Link to photos and description of my 4x8 closed system

Jim Bright · December 03, 2016, 02:19:19 PM

Hope the link works and helps some folks. If you read it and have any suggestions to improve my setup post em up.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byj7b43Xpb-8dFR5dGMzNXpqNG8/view?usp=drivesdk

CraigFos · December 03, 2016, 03:13:27 PM

The link works for me. Nice system.

How many shedders and you have in the system at a time?

Jim Bright · December 03, 2016, 03:51:56 PM

Thanks. I'm small time, most I had this summer was prob 5 doz, and I was okay with that, the fewer I had in there the better they seemed to shed. Too many and I had a bunch get hung up. I didn't measure 02 once but I think that low 02 was prob my issue. I'd like to figure out a way to give the tank some more shade next season. We had a ho summer in MD and the tank

rdbeard · December 05, 2016, 08:58:36 AM

Jim, where is th water returning after the filter uh and where is the filter. Do you have water flow through the system? do you have a pump?

Jim Bright · December 05, 2016, 11:38:04 AM

Quote from: rdbeard on December 05, 2016, 08:58:36 AM
Jim, where is th water returning after the filter uh and where is the filter. Do you have water flow through the system? do you have a pump?

I tried to show that starting on page 5. I think some of the images are slow to load, but I you scroll down there should be 9 pages total.

rdbeard · December 05, 2016, 12:36:16 PM

it will not scroll for me , my computer? or others same problm?

Crabbyd · December 05, 2016, 12:43:03 PM

Quote from: rdbeard on December 05, 2016, 12:36:16 PM
it will not scroll for me , my computer? or others same problm?

I could see all 9 pages with pics.

CraigFos · December 05, 2016, 01:35:05 PM

Quote from: Crabbyd on December 05, 2016, 12:43:03 PM
I could see all 9 pages with pics.

Me too.

Mikie · December 05, 2016, 02:57:16 PM

I doubt that the "aspirator" tube really has much benefit. Having more pressure on the water as it is introduced into the tank should provide plenty of oxygen.

Jim Bright · December 05, 2016, 05:55:36 PM

I'd be interested to learn more about that. So the way have it set up the water shoots out from 6 different holes would it be better to replumb it and only use two holes to increase the pressure? Would that improve my oxygen levels?

Mikie · December 05, 2016, 09:12:54 PM

You would have to experiment with that (just wrap some tape around one or two of the holes to see if you get increased pressure squirting the water into the tank). Just put a cap on the top of the "aspirator" tube, if the water is just sitting in there, it's not adding any oxygen anyway. The water would have to be shooting by the opening, acting like an eductor to actually pull in any air.

capt. ron · December 05, 2016, 09:15:04 PM

buy a larger pump that produces more pressure. Lowes and Depot have them. A pond pump that produces 21 feet of head pressure. Drill your holes every 5 inches on a 7' piece of PVC pipe.

Hawkeye · December 05, 2016, 10:58:24 PM

Quote from: capt. ron on December 05, 2016, 09:15:04 PM
buy a larger pump that produces more pressure. Lowes and Depot have them. A pond pump that produces 21 feet of head pressure. Drill your holes every 5 inches on a 7' piece of PVC pipe.

you can also get pumps from retailers that deal in the ornamental fish hobby.

marinedepot.com
championlighting.com
thatfishplace.com

I've ordered from all of these sites and they are reputable. No tax, free shipping if you order over a certain amount.

Anyways I would wait for a holiday weekend for sales to appear - you just missed a good one for black friday.

rdbeard · December 06, 2016, 07:39:10 AM

When i made my spray tube from 2 in pvc i drill too many hole and had little pressure. The hole i drilled were 3/8 and all i did was screw a ss bolt and forced it into evry other hole, good pressure now

capt. ron · December 06, 2016, 04:16:05 PM

I think I drilled 1/8" holes. Plenty pressure. 3/8" is a little big.

Jim Bright · December 06, 2016, 04:50:57 PM

I'll try the tape fix or just plug some holes with screws and see if that increases the pressure. Or maybe I'll just throw a new pipe in there and drill smaller holes and try to use the pump I have one more season.
Question--will increased pressure on the spray definitely increase my oxygen levels? One other question--will other thoughts on the aspirator?

rdbeard · December 07, 2016, 09:02:35 AM

when the water sprays in under some pressure and breaks the surface this ands a good amount of oxygen . on my set up where the water from tank falls thru a staand pipe into the bio filter it really does well adding oxyen, or atleast i've never had a problem with low ox levels.

double E · December 07, 2016, 09:31:16 AM

This is exactly the type of system I want to build during the off season this year. My only concern is the summer heat and the water getting to hot. It will be located in full shade but I was also thinking about putting it right next to my walk-in and placing the filter in the walk-in to help maintain the water temp, it is kept at 52* all summer. Any thoughts would be great, also any idea what the ideal water temp is for shedding them?

Mikie · December 07, 2016, 11:12:01 AM

According to the studies I have read, 70 - 80 degrees is the optimum temp for the water.

Jim Bright · December 07, 2016, 10:02:38 PM

My photos don't show it too well but i tried to dig down a bit before I put the bio filter under the tank. I also read 70° range was optimal and one source suggested installing the filter half underground to help cool the water. Not sure it helped, but I figured it couldn't hurt.