Kathy's new growout system build.

Sorry- got caught up in other things, Tal- here you go :
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wm-aquaculture/2012/02/11/clownfish-for-beginners
 
looking forward to it, Kathy

Michelle  
 

Thanks, I think.  No pressure….Like I said, don't expect a lot.

Today I drilled the hole in the sump for the overflow.  Yay! It only took 2 trips to home depot to realize that I already had the right hole saw ( and didn't need to spend $25 for a new one), and get all the parts for connecting it to the hose that goes to the floor drain.  I also installed the float valve that connects the sump to the un-salty water top-off container.
 
To contain the kaldnes media, I cut a sheet of perforated PVC to the correct dimensions plus 1/2 inch on the width, so I could arch/wedge this divider into the sump to keep the media in the right half of the sump.  I think its going to work.  It is arched so that any pressure from the media or the water flow will only press it more tightly against the walls of the sump.
 
I had this perforated PVC sheet lying around the garage for a couple of years.  I think it was UsA Plastics was offering free shipping a couple of years ago, briefly, so I thought it would be a good time to buy something unwieldy, like sheets of perforated plastic.  I'm glad I did, hoarder that I am.
 
It has come in handy.  I used a small section already as a tank divider, and it worked great.  Lets hope this holds up for the sump, or I'll have to resort to something more permanent, like glue. Ew.

I am filling the sump and tanks, Yay! All leaks are gone. Kaldnes media in half the sump. Air stones and air in place.  Progress!

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.

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.

-Adam

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.
 
 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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..

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

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

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

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.

check out Kathy's Clowns, llc website:
http://kathysclowns.com
Captive bred clownfish and more
(Wholesale to the trade.)

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

check out Kathy's Clowns, llc website:
http://kathysclowns.com
Captive bred clownfish and more
(Wholesale to the trade.)

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:

check out Kathy's Clowns, llc website:
http://kathysclowns.com
Captive bred clownfish and more
(Wholesale to the trade.)

 
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!

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

Don't let fear and common sense stop you! =]

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.

What a nice thing to say! Thanks.

check out Kathy's Clowns, llc website:
http://kathysclowns.com
Captive bred clownfish and more
(Wholesale to the trade.)