Since my last update, I recently purchased an overhead florescent shop light as my new hood for the 55 gallon tank. It is 48" long and fits perfectly over my existing plastic hoods. Now I have two 6700K full spectrum lights illuminating my beautiful tank.
In other news, Humphrey, my blue lobster, molted. He is now twice the size he used to be, and has a more navy blue shell. Even though hes nocturnal, he still comes out during the day to harass the Gouramis or "catch" food floating in the water. One of his funnier stunts has him rearing up on his hind claws and trying to jump and catch the food floating in the water. This keeps him healthy and makes my family laugh. He is one amazing little critter.
More updates soon! Happy fish keeping!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Aquarium Update
In my previous aquarium update, I talked about the fish that I was planning on getting "Fish wise, I plan on adding a cobalt blue lobster, and more gouramis." The lobster I planned on getting was from my favorite fish website drsfostersmith.com.
This site usually provides the average and low income fish owners with AMAZING deals. The site has a great selection of products as well as great deals and sales on usually expensive products. I would highly recommend this site for your inanimate aquarium supplies.
The sister site that provided Cobalt blue lobsters, looked legitimate and professional. The lobsters were being sold at a price of $34 per baby lobster. When I went to a local fish store to check out the store itself and the fish it provided, I found the same lobster being sold for $10 (baby lobster) and $20 (adult lobster).
I was extremely surprised that this local fish store would have a better deal then the highly acclaimed and amazingly reviewed site drsfostersmith.com. Even though drsfostersmith.com has great deals on many different products, I would do my research first and check out my local fish store, because you never know what great deals you will find.
My Cobalt Blue Lobster
In my 55 gallon freshwater tank, I now have a cobalt blue lobster. These little guys are both beautiful and enjoyable invertebrates to have. They clean the bottom of your tank as well as provide a new dimension to your tank. These critters, start out about an inch in length, but can grow to a maximum size of five inches, and can be long lasting companions if taken care of. From beginners to professionals, I would highly recommend this invertebrate for your tank. They will provide enjoyment and will add color to your tank.
This site usually provides the average and low income fish owners with AMAZING deals. The site has a great selection of products as well as great deals and sales on usually expensive products. I would highly recommend this site for your inanimate aquarium supplies.
The sister site that provided Cobalt blue lobsters, looked legitimate and professional. The lobsters were being sold at a price of $34 per baby lobster. When I went to a local fish store to check out the store itself and the fish it provided, I found the same lobster being sold for $10 (baby lobster) and $20 (adult lobster).
I was extremely surprised that this local fish store would have a better deal then the highly acclaimed and amazingly reviewed site drsfostersmith.com. Even though drsfostersmith.com has great deals on many different products, I would do my research first and check out my local fish store, because you never know what great deals you will find.
My Cobalt Blue Lobster
In my 55 gallon freshwater tank, I now have a cobalt blue lobster. These little guys are both beautiful and enjoyable invertebrates to have. They clean the bottom of your tank as well as provide a new dimension to your tank. These critters, start out about an inch in length, but can grow to a maximum size of five inches, and can be long lasting companions if taken care of. From beginners to professionals, I would highly recommend this invertebrate for your tank. They will provide enjoyment and will add color to your tank.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
DIY Fish Tank CO2 Diffuser
In this DIY, I will be showing you how to build a CO2 Diffuser for planted aquariums. A CO2 diffuser diffuses the CO2 into microscopic molecules and bubbles of CO2. The plants in aquariums need CO2 in order to photosynthesize in the water. Although fish and other organisms produce CO2, there's not enough in the water to provide adequate carbon dioxide for the plants.
This diffuser is simple and yet effective and will provide your plants with a healthy source of carbon dioxide.
The materials needed in order to build this diffuser are:
A 2 liter soda bottle with cap
1/4 diameter vinyl airline tubing
1/4 diameter valve
A small power head (used the power head from a small sponge filter)
A plastic cone/container (the longer the better)
A drill
Silicon/hot glue
Check valve
First we'll start off with the 2 liter bottle. Drill a hole into the cap of the bottle, that’s big enough to snugly hold the airline tubing. Next seal both sides of the cap near the airline tubing with silicon or hot glue (I used hot glue because the silicon kept coming off). Now cut the airline tubing about two inches away from the cap. Fit your valve and make sure its snug. Next, measure out the appropriate length of airline tubing that will connect to the other end of the valve and lead into the tank. When you have finished measuring, cut the tubing and attach one end to the remaining end of the cut off valve (adding a check valve is optional but highly recommended to prevent back siphoning). The other end of the airline tubing will connect to the plastic container or tube. Drill a hole near the edge of the top of the plastic container. Push the airline tubing into the hole and seal. Next drill another hole for the end of the power head and seal. Now place the diffuser in the tank and make sure the seals are working correctly. If your diffuser is sealed correctly then tilt the container so that the opening is facing down and make sure that there is no air inside the container. Your diffuser is now complete!
My finished diffuser
In order to produce CO2 we will need the following:
Yeast
Sugar
Water
The CO2 is created by the yeast germs in the 2 liter bottle. The yeast consumes the sugar in the water and then respirates, creating CO2. The CO2 is then forced through the airline tubing and into the plastic "chamber". In the chamber, the water in the tank and the water being forced into the chamber via the power head, mix the CO2 into the water and into smaller bubbles. Because CO2 is less dense than water, it wants to rise to the surface, but the top of the container keeps the CO2 inside. Thus, the CO2 is mixed and only the small bubbles and molecules escape and are released into the water to help perform photosynthesis.
The exact measurements vary from person to person, but my recipe will create about two to three weeks of CO2. The materials required include:
Two cups of sugar
About four cups of water
A tablespoon of yeast
First fill the 2 liter bottle with two cups of sugar. Then mix in about four cups (or until three inches from the top of the bottle) of luke warm tap water. Next add about a tablespoon of yeast. Shake the mixture well for about ten seconds. Now place the cap that leads to the diffuser, on the bottle. In about two hours, if made correctly, the yeast should start producing CO2. If after four hours, there is no CO2 being produced, warm the bottle in a bath of warm water. DO NOT MICROWAVE. THIS WILL KILL THE YEAST!
My yeast mixture
In about a week or so the plants should be flourishing. If not then there are other factors that may be effecting the photosynthesis such as the lighting, how much lighting, water quality, and water temperature.
HAPPY FISH KEEPING!
This diffuser is simple and yet effective and will provide your plants with a healthy source of carbon dioxide.
The materials needed in order to build this diffuser are:
A 2 liter soda bottle with cap
1/4 diameter vinyl airline tubing
1/4 diameter valve
A small power head (used the power head from a small sponge filter)
A plastic cone/container (the longer the better)
A drill
Silicon/hot glue
Check valve
First we'll start off with the 2 liter bottle. Drill a hole into the cap of the bottle, that’s big enough to snugly hold the airline tubing. Next seal both sides of the cap near the airline tubing with silicon or hot glue (I used hot glue because the silicon kept coming off). Now cut the airline tubing about two inches away from the cap. Fit your valve and make sure its snug. Next, measure out the appropriate length of airline tubing that will connect to the other end of the valve and lead into the tank. When you have finished measuring, cut the tubing and attach one end to the remaining end of the cut off valve (adding a check valve is optional but highly recommended to prevent back siphoning). The other end of the airline tubing will connect to the plastic container or tube. Drill a hole near the edge of the top of the plastic container. Push the airline tubing into the hole and seal. Next drill another hole for the end of the power head and seal. Now place the diffuser in the tank and make sure the seals are working correctly. If your diffuser is sealed correctly then tilt the container so that the opening is facing down and make sure that there is no air inside the container. Your diffuser is now complete!
My finished diffuser
In order to produce CO2 we will need the following:
Yeast
Sugar
Water
The CO2 is created by the yeast germs in the 2 liter bottle. The yeast consumes the sugar in the water and then respirates, creating CO2. The CO2 is then forced through the airline tubing and into the plastic "chamber". In the chamber, the water in the tank and the water being forced into the chamber via the power head, mix the CO2 into the water and into smaller bubbles. Because CO2 is less dense than water, it wants to rise to the surface, but the top of the container keeps the CO2 inside. Thus, the CO2 is mixed and only the small bubbles and molecules escape and are released into the water to help perform photosynthesis.
The exact measurements vary from person to person, but my recipe will create about two to three weeks of CO2. The materials required include:
Two cups of sugar
About four cups of water
A tablespoon of yeast
First fill the 2 liter bottle with two cups of sugar. Then mix in about four cups (or until three inches from the top of the bottle) of luke warm tap water. Next add about a tablespoon of yeast. Shake the mixture well for about ten seconds. Now place the cap that leads to the diffuser, on the bottle. In about two hours, if made correctly, the yeast should start producing CO2. If after four hours, there is no CO2 being produced, warm the bottle in a bath of warm water. DO NOT MICROWAVE. THIS WILL KILL THE YEAST!
My yeast mixture
In about a week or so the plants should be flourishing. If not then there are other factors that may be effecting the photosynthesis such as the lighting, how much lighting, water quality, and water temperature.
HAPPY FISH KEEPING!
AQUARIUM UPDATE
After a long and time consuming school year, I now have the time to regularly update my blog. There have been a lot of changes regarding my fish and tank setups. I now have three fresh water tanks running. Two of which are 10 gallons, the third is a 55 gallon long tank.
The two 10 gallon tanks
In the 10 gallon on the left there are two neon's, and a plecostomus catfish. In the 10 gallon on the right there are three adult guppies (two females one male), sevin six week old baby guppies, twelve four week old baby guppies, ten 2 week old baby guppies, one HUGE 5 inch plecostomus catfish, one two-inch long ghost shrimp, and two zebra fish.
My 5" catfish
The six week old guppies
The four and two week old baby guppies
The New Tank
The 55 gallon features: two Penguin 330 filters by Marineland, one Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 200W by Marineland, one Whisperer 60 air pump by Tetra Tech, real drift wood, real rocks, live plants, three airstones, and one DIY CO2 diffuser. Later I plan on upgrading the filters to one Ehime canister filter, a T5 overhead 48" lighting system, and maby starting a saltwater tank.
The fish include: two blue gouramis, four tiger barbs, one plecostomus catfish, and two bala sharks. Fish wise, I plan on adding a cobalt blue lobster, and more gouramis.
The four tiger barbs
The two bala sharks
One of the gouramis
Stay tuned for more pictures and fish updates!
The two 10 gallon tanksIn the 10 gallon on the left there are two neon's, and a plecostomus catfish. In the 10 gallon on the right there are three adult guppies (two females one male), sevin six week old baby guppies, twelve four week old baby guppies, ten 2 week old baby guppies, one HUGE 5 inch plecostomus catfish, one two-inch long ghost shrimp, and two zebra fish.
My 5" catfish
The six week old guppies
The four and two week old baby guppiesThe New Tank
The 55 gallon features: two Penguin 330 filters by Marineland, one Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 200W by Marineland, one Whisperer 60 air pump by Tetra Tech, real drift wood, real rocks, live plants, three airstones, and one DIY CO2 diffuser. Later I plan on upgrading the filters to one Ehime canister filter, a T5 overhead 48" lighting system, and maby starting a saltwater tank.
The fish include: two blue gouramis, four tiger barbs, one plecostomus catfish, and two bala sharks. Fish wise, I plan on adding a cobalt blue lobster, and more gouramis.
The four tiger barbs
The two bala sharks
One of the gouramisStay tuned for more pictures and fish updates!
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