Starting of a 27G tank.

trep · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2006, 09:01 PM

Heyas,

I finally stepped up this week end and went to buy the goods to start up a first vivavirum. That's my first try on making one, so i'll go slowly just to make sure i don't make major mistakes heh. Basically the tank is 36x12x15 and so far i've only bought the construction equipement (silicone, egg crate, pvc raisers). While i was shaping the floor and the pond, i ran into a question.

Firts of, i wanted to get 2 inches raisers, there were none in every hardware store i hit. So i bought 1 1/2" raisers. I wanted to use a submersible pump (probably a maxi-jet 400 (thanks Landon for the input on this one)). I was actually wondering if it was going to be totally underwater with only 1 1/2" raisers. I know i need to let like 1/2 inches between the false bottom and the water, so considering this, will the pump be totally underwater, or should i go with a higher raise ?

I'm still trying to borrow a camera to take pictures of the step i'm taking and to have opinions of people. It'll help me and also could help others looking for the same infos ! So, hopefully i'll be able to get the camera soon to give you an idea of my plan heh

Regards,

trep

Landon · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2006, 10:08 AM

you may need a little more than that to run a pump. 2" or so is where the cut off is for most pumps. i cant remember exactly how low the maxijets go, but tis pretty low. 1 1/2" may be enough. what i would do is attach your hose to it and try it our in the sink.

also keep in mid youll want a little extra water volume. you dont want to have to add top off water every day. if you dont have a full glass lid some water will evaporate out. you dont want this to cause your pump to run dry and burn up.

trep · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2006, 11:12 PM

Heyas,

Well, i borrowed a video camera, but since its a video camera, the picture quality is kindda poor. I took this shot just to show the water feature i was planning to build. I'm also trying to find out 2 inches PVC raisers in hardware shop, and it doesnt seem to exist. I visited 4 "big surface" and all they had was 4' pvc tube that i had to cute into pieces. I'm not very well equiped to do this here, so, i'm still seeking some lol. I'll call in, in smaller shop to see if i could get anything done.

So basically, the left part would be around 18 inches (will host plants and branches), the pond around 7 inches (with a part behind the pond to host something i dont know yet), and the remaining to the right will be another surface with maybe just one plant and a cocohut, i don't know yet how i'll setup everything hehe.

Of course, i'll would probably use GS on the 3 inches pvc pipe that would host the "river" and throw peat moss on it so we don't see them. I was thinking of running the tube from the water pump through the PVC tube, i'll see if it could work ! No comments on my paint skills lol

I'll try to get better quality images later on. In RED would be the pipe from the water pump. BLUE = water hehhehe

Landon · #4 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006, 12:23 PM

looks like a good start!

trep · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 12:24 PM

Well, just to make a little update here. Been busy working and stuff, so building slowly when i have some free time hehe.

The egg crate setup is pretty much completed, i ordered the water pump 2 weeks ago, should arrive soon. (note that the setup we see upper in the thread is inverted.)

The left area uses 3 inches raisers, and the right uses 2" 1/2 raisers. The pond is in the middle of the tank with an area behind it to allow traffic on the left and right part. Everything is fixed, all i need is new Great Stuff. I tested the one i had before use, and the foam cured in the tube, couldnt find anything to unclog it. And while trying to unclog it, for some reason the foam was coming out extremly slow. So, sometimes this week i'll visit HD to buy some stuff (also need tiny flower pots made of clay, tubing (hopefully i'll have my pump), peat mose and coco fibers.

Next step will be to use the great stuff to crate the small river bed, make the background, fix the false bottom, and fix the pond as well.

I'm still trying to get ahold of a camera, as soon as i find one i'll update with picture of the work in progress.

trep

Tindomul1of9 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 04:10 PM

Nice, I was wanting to use expanding foam to create an impermeable river bed for fast moving streams and waterfalls. How good is it for this application do you think? It wont soak up the water will it, and therefore pass it through to the other side??
As for the PVC raisers, I was always under the impression that all you had to do was buy one long piece of PVC and have it cut for you in the sizes you needed. Maybe you should try having someone cut it for you.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see the finished product!

trep · #7 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

Nice, I was wanting to use expanding foam to create an impermeable river bed for fast moving streams and waterfalls. How good is it for this application do you think? It wont soak up the water will it, and therefore pass it through to the other side??
As for the PVC raisers, I was always under the impression that all you had to do was buy one long piece of PVC and have it cut for you in the sizes you needed. Maybe you should try having someone cut it for you.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see the finished product!

Well, some people seem to be using the expanding foam to model up their river bed, so i guess it won't soak up the water (i hope so hehe). I have some ideas how i'll setup the river, but i'll have to see how well i can work with the expanding foam.

About the PVC raisers, i tought so as well, until i hit the hardware store. They had a lot of different size of PVC tubes 3' and 4', so i asked the guy to get it cut here, and they just told me it was 1,00$ for every cut or 1,50$ (depending on the store i went.) since i need around 12 cuts. The piece was 3$. So i went to like 5 stores, until the last one offered me a good deal, 2$ for the whole pipe cut in 2 1/2" parts. You usually get more services at small shops than big ones hehe.

I was actually wondering something about the great stuff. Let's say you only use half the bottle, how do you clean the tube to take the stuff out ? Can you keep the can for a while ?

trep · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2006, 12:00 AM

heyas,

Well, i couldnt do much lately, the pump i ordered got lost in the mail. I was looking for one in the shop here, only one i could find was the Repti-Flo 200. Any comments on this pump ?

trep

Rainfrog · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 02:45 AM

I purchased that pump myself. I dont have a finished viv yet but Ive test ran the pump and it seems to work just fine. I can forsee problems down the road with it passibly getting jammed up from some small debris but it seems simply put togeather and should be easy to unclog. The great thing about is it is very small my viv is 10 gallon vert (will be) and was very inexspensive. Only time will tell me if that means it is cheap!

brettlt · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2006, 04:05 PM

For the great stuff, I read a good idea today. When you buy the bottle cut the tube into 3-5 pieces. Whenever you want to use it again just take off the old clogged piece and use one of the clean pieces. Also, airline tubing, which is readily available at pet stores in the aquarium area, seems to be the same size also. Good Luck.
I am starting one about the same size myself. It will be my first.