Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
I'm setting up a 6.6 mini-reef... naturally a refugium isn't going to work for this since its a small tank, no overflow boxes, too strong return pumps, not enough space etc.. So.. I did some thinking and decided to do something a little different! How about a side refugium? Let me explain... as this might sound really silly at first.
What is a refugium?
For those who aren't too sure the purpose of refugiums and are beginners (so everybody can follow along I'll explain everything's purpose
) A refugium is an aquarium connected to the main tank.. inside the refugium you can store all your equipt, skimmers, etc. Unlike sumps which serve the same purpose, refugiums have a compartment (or the entire thing..) which contains extra sand, rock, macro-algae, and a perfect breeding ground for helpful copepods since some fish graze on them. The macro eats up more nitrates lowering them in the main tank. The rock, as said lets more stuff breed like pods and its consitured a bio-media itself having bacteria that clean and keep the water stable. Sumps/refugiums also add extra water volume to the tank making the chores involving water easier and easier since the bigger the tank the easier it is. In my case I'm trying to house a small mantis in my refugium to seperate it from the mini-reef which will contain a community of shrimps like harlequins, sexy, bumblebee, etc.
The Equiptment used
I will be using the following items for this project:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4392+4409&pcatid=4409
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804454
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3963
Model 100 of this:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12320
http://www.petco.com/product/14978/...etco Bookshelf Freshwater Fish Aquarium-14978
A heater which I can't find...
Some books, wood, what I can scavenge.
And a peice of pvc or CPVC which ever seems more on hand or better.
In short description, the cube is the refugium, the skimmer is the return pump. The bookshelf tank is the 6.6 mini-reef. The return is in the main tank, and the overflow is in the refugium. Since they both are the same height, the cube will be raised using books or anything I can find.
The build
The Cube will be raised up higher because everything is the same height. The cube will be drilled on the side, much like an overflow box has those drilled out lines.
sorry for my poor computer drawing skills but this is a basic idea of the drilled holes in the top corner. Since this is the smaller tank it will easily be raised up higher no problem with books or the like. Naturally books would be a bad choice because of looks and water spills so I'll have to find something that looks more smooth and fitting. Water will overflow through the top of the refugium back in the tank...
Ok so now how is it not going to overflow onto the floor? Well, this is where the silicone and pipe comes in. I'm going to seal a pipe all around the holes, this way it overflows... and a pipe guides it to the tank. The tank's sides are angled so this would make the pipe face more down.. directly into the tank :thumbsup: Now, I was suggested to just cut one big hole, insert the entire pipe, cap it, and cut the overflow holes in the cap. The problem with that is this tank is small... it will be darker on one side because it will block the light. I'm also putting a tiny mantis in here too so I can't use bulkheads or open pipes either. This would be a more safer way to do it.. not to mention I may even ruin the support of the tank as I would need the hole big enough to handle the return.
Again.. sorry for the poor computer drawing skills, but the pipe will go over the overflow holes, which will catch water from spilling and guide it right into the tank! I will use saltwater safe silicone to seal and glue the pipe to the side of the tank.
The return is something very very creative... The mini-reef will contain corals so water quality needs to be good.. I'm also adding harlequin shrimp which will kill the water quality from rotting starfish... and in such a small tank maybe even nuke it.. meaning a skimmer is a must! Now we can all picture trying to put a skimmer in the 1.5 gallon refugium...
It ain't happening.. a hang-on skimmer would be the best for this and even so the tank isn't long enough to fit the intake+the outtake... so what I came up with is... what if the intake was in one tank.. and the outtake was in the other? I already had the skimmer on me, I'm going to use the skimmer as the return.. I like to call this.. the skimturn!.. get it? anyone?... ah well..:strange:
The Bio-wheel filter will just be a filter.. I'll put it in the main tank. Since the skimmer is all built together I can't move the intake more towards the other side of the tank so I'll put the filter there then.
What made me want to come up with this?
Well the main whole purpose was for a mantis shrimp I got (N. Wrennerae), and I didn't want to put it in a container in a refugium under my other tanks so I can't see it... and I also didn't want any extra electric running, so after looking at the skimmer I thought about drilling the 6.6 gallon and doing a similar build. Instead I decided to go the opposite direction! I figured either way I'll have the same electric running.
I have not started anything yet. I have everything but the pipe and silicone.. I even got the drillbits to drill the tank.. I have tested them on a critter cage and they work just fine. I'm waiting to get the silicone and pvc before I begin. I thought I'd share my idea and setup before I get ahead of myself (which I do). If everything goes as planned I'll keep updating throughout the entire build :spin1:
Please aware me of any problems I may have as this will be my first DIY.
What is a refugium?
For those who aren't too sure the purpose of refugiums and are beginners (so everybody can follow along I'll explain everything's purpose
) A refugium is an aquarium connected to the main tank.. inside the refugium you can store all your equipt, skimmers, etc. Unlike sumps which serve the same purpose, refugiums have a compartment (or the entire thing..) which contains extra sand, rock, macro-algae, and a perfect breeding ground for helpful copepods since some fish graze on them. The macro eats up more nitrates lowering them in the main tank. The rock, as said lets more stuff breed like pods and its consitured a bio-media itself having bacteria that clean and keep the water stable. Sumps/refugiums also add extra water volume to the tank making the chores involving water easier and easier since the bigger the tank the easier it is. In my case I'm trying to house a small mantis in my refugium to seperate it from the mini-reef which will contain a community of shrimps like harlequins, sexy, bumblebee, etc. The Equiptment used
I will be using the following items for this project:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4392+4409&pcatid=4409
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804454
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3963
Model 100 of this:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12320
http://www.petco.com/product/14978/...etco Bookshelf Freshwater Fish Aquarium-14978
A heater which I can't find...
Some books, wood, what I can scavenge.
And a peice of pvc or CPVC which ever seems more on hand or better.
In short description, the cube is the refugium, the skimmer is the return pump. The bookshelf tank is the 6.6 mini-reef. The return is in the main tank, and the overflow is in the refugium. Since they both are the same height, the cube will be raised using books or anything I can find.
The build
The Cube will be raised up higher because everything is the same height. The cube will be drilled on the side, much like an overflow box has those drilled out lines.
Ok so now how is it not going to overflow onto the floor? Well, this is where the silicone and pipe comes in. I'm going to seal a pipe all around the holes, this way it overflows... and a pipe guides it to the tank. The tank's sides are angled so this would make the pipe face more down.. directly into the tank :thumbsup: Now, I was suggested to just cut one big hole, insert the entire pipe, cap it, and cut the overflow holes in the cap. The problem with that is this tank is small... it will be darker on one side because it will block the light. I'm also putting a tiny mantis in here too so I can't use bulkheads or open pipes either. This would be a more safer way to do it.. not to mention I may even ruin the support of the tank as I would need the hole big enough to handle the return.
The return is something very very creative... The mini-reef will contain corals so water quality needs to be good.. I'm also adding harlequin shrimp which will kill the water quality from rotting starfish... and in such a small tank maybe even nuke it.. meaning a skimmer is a must! Now we can all picture trying to put a skimmer in the 1.5 gallon refugium...
It ain't happening.. a hang-on skimmer would be the best for this and even so the tank isn't long enough to fit the intake+the outtake... so what I came up with is... what if the intake was in one tank.. and the outtake was in the other? I already had the skimmer on me, I'm going to use the skimmer as the return.. I like to call this.. the skimturn!.. get it? anyone?... ah well..:strange:
The Bio-wheel filter will just be a filter.. I'll put it in the main tank. Since the skimmer is all built together I can't move the intake more towards the other side of the tank so I'll put the filter there then.
What made me want to come up with this?
Well the main whole purpose was for a mantis shrimp I got (N. Wrennerae), and I didn't want to put it in a container in a refugium under my other tanks so I can't see it... and I also didn't want any extra electric running, so after looking at the skimmer I thought about drilling the 6.6 gallon and doing a similar build. Instead I decided to go the opposite direction! I figured either way I'll have the same electric running.
I have not started anything yet. I have everything but the pipe and silicone.. I even got the drillbits to drill the tank.. I have tested them on a critter cage and they work just fine. I'm waiting to get the silicone and pvc before I begin. I thought I'd share my idea and setup before I get ahead of myself (which I do). If everything goes as planned I'll keep updating throughout the entire build :spin1:
Please aware me of any problems I may have as this will be my first DIY.
