My Rivertank Manifold (now working!)

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi all,

I decided to join the idea of having a rivertank like.

I spent R$ 31.80 (about US$ 20.00) on pipe stuff. here are some photos:












I will use 3x2000 L/h powerheads (already here).

I´m now taking courage to take all fishes out of the tank to settle it up.

I´m also thinking on taking advantage of situation and change to smaller gravel but guess this would need a couple weeks recicling before putting fishes back as most bacteria might be in the gravel. I´m not so sure what to do...

what do you think? Would you keep gravel as it is or upgrade to smaller one (of course smaller gravel is desireble for loaches - I mean... is it worth it?)?
I do have a smaller tank (200 liters) where loaches could wait. My Oscar could go to a big bucket while wait 450 liters with manifold and new gravel to improve some extra bacteria.

Regards!

[zmo63]

Your tank is so gorgeous - this is going to be quite the undertaking! I like the color of the pvc - it's a little less jarring than the stark white (although it'll all end up the same color when it's covered with algae I'm sure!).

I've heard of people filling a nylon stocking with some of the old gravel and just setting it in the tank for a while to preserve some of that bacteria until the new gravel colonizes. I don't know if that's the best idea or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there for someone more experience to comment on.

[capeldrae]

If at all possible to keep us updated with pics

[newshound]

just change 1/2 of it at a time
most of the bacteria you want to save is in the filter (hopefully) anyway.
have fun

[Mark in Vancouver]

Great news, Marco. Like Capeldrae, I'd love to see photos.

You must like big projects!

[Graeme Robson]

Looking good Marcos!!

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Single thing is keeping me from setting it up soon is really the gravel. I´m really considering benefits x danger of changing the gravel...

I´ll keep you posted with photos as soon as I decide what to do. Cross your fingers!

[Tinman]

Siphon your gravel out now a bit at a time until the big day, then it is a non factor No gravel ....use sand. You will be SO happy

[brett_fishman]

just take out 1/4 or 1/3 of the gravel with a two week interval, then after all the old stuff is gone, put your new gravel/sand in.. will you be keeping the fish in the tank during the gravel change? if so, obviously keep all decor and plants in the tank to provide some shelter

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi guys,

Today was the day to set up the manifold. I started removing rocks, woods and decor at 10am.

Some wood waiting to go back to tank:


Vaccumming whole gravel:



Just water, gravel and fishes:




Bad news is that, for the first time since I set up this tank, I could count each loach one by one and noticed that 3 clown loaches are missing since start. I thought it was 26 (actually I put 26 there) but there were only 23. Not a glimpse of a clue where are they.

After all fishes were transfered to my 200 liter tank we could start the work by first removing the gravel:


Two guys from petshop that I asked help for setting up the system:


Time for manifold:


At start, cloud water:




Little help from extra 2 Whisper60 (1250 L/h each) to uncloud the water:



After a few minutes, water was pretty uncloud and fishes were moved back to main tank:


Two shots of them at the 200 liter tank:


My two Jack Dempsey, Botia modesta, Botia helodes and 3 Corydoras latus will stay at 200 liter tank for now.

They were finaly back home! Guess what was the first thing they went to try?





I also made this short video showing them beeing dragged by the 6,000 L/h flow:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Hvwqvpiyg

Hope you like it!

[Diana]

Looking good!
That gravel does not look too big. If you still think you want to replace it do it in stages. A lot of the bacteria is in the established filters, and the River Tank manifold sponges will grow a good colony, too. The loss of perhaps 1/4 to 1/3 of the gravel every couple of weeks should not cause cycling problems.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Thanks Diana but I decided to keep this gravel. It is done!

[wasserscheu]

Very nice project Marcos. Enjoying your great pictures of your very nice looking fish too - cool.

[LoachOrgy]

how are you getting air into your jethead? is there a plastic tube going to the surface from your jethead?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Nop,

No plastic air tubes. There are 2 hang-on AquaClear 70 external filters that shakes a lot water surface. No need for pumping air.