TAL's Zero Water Exchange Test Thread - Page 4 - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

TAL · 10-28-2008, 06:49 PM

Thanks Chris.

Let me tell you why I am asking and get all of your input.

I had a fish death.

A fish became stuck behind one of the towers overnight. The towers fit in the corner fairly well but the sealant used at the glass corners makes the towers lean out a bit. It was enough for a fish to get stuck. I am thinking I want to adhere them to the corners to prevent this again...

Or hmmm....maybe I can pull them forward a bit and make swimming room around them. That might be a better idea.

See the room for me to move them???

Input everyone?

FroggyFox · 10-28-2008, 08:35 PM

Oh bummer

I will have to ponder this too I guess. My towers seem to be relatively far from the glass...I'm guessing that they're further away than yours are. (I cant see your pictures from work, I'll take a look at them tonight) I'd think that pulling them away from the edges might look a little strange, but overall be a better solution. Your call though...what does anyone else think?

Kalavek · 10-28-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAL

A fish became stuck behind one of the towers overnight. The towers fit in the corner fairly well but the sealant used at the glass corners makes the towers lean out a bit. It was enough for a fish to get stuck. I am thinking I want to adhere them to the corners to prevent this again...

I'm not sure fish have a reverse gear, which could make a narrow space a hazard for curious fishies - especially if the walls get closer together the further you go in.

How much of a gap are we talking about? I know silicone and putty have been suggested, but I wonder if there isn't another way of fixing this problem without gluing your filter system directly to the tank walls.

I had a 4" square glass plate in my tank for awhile that I was using to deflect air bubbles away from the filter intake. It was laying on the gravel against the back of the tank and seemed to be working fairly well for a quick fix. One of the danios somehow managed to squeeze sideways underneath the glass plate and wiggle himself almost to the center of it and couldn't back out. He was completely pinned down against the gravel when I noticed, I was pretty sure I'd lost him. Luckily he was right back to normal after I picked it up to let him out, so he couldn't have been there for very long.

Since then I've been careful not to leave any narrow tapered spaces like that - I try to keep stuff either flat against the glass, or a couple fish-widths away from it.

brian1973 · 10-28-2008, 09:46 PM

Well that sucks...I personally would drain and silicone the gaps just because if you add larger fish then the problem may still exist until the torwers are well away from the glass.
The problem is you would have to leave the tank empty without water for atleast 24hrs. Hopefully the epoxy idea will work better, atleast keep you from draining the tank again.

Chris_A · 10-28-2008, 11:04 PM

Unfortunately, I'd agree with Brian. Silicone is the way to go if you want to seal it against the glass. In my experience the Epoxy just doesn't adhear properly to the glass. Even if it did though, it would make the filters a permenant fixture. I have no idea how you would safely remove it.

If it was me... Pull the filter out a bit.

Chris

TAL · 10-28-2008, 11:22 PM

It would seem making more room is the best way. Then if a fish gets behind the tower, it can at leat go all the way around.

HiQ-USA · 10-29-2008, 06:39 PM

TAL,

I am very sorry one of your fish died. Probably the easiest way of closing the gap on tanks where the sealant forces the gap between the filter tower and the glass is by sticking a couple of big sponges behind the filter.

brian1973 · 10-29-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAL

It would seem making more room is the best way. Then if a fish gets behind the tower, it can at leat go all the way around.

I dont know how heavy those towers are or how the attach to the bottom, but if you can move them out further you going to be making a larger gap for you pleco or rainbow to get stuck in , or the pleco knock them over once he gets larger. You choice but if your looking at this long term I would definately seal them to the tank some way. Once the pleco reachs 8in or so he will try to get behind them and unless they are secured to something he will move them. I would be better to do this early in the test phase IMO, Just my opinion.

TAL · 10-29-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiQ-USA

TAL,

I am very sorry one of your fish died. Probably the easiest way of closing the gap on tanks where the sealant forces the gap between the filter tower and the glass is by sticking a couple of big sponges behind the filter.

This seams perfect....and easy.

Rana was also a very curious fish.

Chris_A · 10-29-2008, 09:35 PM

Just out of curiousity... if one puts sponges behind the towers will they get any water flow through them?

Just wondering... gonna shut my mouth...

Chris

10-28-2008, 06:49 PM	#31 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	Thanks Chris. Let me tell you why I am asking and get all of your input. I had a fish death. A fish became stuck behind one of the towers overnight. The towers fit in the corner fairly well but the sealant used at the glass corners makes the towers lean out a bit. It was enough for a fish to get stuck. I am thinking I want to adhere them to the corners to prevent this again... Or hmmm....maybe I can pull them forward a bit and make swimming room around them. That might be a better idea. See the room for me to move them??? Input everyone? __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-28-2008, 08:35 PM	#32 (permalink)
FroggyFox Forum Manager Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,439	Oh bummer I will have to ponder this too I guess. My towers seem to be relatively far from the glass...I'm guessing that they're further away than yours are. (I cant see your pictures from work, I'll take a look at them tonight) I'd think that pulling them away from the edges might look a little strange, but overall be a better solution. Your call though...what does anyone else think? __________________ 29, 46 & 55FW 29 SW + dog + horse + catYou can view info & photos of my critters here...

10-28-2008, 09:46 PM	#34 (permalink)
brian1973 Super Fish Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 1,763	Well that sucks...I personally would drain and silicone the gaps just because if you add larger fish then the problem may still exist until the torwers are well away from the glass. The problem is you would have to leave the tank empty without water for atleast 24hrs. Hopefully the epoxy idea will work better, atleast keep you from draining the tank again. __________________ http://www.nanfa.org/ Hi my name is Brian I suffer from MTS, please be aware it is very contagious.

10-28-2008, 11:04 PM	#35 (permalink)
Chris_A Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 615	Unfortunately, I'd agree with Brian. Silicone is the way to go if you want to seal it against the glass. In my experience the Epoxy just doesn't adhear properly to the glass. Even if it did though, it would make the filters a permenant fixture. I have no idea how you would safely remove it. If it was me... Pull the filter out a bit. Chris __________________ Not a hobby... A way of life!

10-28-2008, 11:22 PM	#36 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	It would seem making more room is the best way. Then if a fish gets behind the tower, it can at leat go all the way around. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-29-2008, 06:39 PM	#37 (permalink)
HiQ-USA Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 14	TAL, I am very sorry one of your fish died. Probably the easiest way of closing the gap on tanks where the sealant forces the gap between the filter tower and the glass is by sticking a couple of big sponges behind the filter. __________________ The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. George Bernard Shaw

10-29-2008, 09:35 PM	#40 (permalink)
Chris_A Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 615	Just out of curiousity... if one puts sponges behind the towers will they get any water flow through them? Just wondering... gonna shut my mouth... Chris __________________ Not a hobby... A way of life!