eviltrain's Shrimp Rack Project Alpha

[eviltrain]

Hi to all who has been following my 3 feet tank thread.

As you all know, i'm now in the mist of fixing up a 3 tier shrimp rack

3 tier rack ( checked )
two 2x1x1 feet tanks with center partition ( checked )
Under Gravel System Plates ( checked )
External Canister Filter ( should be Ehiem 2222 )
Soil ( pending )
Assortment of pipes and connecters ( pending )
chiller ( still considering )

Top tier is currently occupied by my 1.5 feet aquascape tank. The middle and bottom tier will be replace with two new 2 x1 x1 feet center partition tank ( look like this |_|_| ) with a gap of 3 cm at the bottom of center partition.

The two tanks will be using undergravel system + an external canister filter.

They will be link up using Over Flow System from the middle tank.

The schematic will be like this :
External filter outlet -> middle tank A rainbar -> Undergravel System A -> Outlet of Undergravel System A -> Over Flow Box inlet -> Over Flow Box outlet-> bottom tank B rainbar-> Undergravel System B -> Outlet of Undergravel System B -> External filter inlet.

I already have a rough idea about how to links all the parts together.
Will be updating as i go on.

-getting exciting-

[eviltrain]

Ok something updated.
my 2 nos. of partition tank is here today.

both look just like this.

HOW TO PASTE OYAMA PAPER

something to teach those newbie how to paste the oyama paper.

1. put some soupy water on to the side (outside of the tank ) you wants to paste the oyama paper.

2. Remember to stretch out the oyama paper evenly onto the surface. Don't mind the "bubbles" yet.

3. grab any old credit card which is useless to "scrape" off the bubbles from the center to the outside of the area.

4. Do this couple of times until you are fully satisfied with then clean job.

5. sit down and take a break while admiring your newly paste oyama paper.

-more updates coming up-

[eviltrain]

LOW BUDGET T5,14W 2 FEET LIGHT SET

what you need:
1) those budget T5 lightset with bracket which sells in the hardware store.
(for my case, i bought 2X T5 14watt lightset with bracket)
2) Light Reflector ( for my case, i bought a reflector which is 4 feet long and cut into two)

next will be how i mount the reflector onto the brackets.

i use the black double sided tape ( thick ) to stick behind the reflector.( don't be stingy, use the tape full length of the reflector.)

Then stick the reflector onto the bracket itself.

Put back in the T5 light and you are ready to fix it onto the rack / hood you going to use.( This light set came with the hook and screws to fix onto your desired places. Another bonus is that you can hook up another light set in series with the connector which comes with it. )

End Product


Again sit back and relax.

-More updates-

[eviltrain]

After pasting the tank with the oyama paper and fix up the T5 lightset on one of the tier.


and i place in the Under Gravel System ( UGS ), a 2mm acrylic sheet and some sponge to support the acrylic sheet. ( this idea comes from what i saw in jojoe's <Am I Crazy?> posting on what he did to his tanks.)



ok. time to rest for tomorrow's work.

-Good Night-

[baranne]

HOW TO PASTE OYAMA PAPER

something to teach those newbie how to paste the oyama paper.
1. put some soupy water on to the side you wants to paste the oyama paper.


Why the advantage of using soupy water?

[eviltrain]

hi baranne,
the use of soapy water is to able you to move the oyama paper easily on the surface you wants to sticks on. don;t have to worry about over stretched oyama paper.

thanks for viewing

[eviltrain]

-Some Updates-
filled the middle tier tank with water to test for leaks. added some mineral plus / old sea mud / de-chlorinator . the water used for the leak test will be used to cycle the two tanks.

[Cross]

wow looking interesting. Joe's poison runs deep in the forums Any picture of your overflow? using overflow box?

[eviltrain]

Thanks for viewing,
will be DIY-ing an Overflow box using some spare parts that i bought cheaply or parts that laying in the house within this week if i have the time. the process will be shown in the thread as well.

[SmallFish]

Great stuff bro
Cant wait to read & watch on

very posionous indeed ..

[BonjaLa]

Wow another Big shrimp project coming up!!

[jtan0916]

Can wait to see. Congrate

[felix_fx2]

eviltrain bro,

why not use velcro tape (the 3M) type for mounting the DIY T5?
Strong and easy to remove during mantainence.
From your picture, i see we are using the same double-sided tape.

Note that i had problems getting it to stick on my WI stand due to the stand's surface and ended up using egg-crates + cable ties to hold my power sockets. This is only to let you know, If your new rack has smoother surface it holds great

[eviltrain]

Thanks all for the viewing and comments
Project not as big as what jojoe did, maybe 5% of jojoe's ?

Brother Felix, i rather use the thick double sided tape because i trust it most. as for mantainence, its easy, just take out the T5 light tube and wipe the reflector.

There's some brothers here worry that the soil will gets into the under gravel panel and in the end in to the external filter canister. For my case,i will place a sheet of netting ( those you use to do moss wall but with very fine holes ) After that, I just try to lay down the larger soils on to the under gravel panel first, then the smaller soil on the top as last layer. Picture will be updated when i get my hands on the ADA soils.

[cdckjn]

Great Job on the DIYing!

[jojoe]

加油加油，
So happy to see more people into bigger shrimps keeping, if you face any problem and may need any tools.

Call me 97989948 Jojoe for most DIYing tools needs.

Thanks all for the viewing and comments
Project not as big as what jojoe did, maybe 5% of jojoe's ?

Brother Felix, i rather use the thick double sided tape because i trust it most. as for mantainence, its easy, just take out the T5 light tube and wipe the reflector.

There's some brothers here worry that the soil will gets into the under gravel panel and in the end in to the external filter canister. For my case,i will place a sheet of netting ( those you use to do moss wall but with very fine holes ) After that, I just try to lay down the larger soils on to the under gravel panel first, then the smaller soil on the top as last layer. Picture will be updated when i get my hands on the ADA soils.

[eviltrain]

Wa, i'm so happy that even master jojoe look in my 5% of his madness thread.
Thanks a lot in advance.

[eviltrain]

How to prevent soil from getting stuck in the Under Gravel Panel.



1. prepare your under gravel panel in your desired numbers of panel ( some panel ables you to hook them up side by side )

2. get those fine holes plant netting ( any colour is fine ) which is not bigger than your soil which you are using. cut out 2 times the area of your panels.

3.place the panel in the centre of the plant netting up side down. warp the panels with the netting, tuck / fold those excess under the panel right side up ( after you pour your soil on to the panel , the netting will just stays as it is ).


3. Remember to fix the plastic pipe for air tube or canister filter inlet and double ( sometime triple comfirm where you wants to place the under gravel panel ) before you pours the soil.


4. Prepare the soils to seperate the larger size grain from the smaller size grain. ( i bought those stainless steel vegetable washer with stainless steel netting from those 2 dollar shops ) some grain size maybe -> o some size can also be -> O.

5. Pour those with larger grain on top of the Under Gravel Panel you place inside the tank. ( this is to prevent the smaller grains to choke up the fins of the Under Gravel Panel and the plant netting )

6. Sprinkle some Mosura old sea mud (as indicated on the instructions ) on to the larger grains before pouring the smaller grains. This will helps to extend the life of the soil you are using.

schematic as follow : under gravel panel ( at the bottom ) -> Plant netting -> Larger grains -> Old Sea Mud -> smaller grains ( at the top )

Points to take note :

This Under Gravel set up is not advicable for those going for rooted plants but more on mosses.

Disclaimer - All above mentioned is for my own shrimp rack set-up.

[zonkkie]

Thanks for all the detailed step by step pictures! But then again, even with step by step, newbies can still do wrong.... like me, i pasted the oyama on the inside of the tank!

[eviltrain]

Thanks for viewing.
That what AQ are for. All thanks for AQ for majority of my aquatic knowledge. We all were newbie once and we did silly mistakes before.