Rebirth of the Invert Room

[Newjohn]

It has been awhile and I am glad to be back.
My Invert Room was taken down a few years ago and I glad to say that it is being put back together.



All tanks will be Drilled for Overflows, No more trips to the Toilet with buckets.
Each Rack system will have a Drain Line, when I need to siphon the substrate.

Water changes will be through drip emitters.
The water will pass through a multi-stage Sediment & Carbon Filter.

It is still under construction
Tank sizes will change, but the first metal rack will hold ( 6 ) 20longs.

More photos
To come later

[Mustafa]

Awesome! I'm glad you're back. We need more serious people in this hobby. Keep the updates coming.

[Newjohn]

We need more serious people in this hobby.

You say " Serious ",
My Wife uses other words to describe my Hobby.

Not to worry,
I will be updating with pictures as the project progresses.

[demonte1997]

Very cool stuff NewJohn. This is the direction I'd like to go in the next couple years. Maintaining the few invert tanks I have now is tanking a toll. It would be so much easier to have all the tanks in line on a system for water change and maintenance purposes.

Please continue to post up pics.

And I agree w/ you about the significant other and how she views this stuff. My girlfriend can't understand the hobby choice....

[Newjohn]

Very cool stuff NewJohn.

Thanks for the kind words demonte1997.

This is the direction I'd like to go in the next couple years.

You will not regret it.
Less time to complete maintenance leaves more time to watch your Shrimp.

Maintaining the few invert tanks I have now is tanking a toll

Are your Tanks Invert Only ?

I will try and post pictures of "The Build " to give Ideas to others for their Set-Up / Systems.

[Newjohn]

The First thing you will need for a proper Invert Room is,
A nice Chair w/ wheels for hours of enjoying your tanks.






Work Station with all the Supplies & Food.


Metal Shelving from one of the Big Box Stores.


Wooden Support to span the gap.


Styrofoam to help level out the Tank.
I prefer 1/4".
Pictured is 1/2", They were out 1/4".


20 gal Long.


All of my Tanks will be painted.


Tanks Drilled for overflows.

[Newjohn]

Plumbing parts for Overflow / Drain


Due to limited space in between tanks, A few modifications were needed.



Bulkhead installed.

More Pictures Later

[Newjohn]

Connecting the ( 2 ) Overflows.



Since water will Auto-Level, the Overflows need to be level.


Added Substrate.
This is Sifted "Play Sand"
You could call it either Large Sand or Very Small Rocks.


The Clay Pot is for the base of the Sponge Filter.



The added PVC will help with the Water Movement in the Tank.

[Mustafa]

Wow, John! You're quite the handyman! I wish you lived closer to me so you can help me with a planned huge expansion I am planning. For a lot of people it's fun to work with the tanks, modify them, install overflows etc., but for me it's a huge chore so I tend to go with just quick and simple solutions that may not always be the most efficient in the long run. Anyway, what are you planning on putting on the overflows to keep baby shrimp from being sucked in? Sponge or some kind of mesh? Both could get clogged, and probably need very frequent cleaning to avoid disaster. I guess as long as the flow from the drip is not too much a mesh may actually be easier to maintain (don't have to take it out and squeeze it, but just brush the dirt away once in a while...the shrimp will help with that, too, by grazing on it).

Keep the updates coming! Great setup so far.

Here is a question (something that we can all brainstorm). As an alternative to a continuous flow drip type system with overflows, what would be the most efficient and practical way to install a system that performs a certain percentage of water change (say, 20%) for *all* the tanks with the flip of a button at certain intervals (e.g. once a week) and then refills them automatically without the danger of overfilling them with another switch of a button (or better, you don't need to flip another button..)? And while we're at it, how would you modify this system to be able to perform different percentage water changes for any given tank (i.e. 20% for one, 35% for another, 15% for a third one, etc.), again, with just a flip of a button?

I have various solutions in mind that involve tons of different types of valves and pumps, but let's see what you, and, other people can come up with. For various reasons I actually have a preference for the percentage water change method as opposed to continuous flow through, although a drip system is a proven method and will work fabulously, too.

[demonte1997]

Fantastic progress! Like Mustafa said, you are quite handy plumbing all those tanks and having the carpentry skills for making the racks. Seeing these pics really makes me want to collect some tanks and get started on plans for a system.

Oh, and to answer your previous question, all four tanks I have are inverts. One houses the red claws with cherries. The other three have various assortments of rosenbergii prawn that I'm trying to grow out with the least amount of cannibalism. lol

[Mustafa]

The other three have various assortments of rosenbergii prawn that I'm trying to grow out with the least amount of cannibalism. lol

Are you planning to become a "freshwater prawn" farmer?

[demonte1997]

I wish Mustafa!

I'd like to try my hand at breeding and raising baby rosenbergiis but I don't have much hope that I'll be able to replicate their ideal environment (with the salinity and whatnot). My girlfriend is getting a couple books out at the library for me to study. If it's possible to do (and it is, as evidenced by Aquaculture of TX), I'll give it my best shot and maybe be successful. I've accomplished more difficult feats in the aquarium world to date.

[Newjohn]

Well,
The Second tank now has Gravel & Water in it.
The only 2 inhabitants are Marmokrebs Crayfish.

The Water & Sponge Filter are from their previous Tank.

demonte1997

I'd like to try my hand at breeding and raising baby rosenbergiis

Anything is possible.

If I remember correctly,
A member " badflash " was breeding/raising rosenbergiis.
He used one of those hard plastic Kiddi Pools in his basement.
Only one male & 3 females.

[amber2461]

Newjohn

I am absolutely green with envy of your shrimp motels ... ~sigh~

[Newjohn]

I am absolutely green with envy of your shrimp motels ...

amber2461
Thank You for the Kind Words.

Here are a few more pictures of a little progress.


The 3 Tanks on the bottom row now have their overflow/drains plumbed together.


As you can see " White Bucket ", the Drain line is not yet connect to the Sewer Line. Hopefully this coming weekend.

The ( 2 ) Black 90 degree elbows are for future use. Gravel Vacuum.

A few helpful hints, if you are thinking of constructing your own Rack System.
( 1 ) Use Unions to easily disconnect a Tank from the System. ( Second Picture / Top Center )
( 2 ) Use Silicone instead of PVC Cement when possible. This makes it possible to make correction if a mistake is made.
Since the Silicone will take longer to Dry/Cure. Your project will take a little longer , but you can take parts apart if needed.


Future additions will be:

Water Change / Evaporation Top Off via Lawn Sprinkler Timer & Drip Emitters.

I prefer the 1 gallon per hour. With it still snowing here, selection is limited.
Using multiple Emitters In-Line or Reducing the Supply Pressure, you can really lower the Water per Hour / Day into your tanks.

Lighting will be 3000K or higher Par20 Mini LED Spot Lights.

The Par20 in a Mini Version of this Par30.
Total height of the Light is only 2".
Depending on the Angle/Spread of the Light, I may be able to get away with only 2 lights per 3 tanks.


Here is my Sponge Filter w/PVC Evaporation Control in action.
End Caps still need to be added & Water Height needs to be adjusted.


With Multiple Tanks, Evaporation / Humidity will be a problem.
Glass Tops will help limit the Evaporation/Humidity Issues.
Glass Tops with Condensation will limit the Light Penetration, if you are trying to grow plants.
I have a Bathroom Exhaust Fan installed to remove Humidity in my basement. But, using the fan also removes Heat.


Another issue with a Multiple Tank Set-Up is:
Even Distribution of Air to the Sponge Filters.
I also use the Water Drip Emitters on my Air Supply Lines.
With Limiting the Air-Flow to each Sponge Filter, the Depth of the Rigid Air Line needs to be uniform between Tanks.
The Black Plastic Piece ( See Picture Above ) is used to adjust Depth. This piece is a Toilet adjusting Piece.
The Rigid Air Line is used because it is easier to Clean, when needed.

A easy fix for Air-Flow with multiple tanks is:
Blower - High Electric Use & Noisy.
Linear Air Pump - A little Costly, but very efficient on electricity.

I hope to get a little more progress completed this coming weekend.
I was held up this weekend with helping out a friend.
He was running out of tanks space, so I am baby sitting her for awhile

She is a 2 month old Marble Matorro with a 5" Disc.
Not to worry, She is no where near any Shrimp