1 qt windowsill refugium.

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by stepho, Sep 29, 2010.

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  1. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

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    Hello all. Here is my latest project. It took me a couple days to plan it and get everything worked out and maybe an hour to construct.

    First the back story: My tank sits right in front of a north facing window. I have a mangrove poking through the blinds¹ and it has shown incredible growth.

    I wanted to use mostly things I had laying around and things I could acquire easily, and this is what I came up with:
    [​IMG]
    The refugium is built out a acrylic transport box thing like all the fish stores use. I drilled it using the hole saw and bulkhead from a glass-holes kit I had for my old 10 gal.

    [​IMG]
    Drain is a short piece of clear vinyl tubing I got from the hardware store I work at. As you can see it is well over sized.

    [​IMG]
    Pump is a tom's aqua lifter supplying 3gph. The refugium holds one quart so thats 12x turn over per hour. Not sure whether thats good or bad, I guess we will see in time. ;D

    Next mod is a new canopy.



    ¹ I say blinds but for the time being I just have a blanket pinned up to cover the window.
     

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  3. yamaharider73

    yamaharider73 Kole Tang

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    Very nice DIY.....Looks cool. glad it is working out for you so far.
     
  4. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

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    That looks cool, Stepho
    are you going to have Mangroves in there and if so , how many?

    Steve
     
  5. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

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    I don't think so. I already have a mangrove in the tank. I was thinking of just putting chaeto in there.


    Thanks. I hope the algae grows well in it. I could really use a good nutrient export.
     
  6. bama

    bama Humpback Whale

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    very cool..
     
  7. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

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    thats a neat idea dude! just almost like mine only smaller!
     
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  9. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

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    some more pictures with the macros in. I have three different types in there. Chaeto, Fern Caulerpa, and what I think is Mermaid's Shot Glass.


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

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  10. yamaharider73

    yamaharider73 Kole Tang

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    Nice stepho......Looking good.
     
  11. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

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    updated picture. Things seem to grow pretty fast under sun light. ;D

    [​IMG]

    Chaeto seems the slowest growing.

    Fern caulerpa grows the fastest, but grows higher than my fuge is deep. Picture was taken after I trimmed the two largest ferns out. I am trying them in the DT hopefully they grow well there.
     

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  12. M-Ocean Man

    M-Ocean Man Flame Angel

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    WOW!!! Really cool!!!!! ::)::):eek::eek:8)