Re: [Killietalk] flow through systems?

[LeeH920226 at aol_com]

In a message dated 10/5/03 12:17:19 PM, caraway at erienet_net writes:

<< 
Chris wrote:

>Good morning everyone,
> 
>I'm considering building a flow through fry rearing system and would
>like to get some input from those of you who have experience with
>flow-throughs. >>

This was a message that I did not get the original, but have seen it in the 
archives. This is what I have done and am still perfecting. I have about 125 
tanks now fitted with overflow bulkheads which lead to either the sink drain or 
outside to the garden, depending on which side of the basement the tanks are 
on. As you may perceive, this is a once through system with no recycle. The 
water comes from a cold water faucet goes through a pressure limiter (25 psi) 
then a battery operated timer and then though a reverse osmosis unit. The "waste 
water" is used to replace water in the tanks that are hooked up. The RO water 
is used for a few tanks of very soft water fishes. The water passes through a 
carbon filter to remove chlorine and chloramine. The delivery to the tanks is 
in three zones controlled by needle valves (off or on). The water is 
transmitted by flexible micro tubing and Tees to drip emitters. The first zone was 
built with screw in connectors to PVC pipe, but that is not necessary and a lot of 
extra work and space. I have used 0.5 gph emitters for shoe boxes, 1 gph for 
2 and 5 gallon tanks, 2 gph for 10 gallon tanks and 4 gph emitters for 20 
gallon tanks. I am still in the shake down phase, but with the water turned on 2 
hours a day, the fish all look much livelier and are reproducing in the tanks, 
where that is possible. Most supplies can be obtained from 
www.dripworksusa.com. The bulkheads are best purchased by a group purchase from 
http://www.otp.thomasregister.com/olc/otp/
Cost per tank is
$0.37 for bulkhead
$0.15 for washers - hose washers, however, if purchased with the bulkheads 
they are cheaper.
$0.18 for a Tee
$0.18 for a drip emitter
about $0.05 for the tubing.
About $1.00 per tank.
Plus you will need one timer, one carbon filter and 20 feet of tubing. I will 
post some pictures to the members' gallery

Lee Harper
Media, PA

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