Zoom's 38l Nano

Man I forgot my std 8 Biology but knew there was something like it. Same effect with a straw.

Anyway, is the tree going on the hill?

 

Thanks Rudi...
I've just had a chance to read through TOm Barr's thread you recommended.... and I see what you mean. I'll drop the water soon.

Yes... if I can find a suitable piece of wood. No LPS store in my area keeps wood that small! HUMPH!!!

 

How big do you need?

 

That was my problem so I gave up this idee. This is where my Pinnacle idee started. Actually had a 1ft nano version of the 3ft one.

What if you get some of those grape vine twigs and put them together in the centre with some silicone and let the rest form a canopy?
That is if you can find some of them.

 

Maximum height of 15cm... must look like a dead tree. Basically a trunk with 5-7 thin branches

Grape vine branches in Jozi???

 

I'll be on the lookout for you.

 

Have one of those Cape or Stellenbosch wine farmers send you a few

What if you buy a bigger but thinner piece and break it the way you want?

Only the trunk would really be visible.

 

Filter idea

The HMF filter idea I was going with it not going to be practical in this tank. It would take up far too much space, and as such, I am left up the creek without a paddle... so to say... or rather, with a tank, and no filter idea.

Would the following idea work?



1) 25mm Electrical conduit (or similar) placed behind the moss wall
2) air stone to force water movement through the conduit
3) Filter sponge (Mechanical filtration)
4) Ceramic ring (Chemical filtration)
5) Space for chemical filtration when needed
6) Plastic pins inserted through the conduit to seperate the medium

You will notice on top of the top set of pins I have a line (suppose to be a fine mesh) so that the chemical filtration, which is usually fine, doesn't fall through the pins.

Basically the airstone will force the water movement through the different stages of the filtration. I realise that not a lot of filtration will take place, and that this is really just a DIY sponge type filter... but I'm looking at something small. Don't really want to go for an internal or a hob, as I don't want too much water movement.

 

MMM the question is would that airstone really force the water through the conduit and not just form a big air bubble at the bottom and then start escaping along the side?

 

How about constructing something like this Zoom?? A modified sponge filter.

I have a 45cm tank that I'm looking to do this in. Also not looking for to much water movement in there.

You can even look at making the "uplift" pipe zigzag. That way there will be allot more "pulling" power from all the air in the pipe.

You can then use suckers to fix it the the back and tie your moss wall to the uplift?

 

You can even wrap a piece of mesh with moss around the uplift and overgrow it with moss.

 

Alternately I could put the airsonte INTO the sponge in the first chamber. It's basically going to work on a similar principle that a sponge filter or undergravel filter works, but gives me the ability to add bio media to the system, and chemical filtration if necessary

That could also work... BUT there is only mechanical filtration happening. I know the bio filter does happen in a sponge.. but I am not convinced that it is enough. Maybe I'm wrong.
The zig zig would probably work better... but then it just creates more "stuff" in the tank. Trying to eliminate that as much as possible.

I'm actually wondering now if it isn't possible to use a slightly bigger conduit, or something slightly neater and put the heater inside there as well.

 

Hi Zoom,just two quick questions:
Why don't you want water movement,or minimal movement?
What livestock are you planning on adding?

 

I'm trying to get thoughts 'out the box'. Even the smallest internal filter pumps too hard. It's not that i don't want movement... I just don't want huge currents in there. Will probable keep neons in there

 

Have you already dismissed a small HOB?It will only create minimal flow and great biological filtration.
As for fish,if you added Whitecloud Mountain minnows,you won't need a heater.
Thinking out the box.:bigsmile:

 

Jebo super mini hob?

 

Well yes,or any make.Only the inlet pipe is visible so that is good for a small tank.If you keep the water level high,the "waterfall" action will be reduced and as stated before,great biological filtration.

 

I more than likely will go for a small internal filter. Hob's are out of the question... I have too many power failures in my area. At least 2 a week whilst i'm at work... And I believe they need to be primed after a failure.

Do you get mini external canisters?

 

Thought of building a small canister type filter but could not find a small enough
inline water pump.

 

Oi

Lighting update:


The lighting is still got me a bit baffled. Well... I kinda know what to go for... just not 100% sure how I am going to achieve the look I'm wanting.

I've been reading through a catalogue which has shown me that an open top tank, with a really "sexy" modern lamp above is really "styling" for a Nano tank... BUT I'm wanting to go for a very modern, minimal look... so I need to find the right lamp. I was very concerned that the current setup is going to kill my hairgrass with not much light being offered, (was a single T5 4watt globe). So today whilst at builder's I got a temporary solution until I find the perfect lamp.

Basically what I have put into the current hood is 2 x 12W Radiant Mini Twist energy savers. I'm getting 62Lm/w out of 1 globe... unfortunately my Kelvin is sitting at 4000K.

I've put in 2 lampholders into the hood (standard 1ft plastic hood) with 2 of these globes... so in theory I'm getting 2 watts per litre of CFL (which according to my reading, is very similar to a T5). The actual light coming from the tank is PHENOMINAL!! It's REALLY bright.. I'm just not happy with the K rating.

My other small concern is that the fittings are touching the plastic of the hood, and get pretty hot. They've been on for an hour or more now, and haven't melted the plastic. So I might be in luck.

I have ordered some phillips 8W, 6500Kelvin lights from my lighting supplier. Will hopefully get these soon. But ideally I would still like to get a really modern looking desk lamp type set up with the globe from above. Just need to find something nice.