[AquaticLife] quiet the air line on a noisy power head and some other mods.
Kevin, Great ideas, please keep them coming. -Mike In a message dated 5/24/2008 8:27:38 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, kevinflea@verizon.net writes:
I have accomplished the miraculous. No just kidding. It is kind of a hobby in itself thinking of ways I can improve my fish tanks, either in function or apperance or ways to modify my equipment to make maintenance quicker. Here is some of the stuff I have done recently. aquaclear powerheads come with a clamp for the rim of the tank. I have found though that the power head sits to low to agitate the water surface(thats where I want it for more oxygen in the water,important!water,important!)I cut a 3inch piece of the v placed it between the top of the rim of the tank and the powerhead clamp to raise the power head I also used another piece of hose between the back of the clamp and the glass to tilt the power head so the discharge nozzle points slightly up at the surface. The whole idea is that the pieces of tubing work as shims to get the power head discharge directed to move the surface water. From everything I have read, this is what you want to do to increase the oxygen content of the water,(agitate the surface). Also I have found that the airline on powerheads is really noisy with a gurgle. I have reduced the noise by connecting regular air line tubing with a valve to increase and decrease air flow. Give the airline some length, enough to where the noise stops. I also filtered the start of the airline with poly fiber to filter the air being drawn.(I know alittle over the top but understand I worked as a clean air tech in the past and I dont want those airborne micro organisms in my tank). Now I have the power head moving the water at the top at a good clip with full air on and alot less noisy then as designed. CAUTION! Notice if you block the pump dicharge with your hand water will rise up the airline tube so keep the start of the tube in and at the top of the tank, just in the event that. Also I have found that the sponge filter aquaclear puts out can be cut to sizes to use for any other filter. IE I bought the sponge that fits the 110 model HOB filter and shaped it to fit the quick clean cages used with the powerheads and jammed then into other none aqua clear filter housings. Foam sponges are great because you just squeeze them clean in non chlorinated water to clean and reuse over and over again. Cost aside you want to get away from throw away filters because when you throw a fiter out your tossing away good bacteria. Happy Happy fish keeping, Kevin
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Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
