River tank

froggurl · Post by **froggurl** » 31 Aug 2005, 12:28

Hi Whitepine.Just wanted to say that I absolutely love the tank that you have set up! I've had aquariums most of my life,but always just had the basics.I've been trying to learn all about Powerheads,CO2 Hookups,etc.because a tank like yours is exactly what I've always wanted.Now I can look over the equipment that you've used,and go out and buy it,or something quite similar,I'm just wondering how easy it is to figure out/set up,with no sort of knowledge or background with that kind of stuff.

How are the inhabitants doing? Any signs of spawning yet? Would love for you to continue this thread! Absolutely beautiful.

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 02 Sep 2005, 08:32

I went on vacation and when I got back I had a little setback. I lost 2 of my gold nuggets. I am looking into getting a few more, but I want big ones... so it may take sometime before I find them. I have been wanting to redo this tank and I think that this is the perfect opportunity.

I am thinking of using a large inline pump hooked up similar toPleco farmers set up http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9957 but with an undergravel filter like in my tank. The hook up to the inline pump would be via flexable tubing and run on the back inside of the tank. You could tuck it behind a piece of drift wood or large rock really easy. I would then run a spray bar on the end of the tank. Again this would be similar to what pleco farmer has set up. The size of the inline pump would be pretty large... an output around 1000 gph would work great. The first week or two, I would imagine there would be a pretty big current, but it would slow down after that. If you used an acrylic tank, you could plumb the pump on the outside pretty easy, and if you where worried about heat build up you could use a sump.

If you need help or have any questions, pm.

Cheers, Whitepine

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 03 Sep 2005, 20:15

I'm sorry for your loss, Whitepine.

ruby2509 · Post by **ruby2509** » 01 Dec 2005, 20:40

Sorry for asking, but what species of plants did you use in the tank? My LFS only stocks Amamzon Swords, Cambodas, and a few others. I have recently heard that you can get packs of plants from http://www.java-plants.com?

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 02 Dec 2005, 02:19

The plant species I used are listed in the first page along with the setup of the tank... or check my signature.

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 11 Dec 2005, 06:20

I have redone the pumps on this tank. I hooked up an Rioâ?¢ -Hyper Flo- HF 20 (1290 gph) in line. I will up date pictures soon.

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 21 Dec 2005, 06:13

I finally got around to snaping a few pictures of the "new" setup. The pump is hidden in the right hand corner behind the rocks and val. I also got some bigger nuggets to replace the others a few weeks ago... and they seem to be fitting right in.

- - - Every one just hanging out

Please let me know what you all think now.

Cheers, Whitepine

Owch · Post by **Owch** » 21 Dec 2005, 16:08

Nice, very nice indeed.

Well done.

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 21 Dec 2005, 22:38

That looks good, I like the way you've terraced the back right corner where the val is growing, and the way the flow leads into the more densly planted left hand side appears to work well.

blueguava · Post by **blueguava** » 26 Dec 2005, 22:14

Nice looking tank WELL DONE!

Kind Regards

djw66 · Post by **djw66** » 27 Dec 2005, 05:47

I've been watching this thread for some time now and I must say you've done a wonderful job with your river tank. I wonder why the two GN died? Disease is most likely out, as the other GN are fine . . .worrying.

As a reef aquarist, I do admire your creative use of PVC; that and teflon tape are old friends of mine

. Never tried cyano glue in marine water . . .

With the size of the substrate and the down current through it, I would imagine the aereobic bacteria are having a heyday. What are the current water parameters in the tank? I would imagine no ammonia or nitrite, but nitrate could be all over the place; the strong plant growth will consume a good deal of it for its O2 content, but I was wondering about its level over time with the deep aereobic zone breaking down ammonia and nitrite to nitrate at breakneck speed. The space below the plate could be considered a plenum, and the anoxic zone (aka low oxygen area) could be breaking down the nitrate to elemental nitrogen, or to ammonium and back to nitrate, depending on the O2 there.

Just call me curious; I'd like to know the water qualities over time in a tank with a system like yours, iffin' you don't mind . . .

Dave

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 27 Dec 2005, 06:21

djw66 wrote: The space below the plate could be considered a plenum, and the anoxic zone (aka low oxygen area) could be breaking down the nitrate to elemental nitrogen, or to ammonium and back to nitrate, depending on the O2 there.

I haven't taken any vitals on this tank in a while... it seemed so stable. The plate returns water and I have both a venturi device and a few airstones running constantly. So I would imagine that there is a very high dissolved o2 level in the tank(running through the plate return). I actually just unhooked the co2 system as it seemed to be cruising through co2.... probably due to the large surface agitation.

I will take some tests before the next water change and see what it shows. Also, don't forget that I do pretty large water changes(about 40%) on this tank weekly. It also seems that the current has slowed a little in the last week as the new pump settles in(which I thought would happen).

Cheers, Whitepine

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 29 Dec 2005, 07:25

I checked all the Water parameters:

ph 6.9
kh 2
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 5
Nitrite 0

Everyone seems to be happy... and my cherry shrimp have started to breed in the tank again.

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 29 Dec 2005, 15:56

Whitepine,
It sounds as if the Cherry Shrimp are getting along nicely. Did you have any problems introducing them, such as the other occupants eating all of them?

Amanda

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 08 Mar 2006, 02:57

Shrimp looking good...nice and red. I didn't notice anyone eating the shrimp and the population seems to be growning

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 08 Aug 2006, 22:28

I probably have over 100 cherries in this tank Now! I will try and get some pictures of the shrimp after I feed... they seem to come out of the woodwork

redzebra24 · Post by **redzebra24** » 11 Aug 2006, 03:12

wow nice tank

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 26 Oct 2006, 19:01

I need to up date this... I will post some new pictures this weekend.

layneypupu · Post by **layneypupu** » 06 Nov 2006, 04:09

i tried cherry shrimp, they never made it to the gravel in my tank. were snacks on the way down LOL

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 10 Feb 2007, 07:12

I just changed out the ecco for a pro II canister.. the flow is so much better.

pel · Post by **pel** » 10 Jul 2012, 22:25

Is this tank still alive? It's one of the nicest rivertanks i have seen on the net and everytime i look at those pictures i start dreaming about possible setupts!

Bijn · Post by **Bijn** » 10 Jul 2012, 23:44

More than 5 years, this could be a record!

Post by **Birger** » 11 Jul 2012, 00:55

Thats alright, someone was just asking about river tank setups in another thread, this is a good example.

Birger

pel · Post by **pel** » 11 Jul 2012, 09:22

it's definately worth asking.. i love that setup!

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 14 Jul 2012, 05:13

Unfortunately I moved and had to break down the tank and it has never been the same. I will take a picture of its current state and I have been thinking of "redoing" this tank.

Cheers, Whitepine

pel · Post by **pel** » 31 Jul 2012, 16:05

cool! I am really curious to see what you did with it!

WhitePine · Post by **WhitePine** » 29 Sep 2012, 04:22

i m rebuildng the plumbing on this tank. i will post pictures when i get a chance.

pel · Post by **pel** » 29 Sep 2012, 14:13

YEAAAAHAAA! Great! I am really looking forward to see what you are doing there!

River tank

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