Air Distribution System Part II

Disclaimer: This is the blogger own interpretation of his air system. Take note that this is not a guide but merely to share the project that he has made. Blogger will not be held responsible for any wet floor and lecture from the wife. Thank you.

Here's an update that I'm trying to do to my current rack.

First off, let me explain the number of tanks that I envision and decided to have on this rack.

Top Level: 5x Gex Tank Size S -> Pending. Will get this in future.
3rd Level: 5x Gex Tank Size M
2nd Level: 5x Gex Tank Size M
Bottom Level: 2x 45cm Glass Tank (Planted Tank)

Reference to my previous attempts at the distribution system, it is working fine. I added 5 more single valve to each level.

Now I decided revamp the whole thing. I plan to add the 5x Gex Tank Size S on the top most.

The equipments I used as follows:

Hi Blow 40 Air Pump

16mm PVC Pipes

Elbow Joints 

Tee Joints

One Way Air Valve

Teflon Tape

Black Air Tubing

PVC Cutter

Silicon

Zip Ties (Cable Ties)

I did a plan on Word so that it'll be easier for me to follow. It's a simple construction.

Did a small scale just to see how it looks. The sides have already been measured. Horizontal pipe is about 4ft long.

As you can see, the top most tier, I have yet to install the one way valve yet. Will do that later.

Anyway, that's it. It's pretty simple but I took a lot longer as I was doing maintenance for the tanks as well. I had fun doing mine; hope you have yours. Good luck.

Update Status - January

Hello Folks!!

I know it's late but heck, Happy New Year!!! Here's wishing you fish folks great success in your projects.

Now, due to some personal matters and coming down with sore stomach and gastritis, I was not able to update further on my progress with the racks and some mini projects I was in.

Rack
Currently, my rack consist of 10 Gex M Size tanks and 2 45cm glass tanks (using these two for my planted tank)

Air Distribution
Previously, you saw from my other post that I added only 5 air valve on each level. Now, that wasn't a good idea. The worst thing you can do is allowing back pressure to occur. So each level now has 10 valves.

Valves not used are inserted with tube, air stone and turn on.

Vinegar Eels
I was doing a post on this half way but kinda lost a few pictures. I will try to update on this when I can. It's pretty simple to culture them but I find baby brine shrimps (bbs) is easier to feed my fish. They go crazy for them.

Lighting
I went to some hardware store near my office and found that they sell these lights. It's great! Bright and I'm using it on one right now to try it out. Will add to the rest of the levels if this one works well.

BBS
I came across one of the groups on facebook; a gentleman selling brine shrimp eggs. I went on to look on how these shrimps are hatched and its benefits and disadvantages. Do check out my post on it. I feed all my fish brine shrimps once a day or two. Guppies love them!

Albino Metal Red Guppy
I got in contact with a gentleman who could get me a pair of this. It comes from Taiwan and the videos on the strain and its quality was awesome! Arriving on the 20th January! I can't wait!

Well, I'll post most of the stuffs listed above in more details and with more pics soon!

Cheers guys!

Air Distribution System

Disclaimer: This is the blogger own interpretation of his air system. Take note that this is not a guide but merely to share the project that he has made. Blogger will not be held responsible for any wet floor and lecture from the wife. Thank you.

 

After much googling, youtubing, research, asking, asking again and annoying the hell out of people (LOL) I finally came up with a plan. Went to my drawing board and was figuring how I should get this done

 

So I came up with this diagram. Drawing is not to scale.
 

Note that I did not include a bleeder valve here. It is essential that one have an outlet as a bleeder valve. I'm thinking of changing the bottom end cap and add a valve to release the excess pressure. But, an unused valve will serve just as well.

If a bleeder valve is install then diagram will be as below.

 

There was another design on my drawing board which is a circular one. Like a frame. PVC running on the left and right but I've been told that it provide little advantage. So heeding that advice, I went with the 1st diagram.

Now, after getting the whole thing, I realise that only 13mm pvc pipe can fit the adaptor that's provided with the HiBlow. So a bit of changes needed. Connection from Hiblow -> Adaptor -> 13mm PVC Pipe -> Reducer (13mm to 16mm) -> 16mm PVC Pipe.
 

Well, here are the list of items I needed.

 

The Materials as follows

 

1) HiBlow 40 Air Pump

This is what you get.

The HiBlow pump

A rubber L-shape adaptor

A short manual

A warranty card

 

2) PVC Pipe 16mm 

 

 3) Elbow
 

 4) Tee Joints
 

 5) End Cap


 6) 13mm PVC Pipe


7) Reducer (13mm/16mm)
 

8) One Way Air Valve
 

 9) Teflon Tape
 

 10) PVC Glue
 

 11) Black Air Tubing
 

 12) PVC Cutter
 

 13) Silicon

 

As adding the joints and the pvc using glue is pretty simple, (you can search it on youtube for the videos. Here are a couple of links:-

1) Gluing PVC YouTube Link 1
2) Gluing PVC YouTube Link 2

I will show two parts of the setup.

1) Inserting the One Way Air Valve to PVC
Measure acordingly and mark it on the PVC pipe where you will be drilling.
I wrap the thread with Teflon Tape so it will be a tight fit.
As I am concern that the valve might easily be disconnected, I use silicon on the outside.
Keep repeating the above.

Mark each point to drill.



Teflon tape placed on the threaded one way valve.

Silicon is use to prevent leakage.

So far so good.

I found a youtube video done by user name tedrjudy
Check his video on air system here.
Fantastic video on the air system. Great advice and all. Credit to him!

2) Installing the Adapter to the Hiblow & PVC
So after receiving the pump, I started working on how to attached it to 16mm PVC pipe. The pump comes with a rubber L -shaped adaptor. It fits a 13mm PVC pipe.

I insert that in. Then glue the other end of the pvc to the reducer. And then the other end glued to the 16mm.

Hope you can see it.

Took the following pictures below a few days ago after setting it up.

Future enhancement, include a ball valve at each level to release excess pressure. The outflow right now for the 7 HMF tanks is too strong. I had to place the tank plastic cover so water won't splash onto the floor.

 

I'm uncertain if I can do a top shelf with PVC. I can place probably 6-9 outlets

 The L Shaped rubber tube. (Adaptor)

 A 13mm PVC tube is inserted into the L Shaped rubber tube
The other end of the 13mm PVC pipe is inserted into a reducer. (13mm to 16mm)
The reducer is then attached to a 16mm PVC pipe.

You could just do 13mm all round but I had loads of 16mm PVC pipe so it was logical to just get the reducer.

 

I didn't install the ball valve yet, so to release the excess pressure, I insert an airline tube and an airstone at the end. This is done to stop the "whistling".

The end cap. A mistake here. To be honest, all PVC joints have been glued. If I were to add the ball valve, I'll just cut that portion off and insert it.

Well, this is my 2nd level. 5 Gex M tanks.

The 3ft light is temporary solution.

Current setup. Have to do it slowly as I'm on a budget.

More tanks will be added in future as follows:

 

Bottom tank on the left is my planted tank.

On the right, seperated some males AMRL and Females AFR.

Have java and riccia I'm trying to grow.

Well, here's the setup. Not enough tanks yet but you get the idea.

 

Special Thanks Goes Out To Aquatic Quotient Members and Friends.
felix_fx2
wongce
Ronwill
Navanod
Stormhawk

And also to those who have given me feedbacks and comments on the system. Apologies, if I didn't mention you here.

My Breeding Rack

I needed a rack quick if I was to get my breeding project up and running. Plus, the tanks I have now is pretty messy; its all over the place.

 

My first thought was to get my principal company to fabricate the rack I envision from scratch. But due to projects that the technical department was already swamped with, I dropped the idea.

 

I finally decided on light duty boltless shelving; the IND Series. Its supposed to be able to take a weight of 400kg per level. Whether that is true, I'm not sure. But it was my best option so far.

 

It came with various sizes but I chose 1200 x 480 x 1800mm

 

I found their website here. Howell United Singapore

 

I brought it home and had mom to help me to hold them up as I knock them into place. It's pretty easy to set up. No manual; just common sense.

 

So here's some pictures. I loaded

How it came in

After setting it up. Looking fab!

Well, this is not complete yet but you get the idea.

I'm thinking of...

1st Level: 5 Gex M Tanks

2nd Level: 5 Gex M Tanks

3rd Level: 5 Gex M Tanks

4th Level: 4 Gex L Tanks

 

The decking board is wood. Temporarily I painted them with this.

But later on, I would be putting this clear plastic sheet.

Otherwise the wood will not last.

 

 Anyway, future projects (addons) to the rack includes the following.
1) HiBlow Air Pump - Using PVC to supply the air for the HMF system
2) Water Top Up