Re: [Killietalk] Cheap tanks with built-in deBruyn filters!

["Stan Perkins" <stanperkins at academicplanet_com>]

Interesting! Do you have any pictures for us?

Stan Perkins
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wright Huntley" <whuntley at verizon_net>
To: "killifish discussion list" <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 12:46 AM
Subject: [Killietalk] Cheap tanks with built-in deBruyn filters!


> They had a sale, at the local "Big K" and I found an intriguing
> container. For $4.49 they had a nice little aquarium-like tank with
> latching lid. Not 100% clear, it was about half way between glass and
> the usual slightly milky shoe-box plastic. That is, not as clear as the
> Critter Keepers, but at less than half their price and half their
> brittleness. The solid lids are going to allow much less evaporation, too.
>
> If you believe the optomistic dimensions on the label, it would be
> nearly 7 gallons, but reality is that it is about 3G in the part you
> would fill with water (up to just below the lid latches). It is called a
> Snap Lock Select "Tote 'n Go." The Item Number is 7882, and is a size
> intended for storing hanging files.
>
> It looks rugged enough to last a while, so at $1.50/G it is really cheap
> storage. Almost down there with sale 10G tanks, but it has some unique
> benefits.
>
> The grooves at the ends for the file hangars are deep enough to make a
> nice little deBruyn wet-dry filter, there. I have some pea-gravel-size
> red lava from down near Coso Junction that I plan to put in them. An
> ordinary Tetra Brilliant or Billi filter can be arranged to lift water
> into the lava groove(s).
>
> If you have put off building one because they are such a PITA to
> construct out of rain gutter, now is your chance to do it the easy way!
> Put the Tetra filter outlet feeding one end of an end groove, and drill
> a few small holes about 1/8" above the bottom of the channel at the
> other end as water return to the tank, so the lava all stays wet. [A
> heated, straightened paper clip could probably melt the holes.]
>
> The lid is a nice tight fit, so jumpers will not be any problem,
> Unfortunately the lids are a dark blue, so lighting may be a wee problem.
>
> I dragged out some Tetra filters and a couple of Chinese rip-offs. I'd
> like to find more of the latter. They are opaque gray instead of the
> transparent green of the German filters, and fit closer to the side so
> make the flow into the gravel groove a bit easier.
>
> Most of my suction cups are shot. I'll check the Xmas closeout
> departments for replacements, but may not find any that fit. Has anyone
> seen them for sale on the internet, lately? Looks like the Brilliant and
> Billi have been discontinued so the suction cups may be a problem.
>
> Actually, any old corner filter or sponge filter will work as the
> prefilter, if a right-angle extension is added to the top of the lift
> tube to carry the water across to the wet-dry part of the system.
>
> K-Mart only had one left when I went back to get them, but I did get a
> raincheck for 5 more at the above price. I'll probably set them up on a
> flow-through system, since I have trouble finding smaller heaters at a
> decent price. One 100W heater in a big tub on the bottom shelf should be
> enough to keep the fish from freezing when I'm here and feeding the
> stove. A small space heater should pick up the slack when I'm away, as
> my office-becoming-fishroom is only about 8' X 10'.
>
> Wright
>
> -- 
> Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514
>
> "If people are basically evil, the last thing you'd want is a big
> government staffed by those evil folks exercising control over you."
>    -- David Bergland
>
>
>
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