Kathy's new growout system build.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:51:41 GMT

What a nice thing to say! Thanks.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (president89)

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:20:41 GMT

Originally Posted by KathyL

What I didn't learn in college:
1. Two by Fours are really One and a half by Three and a half, mostly.
2. Some Two by Fours are skinnier than other Two by Fours. If you are using a small piece to test the dado size, make sure it is from the same batch of wood that will be the long beam. Fortunately, my beam piece of lumber was slightly fatter than my test piece, so the beam fit snuggly, or I could shave off a bit of the dado to make it fit snuggly. If it had been narrower than the test piece, it would have fit loosely, and I would have had to make another trip to the lumberyard.
3. I learned "measure it twice, cut once", but nobody told me to "measure it twice, square it twice, cut once". I finished cutting dados in all 6 uprights, only to find that I had cut them all slightly downhill, so the beam could not possibly have set level. And if the beam isn't level, the tanks won't be level. I'll use that wood for something else...
4. When you make several parallel cuts in order to remove material from within a potential dado, one must make sure the cuts are all the way through. (Partial cuts don't leave a nice surface.) Then one can knock the bits out with a hammer, and that works more cleanly than a chizel. It's kinda fun.
5. 19 year old sons are wonderfully helpful.

Kathy, I love reading and re-reading this thread. This part of your Journey and the way you describe it is awesome! This particular part should be a sticky on the DIY section of the board.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (EasterEggs)

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:10:30 GMT

Great idea on the folding table! I might have to steal that one...

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (mPedersen)

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:21:21 GMT

Originally Posted by KathyL

I became employed again after the last posting on this build, so that's why I haven't extended this thread until now.

Congrats on that!!!

Table looks like something I saw at James Blegen's garage fishroom...fold out is where it's at; I'm gonna have to figure something like this out!

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:11:26 GMT

The back edge of the table is supported by a cleat screwed into the stand. The hinges are on either side of the cleat, so the table folds up rather flush with the side of the stand.
Here is the hinge detail:

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:08:17 GMT

I became employed again after the last posting on this build, so that's why I haven't extended this thread until now. I built a smaller version of this system to replace the other small system in my basement, and this time I painted it red, inspired by Tal Sweet's use of color in his fish room. I have stand alone tanks on the top level, 15 gallons each, and presently I'm using the lower level for storage although it was designed to hold tanks. There is no plumbing on this system, although the tanks all have glued in standpipes and the stand is designed to accomodate under tank drains. I'm using it for larval tanks which don't need circulation right now. I can also put some BRTs on the lower level if I want.

I needed a place to put large fish boxes so I could more efficiently get fish packed for shipping, so I designed and built in a day, this fold away shipping table. In the spirit of "Perfect is the enemy of Good Enough" I dare to show you this rough but functional DIY:
Here is the table folded away

The legs pulled out

The unfolded table, ready for work

How the hinges are arranged on the folded up leg

Unfolding...

Fully functional leg

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:51:55 GMT

I don't. Right now it is covered in salt creep and looks rather ugly, but it successfully supported about a thousand clownfish at one time, at various stages of development, and could likely support more. My basement is very crowded, so it is hard to get a shot of the completed project. I'll try again to get a picture when I have time to clean it up.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (president89)

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:19:11 GMT

Hey Kathy, do you have any pictures of how this turned out?

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (simo2004)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:41:35 GMT

Thanks for the info kathy will be watching the post will let you know if my idea works of not in the back section.. cheers ian

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:13:41 GMT

you can do that, and that is approximately what I am trying.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (simo2004)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:35:03 GMT

yeah i have used a bottle before the problem is the tanks are only 270mm tall so will struggle with a bottle i was hoping i could use a air curtain in a circle of something to get it moving..

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:28:29 GMT

K1 works best in a round container with air coming in at the bottom. FishTal has a soda bottle one he made that may be good for the back of the tank you have pictured above.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (simo2004)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:21:12 GMT

Happy days don't suppose i can see a picture of this ? are you just using air stones or a curtain ? just trying to figure how best to run mine i want to run 2ltr in the back of my tank.. im having a separate tank for my Brood stock "clowns" about 13Gal Tank size

ain

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:14:59 GMT

Yes, I have the K1 in a section of my sump, and I tumble it with air. That is important, as you want the aerobic bacteria to collect on the little wheels. Aerobic bacteria are much more efficient than the anaerobic kind.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (simo2004)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:27:16 GMT

Thanks for the reply, from what i can make out K1 is the best material to use for harboring biological bacteria and then your using filter bags as your mechanical filters, i was going to use some air driven spung filters with this to.

so do you just have the K1 media in a section or do you use something to tumble it and keep it in suspension and in return its self cleaning and as it tumbles it knocks the bacteria off

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:34:09 GMT

Originally Posted by simo2004

Hi just wondered is the K1 media your only filtration ?

how do you plan on running this and how much media ?

ian

The K1 media is not my only filtration. It is only a surface upon which bacteria can colonize. I also filter the water through a 100 micron bag, the water enters the sump, and passes through the K1, then over the heaters and then the pump pushes it through the 40 watt UV filter. At the time I installed this UV, I was having a problem with cloudy water, and the UV made it chrystal clear. I think its absolutely essential in a larval system. When my UV was not working, I had problems with the clownfish larvae. After, I was much more successful raising them after metamorphosis. Actually all the water surfaces contribute to the filtration as well, as bacteria colonize on it. I also get rid of the crud that sediments in the tanks and the sump by siphoning it out.

I have several hundred babies in there now, and it seems to handle the ammonia and nitrite quite well. I have probably 3/4 of a cubic foot in there. About 240 gallons of water for the whole system. The media is only now starting to color, but it seems to be doing the job. I am happy with it so far.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (simo2004)

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:23:43 GMT

Hi just wondered is the K1 media your only filtration ?

how do you plan on running this and how much media ?

ian

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:44:51 GMT

I've sequestered the media into a drum like shape with another sheet of perforated PVC. One large airstone is clearing out the middle, and some of the media is moving. I think it will be fine.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (CableGuy)

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:48:23 GMT

My K1 took about a month to become fully boyant and turn a very light brown / tan color. Even today not all of it spins with the air/water flow.

Re:Kathy's new growout system build. (KathyL)

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:30:11 GMT

Kaldness media is starting to become more buoyant, although still white. I only have 2 tanks with clownfish babies at the moment, so there is not a lot of ammonia to work with.

I had Lowes cut some glass pieces for lids, but rectangular pieces don't go around the returns very well, or leave openings for the feeders. I got a lesson on glass cutting from my husband, and I am having a good time cutting pieces. I would like to drill holes for the feeders, but my husband's drill press is poorly equipped for large hole saws. I have a friend who has helped me in the past drill tanks with his drill press, so I guess I'll call on him again.