240ric Posted January 17, 2016 Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 In my attempt to create some TiBees, I decided to put together a dedicated breeder tank with a spare 10G I had laying around. I didn't want to spend too much money to get this going so I found a corner HMF DIY video on youtube and got inspired. I went out and bought the HMF material for this project from Home Depot and eBay, total cost $16.76, with a lot of material left over for more tanks. 10x11 45ppi reticulated foam: $6.49 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reticulated-Open-Cell-Foam-Sponge-Filter-Media-Aquarium-Fish-HMF-Sump-11-Fine-/281796095415?hash=item419c5b2db7:g:xYIAAOSw4SlV8UKW 3/4" PVC piping: $2.65 http://www.homedepot.com/p/JM-eagle-3-4-in-x-10-ft-PVC-Schedule-40-Plain-End-Pipe-57471/202280935 3/4" PVC elbow: $0.48 http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-in-Schedule-40-PVC-90-Degree-Elbow-C406-007/100347455 PVC L mould corner bead: $1.93 http://www.homedepot.com/p/Clark-Dietrich-10-ft-PVC-L-Mould-Corner-Bead-12VINL10H/202848954?keyword=l+bead+pvc GE Silicone I: $5.21 http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-All-Purpose-Silicone-I-10-1-oz-Clear-Window-and-Door-Caulk-GE012A-24C/100091111 I installed the L brackets with silicone approximately 6.25" from the corners and am waiting for the silicone to cure. I will install the foam in the next couple days, fill the tank, and start the cycle. Hopefully in 3-4 weeks, I can add some OEBTs and TBs from my main tank . Soothing Shrimp, Shrimple minded and Shrimp Life 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted January 17, 2016 Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 Looks good. They dont sell anything more than a 90 bend? I remember reading somewhere that the reason why diy jet lifters don't produce as much flow as Swiss tropicals was because of the 90 degree bend. Loumeer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted January 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 I tested it in a bucket and flow seems to be adequate. We'll see how it performs when I actually install it in the tank with the foam installed. I looked at homedepot.com and did see this PVC elbow. I may test it out since it only cost $0.80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayphly Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 The trick in creating the "jet" effect which alows more air to enter the pipe and in return better water flow is the series of tiny (pin) holes drilled in a certain pattern at the bottom of the tube. There's about 20-30 tiny holes drilled in a diagonal pattern Not my pic. Just for reference EricM and Vpier 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted January 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Thanks mayphly for the tip. I just watched that video on YouTube and may try that. mayphly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Bought a 1 to 1-1/4 tube adapter in my attempt to create a jet-pipe. Got a little bit more flow than my first attempt but nothing dramatic. Maybe the holes I drilled in the pipe were too big. Anyway, I'm satisfied with the output of the lift tube so I started the fishless cycle. Added some pre-seeded media from my main tank to accelerate the cycle. Will add the substrate soon but wanted to start getting some bacteria built up on the foam while I decide which route to go, active or inert substrate. I have a bag of Brightwell Rio Escuro XF and a bag of Flora-max ready to go. I have Brightwell in my main tank, but I may attempt to use the Flora-max with Sera Super Peat to bring the PH down, and salty bee shrimp GH+ to bring the GH to 5. Any thoughts? h4n and mayphly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 SL-Aqua Soil finally cleared customs after over a week, now just waiting on the container to be delivered! http://www.discobee.com/collections/sl-aqua/products/sl-aqua-nature-soil Looks really good. I like the rails to hold the sponge in place! Shrimple minded and infamouz23 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I was concerned that the rails would not be sturdy enough since Swiss Tropicals uses glass for their corner HMF design. After installing them in with silicone, the rails are solid and doesn't flex as much as I thought it would. It would be better if the rails were a darker color, but this is not intended to be a show tank. The YouTube video where I got the rail idea from said to paint the rails black to match the foam. Not sure what kind of paint is aquarium safe, so I was not going to chance shrimp death for tank asthetics. EricM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Krylon Fusion is safe. its widely used in SW setups and I've used it before to hide white PVC pipes in shrimp tanks. Shrimple minded 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Wow, didn't know that. When I think of spray paint, I think of nasty chemicals leaching into the water. I used Krylon Fusion black to paint the back of my main shrimp tank, and the outside glass of the HMF compartment of this tank. EricM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Added Brightwell Rio Escuro substrate and completed cycling of the tank. Added a couple of Snow White test shrimp tonight. If all goes well, this weekend I will be moving some TB and CRS from my main tank. Decided to keep the OEBT in my main tank for now. Instead, I am in the market for some Tibees for this tank, but may just buy some TT in the next couple of weeks and create my own. mayphly and Vpier 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted February 17, 2016 Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Tank looks really good! Seemed to of cycled relatively quick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks! I just pulled a fine filter from the cannister filter from my main shrimp tank and stuck it in the hmf compartment to speed up the cycle. I'm pretty sure the hmf foam is fully seeded by now, but will leave the fine filter in there for a few months just in case. The longest part of the cycle was getting the nitrite level to zero. EricM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ric Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Got some Pseudo Tibees, an RKK, and a BKK from Mayphly today. Great patterns from this batch. First time buying from him and most likely not the last. Will move a couple more RKKs and BKKs into this tank and I guess we'll see what pops out. Vpier and Wygglz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vpier Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Got some Pseudo Tibees, an RKK, and a BKK from Mayphly today. Great patterns from this batch. First time buying from him and most likely not the last. Will move a couple more RKKs and BKKs into this tank and I guess we'll see what pops out. tibee3.JPG tibee2.JPG tibee1.JPG I bought some awesome pseudo's from Andy. Just wait till they get bigger, the colors get better. I have one that is mind blowing. Mine are starting to get berried. Mayphly is the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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