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Showing results for tags 'HMF'.
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My 1st HMF project was in a 29g tank; a single piece of foam installed on one end. I cut the sheet slightly oversized so the mat was tight, but didn’t bow. Along with the jetlifter, I put the water heater behind the mat too. Two inch spacers along the front and back glass, made of foam trim pieces, ensured the mat wouldn't creep toward the side glass and touch the heater. Obviously, an end HMF reduces swim length of the tank – which was a consideration I hadn’t thought of before. Here's the front view of my 1st 29g HMF. On a small tank, the space the HMF occupies is noticeable. A piece of 2” 30ppi poret is probably rigid enough to span 18", but I wasn’t willing to concede 4” of tank length, even though the next tank I was going to convert is 4 feet long. The corner designs I found require channel on the tank glass to keep the foam in place. Effective, but I didn't want the hassle of draining and drying the tank in order to do it. My intent was to build something I could just drop in. I found these on the weeb. They're made of plastic – couldn’t find them anywhere on our continent last year. The prototype is cobbled together from salvaged aquarium glass; the base is 7” square. I assembled the pieces with silicone sealant – not worried about bond strength because it won’t hold any weight. I am pleased with the cavity size; plenty of room for the jet lifter and heater in there. The silicone bead in the aquarium keeps the corner units ¼” away from the tank glass. Nice space for shrimp to hide. If I were to do it again, I’d make the back corner a 45o profile. To my shame, this has been sitting here empty and dry since we moved to Ontario 9 months ago. It’d be pretty easy to put channel inside the tank to hold the poret now. But I’ve made something that I can take out and exchange for the ol’ canister anytime. Take good care folks.
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Jenn got me thinking a while back what I'd do with my empty 75gal. Until now, it has been a catch-all for random fish that people have been giving me, or fish that don't really fit elsewhere. Now, it's time to make it something. This is how it starts: It's an crappy empty tank with a crappy pic! I want an HMF across the back to plant my moss wall. Can't have one piece of foam, so I have to put in a divider. It's just a piece of glass from a stock canopy cut to fit. Gives me about 3" from the back. I wanted a nice deep sand bed - mostly to raise the foam up enough, but also for some great root development. It's 3" all around! Put some rocks in to see how I want the hardscaping to go There have been some rave reviews about the Finnex products. I bought 3 of the 48" fixtures: 2 FugeRays and this baby for the plants! Gotta say, it really lights it up well! (FugeRay on a 125 next to it - also kicks the crap out of the shoplight I had before!) To wood or not?? ('nother FugeRay on that long tank above it - I think I might have to buy some more!) Gotta keep the Fishhead, tho!
