Loaches Online Forum

I finally got the manifold finished for the new 45 gallon river tank today:


I have gone with the twin intakes but cant decide whether or not to go with 4 sponges or 2 sponges and 2 filter cartridges:


The twin intakes can be either positioned parallel to the end glass or ratated around to put one foam/cartridge in front of the other.

I have also mounted one powerhead slightly higher than the other to get the flow from the back one above the bogwood that I am planning on putting in there:


All being well the tank will be set up next week, I was hoping to get it setup this week but my 7ft tank arrives tomorrow and we are hopefully going away for the weekend.

Assimilation; complete!!

Love the funky design. I love seeing all the little personal innovations people throw into the basic design. Personally, for aesthetics given what you've got there I would seriously consider using all filter cartridges.

Martin.

Looking good old chap!

Martin Thoene wrote:Personally, for aesthetics given what you've got there I would seriously consider using all filter cartridges.

Martin.

From the aesthetics point of view the cartridges do look better but the sponges offer a larger surface area, I was also undecided because of the fry aspect as the sponges would be a lot safer were they are concerned and they also offer foraging surfaces for the fish.

Why can't life be simpler

By quadrupling the sponges you are automatically reducing the psi suction at the sponge because the T-piece will only flow so much.

Martin.

nice! Now you can come build me one LOL!

Martin Thoene wrote:By quadrupling the sponges you are automatically reducing the psi suction at the sponge because the T-piece will only flow so much.

Martin.

Good point Martin, so in effect I would be better off with the 4 smaller cartridges than the 4 larger sponges, the sponges will go onto the 7ft manifold instead

Excellent stuff, MD. Hopefully the Aquamedic tubing we've ordered for our new River Tank manifold will be arriving tomorrow, and then I'll be making sure it gets built over the weekend.

It must be all go at your place, what with the new clown tank as well. I hope the dog house has not been called into action.....

Emma

where did you acquire those sponges and cartridges if you dont mind me asking?

Rubix wrote:where did you acquire those sponges and cartridges if you dont mind me asking?

The cartridges came with the powerheads and I got them and the sponges off ebay

Emma Turner wrote:Excellent stuff, MD. Hopefully the Aquamedic tubing we've ordered for our new River Tank manifold will be arriving tomorrow, and then I'll be making sure it gets built over the weekend.

It must be all go at your place, what with the new clown tank as well. I hope the dog house has not been called into action.....

Emma

No dog house here emma Joy is as exited as me .

There is another 75 gallon mixed loach tank to setup as well, and once the Clowns have moved into their new tank I have that 75 gallon tank to setup for the Sid's

And after all that there will be a trip to your place to buy more fish

The manifold is now in place in the river tank after a minor modification, I did away with the 2x twin inlets and went with 3x single inlets.



I have put the filter cartridges on for now but haven't decided yet whether to leave them on or to switch over to the sponges like I had originally planned.



I have now added some cobbles and bogwood



There are some more stones to go in and a couple more pieces of wood along with java fern and some anubias but it is starting to take shape

The setup looks good

Thank you for posting the photos.

I plan to setup a similar 6 feet river tank for my clown loaches in December. I am sure your loaches will love the water flow and design.