Maximus

Well I'm toying with the idea of some sort of 'float' system so the bar goes up and down with the water level.. When I figure it out, I will patent it then sell you all one at a great price.. :thumbs: I have pointed the thing down, and I think it is quieter but it still changes as the water evaporates. A 'top-off' system would be a nightmare. This tank is in the bedroom, and did have a pwrhead running till last week. The main unit is an Ehiem, and is sooo quiet... Which is what I want. The powerhead was quiet, but not silent.... But I guess I will put it back till I get my patent..

I was wondering how everyone else has their spray bars set up.. I think there must be a better way. If the water is too high, I get no airation action.. If the water is low, it's noisy. Somewhere in between, it works perfect.. For a few hours. Is it better for circulation if the water is shot horoz. across the top, or down into the water at the back of the tank? I tried standing it up on end in the corner, and realized that water pressure in the tank actually counters the flow.. Ok. So it has to be at the top. I got a new piece of tube, and made a new bar with 50% more holes in it. This seems to have been a good idea. I'm thinking of adding even more. - Less restriction to flow for increased volume, reducing pressure and possibly noise but still having enough for good circulation.. Anyone else experiment with this? If a moderator thinks this should be in DIY, plz move it.

Yea.. We've moved them out of the plant shelf for a while, away from the fl. lighting. I probably should have been able to come up with that idea myself??? - been a rough week...

I have two betta crowntails I keep in brandy snifters, on a shelf with plants. They are under fluo lights. I have a serious problem with algae buildup.. It takes only a couple of days (2) for the water to turn green. Besides moving them out of the light, Is there anything I can do to minimize the green crap without injuring the fish? I mean , I have algae in the fish tanks.. But not like this.

Using a hob in conjunction with another filter is always good.. But it won't prevent the undergravel from eventually needing to be cleaned. Does anyone have happy stories about long term use of an undergravel? From my experience, they are good for a max of two years, even with an additional HOB, powerhead, good weekly vacuumings and minimal fish, but will eventually need a thorough - 'remove all gravel' - cleaning. I did this just'one time'.. the gravel went back in, the filter did not.

Maybe it' supposed to be like this, but my 2211 is a b*tch to get back together. The gasket seems to be too big. It will go in, eventually, but I have to push on it so hard I worry about cracking the green canister. Is this normal?

Wooohooo.. So I called pisces.. It was an Ehiem 2211 I was looking at.. I asked for a deal.. They said they couldn't go lower than 75$.. They would have had me at 85$.. So it's all good. I have an Ehiem. :thumbs:

Ya. Thanks guys for the help. I am thinking I would rather get a used Ehiem than a new fluval. Johnsmith.. Yeah all my HOBs tend to rattle a bit.. Maybe wrapping the coil in foam would help.. Haven't tried.... But I also want to avoid HOBs for space behind the tank.. Preferrably none. I haven't built the stand yet, and an HOB would screw up some of my current plans.. Not out of the question, tho.. No dice on Chums, calling Golds in a minute... Maybe I will call pisces and throw a crazy offer at them for that tattered box... I don't even know the model # but it is a tiny thing... smaller than the 2215.

I'm starting to get weird over this, so I thought I'd ask in here.. I want to set up a canister for my latest 30 gal. It is in the bedroom, so QUIET is a major factor, and minimal maintenance. I want to do it for less than a $hundred, since I could go HOB for $35, or powerheads.. I'd rather tackle a DIY than spend half a paycheck.. I've tried pisces, not thrilled .. Had a small ehiem for $99, in a baddly tattered box. There was a broken piece in there from somewhere.. :cry: Riverfront had some fluvals, marked up 40 % so they could put 'em on sale for 25% off... Same with the penn plax.. Petsmart has fluvals (204) for $88, but are they quiet? worth it? Anyone know where I can find what I'm looking for?

I'm planning on doing this with a 20 gal soon, switching it to black sand. I may do half & half, or I was thinking maybe in even smaller portions, to not mess up too much of the bio-works all at once. I plan to essentially vaccuum the old stuff out so as to minimize the filth factor... so I will probably have to do it over a period of three or four 30% water changes. - I'm hoping. Play sand is fine, like beach sand, and may contain pebbles and what-not, depending where you get it.. Pool sand is coarser, but more uniform.. Both need to be well washed before use.

My $.02... I have not seen any examples of flame wars in this forum, so I'm not sure why this topic was started, but I have seen things happen in other forums, so I will make an assumption and say this... ( much of it already said earlier in the thread) Liveley discussion and heated debate can be very constructive and important . It would be a big step backwards to ban such things on the basis of personal feuds, or difference of opinion. .. True, some are less tactful than others, with respect to expressing opinions without stepping on toes.. Elitist species snobs .... Educated scholars, and PHDs.. Amateurs and hobbyists, professionals.. Newbies.. We're all here. Comes with this territory. Doesn't really matter what the forum is about, a forum is like a quasi-social representation, a cross-section of a given comunity, with all of its quirks and varieties.. I've seen PHDs make a$$e$ of themselves, I've seen newbies share very interresting ideas.. I can say, that from what I've seen in other forums, it works best when: a) the moderator is the only one who can ban anyone, and this should be only when b, c, d have ALL been violated.. The subject matter stays 'on-topic'. c) watch the language. - And of course, d) unnecessary character attacks. Just not constructive at all... :boxed:

This forum looks like fun.... Hi from Calgary. I'm Bryan, and am almost 40 ( ! ) . I've recently gotten back into this hobby, a little more seriously this time around. I have two tanks set up at the moment, 20 gal ea., and have way too many fish in each.... I am mostly interrested in the victorian haps and their kin from the tributaries. I am interrested in breeding some of the species. I found this forum from a post in CalgaryAquariums.. :smokey: