Current Aquapod 12 Gallon..start Up Need A Little Help..please!! [Archive]

ej1698

03/25/2006, 09:03 PM

hey Everyone,

I just bought my wife her first nano tank for her birthday and I'm looking for some good idea's. I put in 20lbs of live pink fiji sand yesterday and let it run. I have the lights on a timer, about 10 hours a day. The temp is at 82 and holding, I would like to get it down to 78 but this is a closed top set-up and don't know how i would be able to hook up some kind of fan to blow across the water and don't wan't to drill it since I already have the water / sand in it. Just wondering if anyone has the same system and figured out how to bring the temp down & looking for some good ide's wiith rock. I ordered 25 lbs of walk smith rock today and should get it by the end of the week.

Thanks for any help you can give!

EJ

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/Bueller427/P3250016.jpg

Lakeside518

03/25/2006, 10:50 PM

Cycle with your LR for a couple weeks. Perform water tests to watch as your cycle progresses.

Also consider upgrading your pump. I use a maxi-jet 900 in our 12 gal

Water temp seems to stay steady at 81 deg. Have a Visi-therm 50 watt heater. Heater is set low. Around 75-76 deg.

DirkG

03/26/2006, 10:44 AM

Check out my photos.

Open the fan vents on top of the Aquapod like in one of the photos.
You can also add a fan like I did, it will bring your temp under 76 deg so you must use a heater with it. It will also evaperate about 32 oz of water per day! I stopped using mine till I get a ATO of some sort!
My temp stays around 80 - 82.5 deg without it. Also you can try leaving the feeding vent open. My tank have the stock return pump plus a maxi 600. Good luck.

Dirk<a href="http://img142.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87513_fan_008.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img142.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87513_fan_008.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://img132.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87521_fan_009.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img132.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87521_fan_009.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://img106.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87529_fan_014.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img106.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87529_fan_014.jpg" border="0"></a>

ej1698

03/26/2006, 11:23 AM

very cool idea, what size / type fan is that [in front of tank] and how easy was it to open the fan vents...do i have to take the top apart?

thanks
ej

Jordan55

03/26/2006, 11:37 AM

You also don't really need to run your lights much wile cycling. I would run it for a couple hours just to keep coraline growth on the rock, but it is just causing evaporation.

Good luck, and maybe try another clip on fan somewhere.

DirkG

03/26/2006, 12:29 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7044250#post7044250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ej1698
very cool idea, what size / type fan is that [in front of tank] and how easy was it to open the fan vents...do i have to take the top apart?

thanks
ej
Yes I took the top off to do the fan mod. I think the fan in front is a 60 mm unit. I wired it up to a 12 volt tranformer. The vent were easy to open up after you take off the light cover,light bulbs & reflecter.

Dirk

ej1698

03/26/2006, 12:32 PM

hey Dirk,

I just did the fan on top of the tank,[opened the vent holes just like yours, Question: did you see a difference with just doing that or did you have to add the front fan to get the temp down.

EJ

DirkG

03/26/2006, 04:00 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7044578#post7044578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ej1698
hey Dirk,

I just did the fan on top of the tank,[opened the vent holes just like yours, Question: did you see a difference with just doing that or did you have to add the front fan to get the temp down.

EJ
Try leaving the feeding cover open. Mine is at 82.1 now with
all lights on 5 hours and cover open. The front fan wooks great, but unless you use a ATO it is a PITA! To much evaporation. I modded the front fan different now. I put the fan in the hinged feeding cover. I will send new pictures soon!
Dirk

DirkG

03/26/2006, 04:18 PM

ej1698

03/26/2006, 06:31 PM

looks like i will do the same, how did you disconnect the front opening or did you cut the holes with it on,to make that fan set-up and how did you attach the fan to the cover.

looks great

EJ

ej1698

03/26/2006, 06:32 PM

what does ATO mean?

DirkG

03/26/2006, 07:12 PM

to take the lid off, open the hood and take out the center screw for the clear plastic light cover. then take of fthe little black plastic piece
that holds the cover in place, very simple! Fan is held in place by nylon screws & nuts from HD ( Home Depot)

ATO = auto top off

Dirk

ej1698

04/03/2006, 06:19 PM

Hey Dirk,

I pretty much copied what you did, and the temp is steady at 79. Thank's for the Idea, you should put a patten on it and sell it to current Aquapod!!

thanks again
EJ

Some pictures:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/Bueller427/P4010016.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/Bueller427/P4010014.jpg

DirkG

04/03/2006, 09:53 PM

Glad it worked for you too!

Dirk

Zero-2-Sixty

04/14/2006, 02:28 AM

well now thats a good lookin little nano

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 03:03 AM

Yeah, my aquapod is having major heat issues too. I need to do something.

Where did you get the fan and how are you powering it?

Thanks.

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:29 AM

Hey,

it's a 40 mm computer fan, you can get it at radio shack for $12.99 but I got mine on e-bay for about 7 bucks. just do a search on ebay for 40 mm fan.
Power it by getting a 12 volt adapter and splice the wires. It works great. my temp is steady at 79 degrees.

EJ

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:32 AM

link for fan:

http://cgi.ebay.com/40mm-fans-computer-bl-bearing-Case-cpu-fan-buy-1-to-10_W0QQitemZ6870835037QQcategoryZ3673QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 07:32 AM

Thank you for the info! :)

The temp of mine at its worst is 84 deg F.... Ouch. :(

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:34 AM

link for adapter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-AC-DC-Power-SUPPLY-12-Volt-Adapter-1000mA-NIB_W0QQitemZ9712461625QQcategoryZ88758QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:36 AM

so was mine, it works awesome, very easy to install

Ej

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 07:37 AM

Nice... I just bought it for 99 cents. :)

Again, thank you very very much. I can't wait to install it.

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:37 AM

we can all Thank Dirk for the Idea

ej1698

04/14/2006, 07:39 AM

if you have a 12 volt adapter laying around it will work too [ phone adapter..ect] to save some money

ej

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 07:46 AM

Well, when I unscrewed the light cover, I saw that there is a socket unused beside sockets where the other fans are plugged into.

ej1698

04/14/2006, 08:38 AM

really...I didn't look for it. is that under the reflector piece

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 08:40 AM

Yes, it is. :) I took the whole thing apart this morning. :)

ej1698

04/14/2006, 08:59 AM

let me know when it's hook up and how it works, I will re-set mine up to save on a plug, is the connection like a small computer plug in? like the one that comes with the fan. and does it keep the fan on 24/7. Mine goes off when the luner light come on

EJ

EricBrian

04/14/2006, 09:08 AM

I should have taken a picture of it. lol

But it did look like a plug that can receive the male plug part of this fan.

http://send-an-ecard.com/aquarium/2c_1_b.JPG

And, my tank is an Aquapod... maybe different than yours.

ej1698

04/14/2006, 09:16 AM

I have a aquapod as well

ej1698

04/14/2006, 09:17 AM

after you hook it up let me know how it goes

EJ

EricBrian

04/15/2006, 08:22 PM

Will do. I'll post pictures.

BTW, I went to RadioShack today and checked the cost of the 40mm fans. They wanted 12.99 for one! LOL. Thanks again for the link again... I only paid 0.99. :)

EricBrian

04/15/2006, 08:25 PM

Another BTW, I bought a desk top fan and am blowing over the water. That alone has done the job of lowering the temperature by 6 degrees! Now, my heater can do its job and raising it to the temperature is should be. LOL.

I will, never the less, try the fan. :)

EricBrian

04/16/2006, 06:18 AM

Dang, I left the fan on overnight and the temp was all the way down to 73 deg F! :(

I wonder what kind of damage that did... 11 deg drop overnight.

ej1698

04/17/2006, 05:09 PM

set that heater!! and you should have no problems

EJ

EricBrian

04/17/2006, 06:30 PM

Yes, I bought a titanium heater with thermostat. The fan now turns off when the lights go off. That seems to be working nicely and keeps my temperature between 82 and 84.

I got the 40 mm fan today and will try to build it in tomorrow. I have a major problem tough.... I can't get the feeding lid off. How did you get yours off?

ej1698

04/17/2006, 07:23 PM

you have to take off a couple of screws to the clear cover under neath, and it will come off easy , there is a plastic L clip locking the cover in/on. but when you take off a few screws in the front it comes right out...you'll see, pretty easy

EJ

EricBrian

04/17/2006, 07:27 PM

Ah! :) Ok, I'll give that a go tomorrow.

Thanks.

Malice229

04/17/2006, 09:47 PM

if you email the company (if your tank is under warranty) they will send you a free fan. i have been emailing them because i have been experiencing the same problems as everyone on this thread. the guy from current told me that they will send me a free fan and that it wont void the warranty (although it is a custom alteration).

i dont know if im keeping my tank... very discouraged after 2 deaths and especially have a nano cube and never having to alter anything...

thanks for the info!!!

EricBrian

04/17/2006, 09:54 PM

Cool. Well, I got the fan for 99 cents... not worried about it.

And, I got a good system worked out now that is keeping the temp in my tank stable... see a couple posts above.

Malice229

04/17/2006, 09:55 PM

a quick question... do your fans make a lot of noise

EricBrian

04/17/2006, 09:57 PM

Well, they make noise. A lot? Hmmm... that is relative. I was never bothered by it. And now, I don't even hear it anymore.

Malice229

04/17/2006, 10:00 PM

the thing is that i have a 24 g nano cube in my room and it is so peaceful... the 12 g aquapod is also in my room and it makes it sound like an airport in there!

ej1698

04/18/2006, 03:17 PM

Hey,

Temp is staying steady at 78 degrees!! I put the rock in 2 weeks ago...and was really shocked when I tested the water the other day and it was zero across the board. I heard of rock curing quick..when we recieved the rock there was alot of life on it , guess there wasn't much die off. Well, our little nemo is happy, he has his own tank, the clarkie clown in our 90 gallon chased him into the overflo so I left him there so he wouldn't get picked on, So it worked out good that the rock Cured Quick.

Here's a Picture:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/Bueller427/P4180004.jpg

EricBrian

04/18/2006, 03:33 PM

Nice... Those are some awesome caves. Did you aquascape this yourself?

ej1698

04/18/2006, 07:08 PM

have to give my wife the credit, she set the rock

EJ

EricBrian

04/19/2006, 09:32 PM

Cool.

Well, EJ, I won't be installing the fan. I just ordered the JBJ Viper and so, I'll be removing the hood when it gets here.

ej1698

04/20/2006, 02:40 PM

what's the JBJ viper? got a picture/ link?

ej

EricBrian

04/20/2006, 02:46 PM

Sure. :) Here it is:
http://bluezooaquatics.com/livestock/product_info.php?id=2441

So, if you want the 99 cent fans I bought for free, send me your address in a PM and I'll send them to you. :)

ej1698

04/20/2006, 03:01 PM

That's pretty AWESOME Eric!! a little costly but I'm sure it will be worth it.

send me / post a picture when it's set-up

EJ

EricBrian

04/20/2006, 03:18 PM

Will do. :)

brandonros

04/24/2006, 06:08 PM

Hey guys, I just got an aquapod 24 gallon last week and talked to eric a little about it. I'm interested in making the feeding cover conversion but did that cause too much evaporation? I'd hate to pay another $80 for an auto top-off. I tried blowing a desk top fan over the water by keeping the feeding cover open, but it looks bad to have a fan blowing into your open feeding cover and it evaporated about half a gallon of water in one day.
I might try another pc fan in the empty slot but i wouldn't think this would help since I'm not even using any lights for the cycling. My temps are ranging from about 80 to 82. I switched out the stock pump (290 gph/ 35W) for a maxi-jet 1200 (296 gph/ 20W). This 20W is still too hot for the tank I guess. I keep my apartment thermostat at 75, which could also contribute. So does the feeder cover conversion evaporate too much? What's the max temp that's unhealthy for fish and other life in SW? TIA

ej1698

04/25/2006, 06:54 PM

Hey,

80 degrees is fine, I perfer 79 degrees.

ej

EricBrian

04/25/2006, 07:09 PM

I am going to try to keep mine at 78-79 which I have been able to do with the fan blowing over the top of the water.

Tomorrow I get the Viper. But, I don't think I will have the time to install it tomorrow evening. I wonder how that is going to affect temperature.... I doubt I will need the fan anymore.

ej, did you get the fans I sent? :)

ej1698

04/25/2006, 07:29 PM

Hey Eric,

I did recieve them today, Can't thank you enough!!

Thanks again.

make sure to post a picture when you get the viper!!

EJ

EricBrian

04/26/2006, 05:30 PM

EJ,

I got the K-2 Viper today. But wouldn't you know it, the bulb was broken! :(

http://send-an-ecard.com/aquarium/k-2viper_broken_bulb.jpg

So, I called the guys I bought from and the guy I talked to said he will pick up a new 70W bulb and send it to me. Only thing is, it wil probably tanke a week to get to me! :(

Oh well, I guess I can wait.

By the way, the folks at bluezooaquatics.com have the most awesome customer service.

ej1698

04/27/2006, 11:47 AM

That Su*Ks! well, guess you have no other choice but to wait

EJ

EricBrian

04/30/2006, 01:09 PM

I bought an Aqualight yesterday. Here is the pic:

http://send-an-ecard.com/aquarium/aquarium_1_complete.jpg

Still waiting for the bulb for the viper. When I get it, I will put it over my 20g.

Oh, and even though there is no more hood, I am still having heat issues with the intensity of the aqualight. :( So, the fan is here to say, it seems.