In tha ghetto

I set this up about three weeks ago, and it's working great. I have two angels and a pleco in it, doing great and growing. It's my ghetto grow tank and light reflector. My turtles leave my original fish alone, but if I put a new small fish in their aquarium they chase it around and eat it. I decided to set this grow tank up so I can let new fish get big enough to add to the turtle tank. I'm getting a 125 gallon aquarium for the turtles soon, so if they still want to chase the angels I will move the fish back into the 40 gal.

I had the large Critter keeper and some of the PVC pieces, so I only had to spend about $5 for the ball valve and a few connectors. The reflector is a $2 sheet of aluminum that I cut, bent and bolted into a reflector, and added a $2 bulb base and $1 extension cord.

I used the pump for the filter to pump water into the intake for the Critter Keeper, with a ball valve to control the flow or shut it off for maintenance. The main output drains down through the filter in the main tank. Then I added a backup drain, so if I get a clog in the filter or a twist in the drain line the water will still drain back into the main tank, instead of over flowing 40 gallons of water onto the floor.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...eb0c7ae977.jpg

Intake
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...cc8c704bc1.jpg

Intake and main drain
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...4c40a6a3fa.jpg

Backup drain
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...c04411d527.jpg

Reflector
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...244b585c73.jpg

Nice!!!!!!!!!

Man I wish I could keep plecos in my tank.

I started with albino...got ate.

Got a BIGGER Chocolate Albino......got ate.

Gonna try a normal see if he makes it!

i sead id seen it all... but i have never ever seen that ....YYY..

Great idea :gj:.Now run out to get the patent on it lol

I feel so dumb right now you people are geniuses!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seclark

I feel so dumb right now you people are geniuses!

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Nope, my IQ is only 153. Thanks, though!

Update: I just moved the fish from the top tank into my turtle tank a few hours ago. The turtles checked out the angels for a minute, but they urned around and left them alone. I've never seen them do that with smaller fish that wre added, so I think they are all large enough that they will be ok in there.

Wow....I think that is the most effort that I have seen anyone put into a critter keeper lol. Looks like you have done a great job. What kind of turtles are you going to be keeping with the angels and how big are they? I am slightly curious, I have seen a few people on cichlid forums that have done red ears with oscars and such.
Also, is that a panaque? It is gorgeous! I don't have much going for plecos right now except for my leopard, a larger chocolate, and some albino bushy nose. I have had a hankering for one of those royal plecos but have been put off by a lot of keepers who have had issues keeping them alive.

The key to keeping royal plecos is ...wood. They love to munch on it!!

I do have a ton of driftwood. I got a ton of it for free when I picked up my 240 gallon aquarium. I just need to get it all anchored. That is going to take at least a day with all of the nice stuff I have lol. It sits in rubbermade tubs for now.
I love plecos in the panaque family, simply gorgeous. I noticed Jeff Rapps has been selling some nice L numbers.....someday.