What did you do with your tank(s) today?

[DMD123]

I got to spend time over the weekend cleaning tanks and filters so it felt like I got caught up a little.

Looking at the 'log' I got I saw I could turn it this way too

The thing is pretty massive and I think will add a lot of hard-scape to a 75g for sure. Currently soaking it in bucket to release tannins before adding to tank.

 

[DMD123]

2 hours of gravel vac and scrubbing down stuff in the 300 gallon has it looking good again. I need to get back into my routine to cut down on these long cleaning sessions. Im always working on other projects during the summer.

 

[sir_keith]

Took my new in-line thermometer for a test drive. I previously asked in a post in the DIY section if anyone had experience with such a device, here-

http://www.wafishbox.com/forums/threads/in-line-thermometer.15284/

Not so much, but there were concerns, both here and on a national forum, about whether it would interfere with the flow rate. I didn't think that would be a big issue: the thermometer is designed for a 1/2" hose, which is what I used during water changes, and further, I have the nozzle set for a pretty mellow flow rate, about the same as that of the pump I use for emptying tanks (so I can fill one tank and empty another at the same time without getting out-of-sync). So here's the trial run-




It doesn't show so well in the photo, but both 78°F and 80°F indicators are highlighted, indicating that the temperature of the water flowing through the device is 79°F. I did not notice any reduction in the flow rate, because as I mentioned, it is the spray nozzle that is limiting. I did rotate the thermometer ~90 degrees clockwise since these pics were taken, so that the readout faces forward. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the device. It does respond very quickly, so any change in water temperature is readily apparent, which was the whole point.

 

[DMD123]

Did a water change on the 75g trimac tank and realized how much I hated the Eheim heater holder. The suction cups are quite large but over time they lose their ability to hold the heater. They can be softened by boiling and then reused but this is a reoccurring process that is never ending. I had bought a heater guard a while back and it had come in broken but I saved the upper half of it and an now trying it as the new heater holder.

Out with the old

In with the new. This one has 3 large suction cups and this thing is now solid against the back wall.


I liked the fit so I ordered a couple more. Will replace the other Eheim heater holder in my other 75 gallon also.

 

[DMD123]

Nice quiet weekend... working on cleaning tanks today. Extra time in the 300 getting it to look extra sparkly.

 

[fishguy1978]

Did a water change on the 75g trimac tank and realized how much I hated the Eheim heater holder. The suction cups are quite large but over time they lose their ability to hold the heater. They can be softened by boiling and then reused but this is a reoccurring process that is never ending. I had bought a heater guard a while back and it had come in broken but I saved the upper half of it and an now trying it as the new heater holder.

Out with the old
View attachment 6547
In with the new. This one has 3 large suction cups and this thing is now solid against the back wall.
View attachment 6548

I liked the fit so I ordered a couple more. Will replace the other Eheim heater holder in my other 75 gallon also.

I have several Ebos that are falling off the tank wall. I will have totry the boiling refurb on the suction cups.

 

[sir_keith]

I have several Ebos that are falling off the tank wall. I will have totry the boiling refurb on the suction cups.

Me too. Suction cups seem to have a finite lifespan, whether they're underwater or not. The ones that really drive me crazy are those that attach my radar detector to the windshield, which seem to require replacement every few months.

 

[sir_keith]

Nice quiet weekend... working on cleaning tanks today. Extra time in the 300 getting it to look extra sparkly.
View attachment 6549
View attachment 6550

I just love this setup.

 

[DMD123]

A bit of an update on the heater guard. The suctions cups are not that great on it either. Granted there is an 8"+ trimac in there with it but it popped off the back wall pretty easily. I just ordered some magnets to try.

I think I will combine these with the new heater guard and try it out. I really like the Eheim Thermocontrol heaters a lot. Keeps the temp and they never are hot or glowing red with heated water rising off them. Whatever they did internally/electronically these things are awesome... but they cant make a good suction cup to save their live, lol.

 

[DMD123]

Heater related question for you guys. I currently have the Eheim 250 watt in my 75 gallon tanks. It is rated for tanks in the 105.6 - 158.5 gallons range. This thing is pretty massive at 17". I was looking at replacing with 200 watt which is rated at 79.2 - 105.6 gallons and 2 1/2" shorter. Dont feel like this would be an issue to lose 50 watts and go shorter.

Here is where Im just not sure. The 150 watt is rated at 52.8 - 79.2 gallons and is nice and short at 13.2". Do you guys think this enough to keep the tank warm? Some guides say you need 3 watts a gallon, some say 2.5... whats your experience? I do feel as if the Eheim are very big compared to the competitors.

 

[sir_keith]

I run Eheim's in all my tanks, and in my experience 2 watts per gallon is more than enough for bigger tanks. I am currently using 250w Eheim's in my 125's, and 150w in 75's, like the tank shown below, which has been running this way without any issues for years-

 

[DMD123]

Thanks for that info @sir_keith. I thought I could use the 150 in my 75g, just wanted to check with someone else on that.

 

[DMD123]

Just bought one of the 150 watt Eheim’s to try out in the Trimac tank. If I end up liking then the other 75 will get one too. I then can have the 250 watt as back up heaters. Thats one thing I noticed, I dont think I have any backup heaters, I will now.

 

[DMD123]

Been doing a bit of this and that with fish keeping. Got in some plastic heater guards off Amazon and waiting on an Eheim heater to come in still. Looking to down scale the heater in my 75g because the 250 watt is like 17" long and does not need to be that huge, so Im going to try the 150 watt instead. Also got in my magnet mounts which I may also try out to replace suction cups on the heater mount with.

Ordered some more fish food. Been using NLS and Omega One but have always like Dainichi so I got some medium floating Color Supreme and medium sinking Ultima Krill.

Spent some time working on "The log" that is to go into the trimac tank. I took a Dremel and sandpaper to it and worked off the sharp edges. still trying to decide how to place the thing.

Kind of like it this way

Anyway at least it should be safe for the fish now. Still need to soak it some more to release tannins before putting it in the tank.

 

[sir_keith]

Well, this is not about tanks, exactly, but definitely about aquaculture...

I received this year's supply of Pacific oyster seed from Taylor Shellfish last Thursday; one bag of diploids and one bag of triploids; each bag containing about 400 oyster 'seeds'-




The 'seeds' are actually tiny oysters, each about the size of a dime, shown here-



I split the contents of each bag into thirds by weight-



... then put them into heavy wire mesh 'grow bags'...



... which were then secured to my beach-




Here's my whole crop of oysters on the beach; the six grow bags on the left are the new seeds; the five in the center are from 2019, and the five on the right are from 2018.




When the oysters are about one year old they look like this-



The Manila clams in this pic were also collected from the beach, but I don't need to cultivate these as they are abundant in the wild; it takes less than 5 minutes to dig up enough clams to serve two. I love shellfish!

 

[DMD123]

@sir_keith, very cool! I have a buddy who lives out on Anderson Island who does his own oysters too. Love going out to his place for dinner. My wife is not a seafood lover so more for me, lol.

 

[DMD123]

Got all 5 garage tanks gravel vac’d and water change done and also the 300. Wanted to get it all done before we lost gas for the day since we have a gas water heater. We have had work being done on our street for about two weeks now. New gas lines feeding our street and we were one of the few homes to get a new line to the house and today we are to get a new regulator outside. The company did a nice job so far, barely notice where they had to dig up the yard.

 

[DMD123]

Got an old free 10 gallon tank and an old "vintage" Penn Plax hang on the back filter



Laid out like an old Aquaclear with the sponge upright instead of laying flat. Not even sure if I can find a sponge to fit it but I cleaned it out and it does work.

 

[Orthopod]

Well, this is not about tanks, exactly, but definitely about aquaculture...

I received this year's supply of Pacific oyster seed from Taylor Shellfish last Thursday; one bag of diploids and one bag of triploids; each bag containing about 400 oyster 'seeds'-


View attachment 6560

The 'seeds' are actually tiny oysters, each about the size of a dime, shown here-

View attachment 6562

I split the contents of each bag into thirds by weight-

View attachment 6563

... then put them into heavy wire mesh 'grow bags'...

View attachment 6564

... which were then secured to my beach-

View attachment 6566


Here's my whole crop of oysters on the beach; the six grow bags on the left are the new seeds; the five in the center are from 2019, and the five on the right are from 2018.

View attachment 6567


When the oysters are about one year old they look like this-

View attachment 6568

The Manila clams in this pic were also collected from the beach, but I don't need to cultivate these as they are abundant in the wild; it takes less than 5 minutes to dig up enough clams to serve two. I love shellfish!

Looking at your backyard, you may live a beach walk away - are you on the hood canal? I’ve had too much going on to set up oyster bags.

 

[sir_keith]

Looking at your backyard, you may live a beach walk away - are you on the hood canal? I’ve had too much going on to set up oyster bags.

No, I'm on Liberty Bay. Apparently the bay was chock full of native Olympia oysters before the settlers arrived here, and it is a really good habitat for oysters. I'm getting seed survival rates >90% with both diploids and triploids, and the growth rates are phenomenal, ready for harvest in a year. This does have a downside, however: barnacles. Anyone who has a boat moored in Liberty Bay knows that. I figure it's a fair compromise if I can get awesome shellfish like this off the beach.