[WVNed]

Dude that PVC heater holder is genius!! I need to make one to keep my heaters from dangling everywhere!

If a heater fails I don't want it resting on the stock tank. Second layer of protection since they are on a controller.

 

[Silver14SS]

The heater guard is a great and easy to execute idea, thanks for sharing! I thought WV engineering would be turning all that gear into a still ;Wacky

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

Used an old car radiator, mounted outside, to provide cooling to the fish tanks. No ... I didn't run salt water thru the rad, I used a heat exchange in the sump.

 

[Darth.Daddy12]

Ok posted this setup the other day when thread started.. diy algae scrubber on side of tank upflow style using two 100gph air pumps with t to single high diffusion air stone.. Attached pic so people can see it again for reference..

Ok today I pulled the light and examined the screen after only 5 days operation.. the growth is amazing for first 5 days as you can see..

However you can also see my issue.. I’m using a cheap $5 par 38 grow bulb full spectrum 150w inside an 8” round diffuser like you’d normally use for a reptile basking light that I had laying around..

Question is.. I have 2” or so between glass and front of the light. Anyone know how I can make a diffuser to spread the light better so it’s bit so concentrated in the corners before I replace the light with a squat one?

 

[Daniel@R2R]

My new sump. West Virginia engineering.

Ha! Awesome!

 

[Leadfooted]

When you get a wrasse and remembered they need a lid. Good thing I fish lol!

 

[Sako338]

What's the most HILLBILLY thing you've rigged up on your tank?

Stories?

Pics?



.

I don’t know if I should be offended or honored ( I live in the mountains of NC). Lol...

 

[Sako338]

I mix my saltwater in 5 gallon buckets using a cordless drill with a paint mixer attachment, I hope that counts as hillbilly enough.

 

[jeffchapok]

That's a tough call...

Either this airstone powered skimmer:

Or this siphoning ATO into the makeshift sump:

Or maybe it's the homemade PVC overflow (you can just catch a glimpse in the upper right corner):

 

[User1]

I think In the correct application a surge bucket is still a good concept. The main issue is microbubbles and salt creep but for simplicity it can’t be beat in larger tanks. In smaller tanks they usually ended up being more of a pain than they were worth and powerheads are so much easier especially the variable ones we have now.

I would love to set up an indoor tidal pool with a huge surge device at one end that cascaded water over the rockwork into the pool

Micro bubbles, depending on your belief anyway, can be a good thing. Sort of think of it like what would happen when a wave crashes against a rock.

I have my tank set up such that the returns using the random flow nozzles actually shoot in a blast of air bubbles throughout the day. Reminds me a lot of when I scuba dive. It isn't constant but sort of reminds me of what I have seen while diving.

I think the bigger issue, or concern as it relates to surge / wave boxes, is the pressure it can create on the tank. Unless it is over built or designed to withstand the surge or pressure I wouldn't do it. But when done correctly I think it has its place. But has to be designed in from the start.

 

[Jman76]

I'm gonna have to go with protein powder jug for ATO reservoir and custom high end shelf. I thought I cleaned it to sterile, but still smell a hint of chocolate lol

 

[jeffchapok]

There's the overflow...