grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Hi gang, I have a really stupid question for you that someone with the amount of fish keeping experience should know. I have a two foot tank running with some Juvenille M. Parkinsonii(orange) rainbowfish and some juv Common Bristlenoses that I am fattening up to sell. The tank has a large sponge filter, run off an air pump. Now here is the issue, last night at the ANGFA meeting I bought 5 young M Parkinsonii yellow form, which I intend to place in another 2footer next too and level with the old tank. I have added an aged internal power filter to seed the tank and a brand new sponge filter that is approx half the size of the sponge in the other tank. Both tanks share the Airpump with a T piece sending hose to both tanks. The problem I have is that the pump will only send air to the new sponge filter and not share it equally with the old filter. Currently I am using a surgical clamp on the air line going to the new filter to create enough back pressure to divert air to the old sponge. Anyone know what is going on here ? Do I 1. Next a mixing valve with multiple adjustable fittings that I can balance out ? 2. Is the old sponge to dirty to pull air when it has to share the pump with another filter ? 3. Is the pump not powerful enough to do two filters ? The reason I am clueless on this, is that this is the first time I have used an Air pump since I was a kid, and even then I only used them to drive airstones not filters. I have always used Power filters or canisters, even when I used under gravel filters I used power heads. This is my first use of Air driven sponge filters, so I am a bit clueless on this one. The reason for the change Is I am thing about using sponge filters in my breeding and rearing tanks when I get them set up and running, this is just I trial to see if this is a better route to go down then sumps and plumbing and battery of tanks. Apologies again for the lame question. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daydream Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 no1 is your answer if with clamp both are working no3 is your answer if with clamp only 1 works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Guessing if the pump is a one outlet it may not be strong enough, You could try putting a tap in the line. I can't see the old sponge filter being blocked unless its one of those ones that have an airstone in it, then you could try changing the airstone. Lift the old one a bit and see if as it starts to work. A bit all over the place lol, but hope its of some use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbowrunner Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 the air will always find the easiest route, could be as simple as a dirty airstone or even just a few mm diff in water level. you will have to use valves, thats always been the case for me good to see you got some nice fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matmatmat Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I just had the same issue.. Just pull the old sponge apart (mine were gunked up with stuff) and clean all the tubes and holes with a peice of wire..and yep use valves to adjust flow.. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betta Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Rainbowrunner is right, path of least resistance you will solve the problem with either a clamp or a 2-way gang valve. I've got plenty if you want one. I just upgraded my system from six air pumps to a single LP40 so I have a few spare air pumps too, so if you want to use a twin so each filter has its own line, just give us a yo & they're yours, you've got my number dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 the air will always find the easiest route, could be as simple as a dirty airstone or even just a few mm diff in water level. you will have to use valves, thats always been the case for me good to see you got some nice fish Dude forgot to mention that I bought some Bribie Island Rhads from Gunther, they are amazing, Neon Blue along the heads and the longest fins of any Rhad I have ever seen. We gotta put God's waiting room on the list of places to visit when we go collecting, these Rhads are a must have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Thanks guys, I think I am gonna go with the multi valve route for starters. Thanks for the advice everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Rainbowrunner is right, path of least resistance you will solve the problem with either a clamp or a 2-way gang valve. I've got plenty if you want one. I just upgraded my system from six air pumps to a single LP40 so I have a few spare air pumps too, so if you want to use a twin so each filter has its own line, just give us a yo & they're yours, you've got my number dude Betta, should have come to the ANGFA meeting last night, we had a lecture from a bloke from the NSW ANGFA chapter on how to do DIY LEDs, basically he showed us how to build you own set up and how to add a digital clock to make the leds come on and simulate Sunrise, Midday, Dusk and moonlight. Apparently using the Star LEDS are way more efficent than tape LEDS and pretty easy to make an array of them. He also talked about optics to focus LEDS to a distinct point. If I get a copy of the lecture i will post it on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betta Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Wicked dude, sounds like I missed an awesome talk, doh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbowrunner Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I missed it too, "God's waiting room"? Whats that? We would definitely have to have a look if there is rhads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I missed it too, "God's waiting room"? Whats that? We would definitely have to have a look if there is rhads Bribie Island, all the oldies up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbowrunner Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I thought that was Hervey bay lol Ive had a couple of looks around Bribie Island and never had any luck, but there is alot more creeks than I looked at, havnt got a 4wd and the creeks/lagoons near the surf side look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I thought that was Hervey bay lolIve had a couple of looks around Bribie Island and never had any luck, but there is alot more creeks than I looked at, havnt got a 4wd and the creeks/lagoons near the surf side look good. Yeah that too LOL , I am getting a location on the Rhads from the collector of mine . Watch this space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63off Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Betta, should have come to the ANGFA meeting last night, we had a lecture from a bloke from the NSW ANGFA chapter on how to do DIY LEDs, basically he showed us how to build you own set up and how to add a digital clock to make the leds come on and simulate Sunrise, Midday, Dusk and moonlight. Apparently using the Star LEDS are way more efficent than tape LEDS and pretty easy to make an array of them. He also talked about optics to focus LEDS to a distinct point. If I get a copy of the lecture i will post it on the forum. Definitely post that up if you can get a hold of it Grubby. That'd be an awesome project, such a cool idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rex82 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 If one airline is longer than the other there is less resistance on the shorter line which means it will take all the air. A closed loop main around the room and droppers all the same size will in theory provide all sponge filters with the same amount of air, make one dropper shorter and it will take all the air if that makes any sense :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 If one airline is longer than the other there is less resistance on the shorter line which means it will take all the air. A closed loop main around the room and droppers all the same size will in theory provide all sponge filters with the same amount of air, make one dropper shorter and it will take all the air if that makes any sense :/ Yep gotchya.Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betta Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 If one airline is longer than the other there is less resistance on the shorter line which means it will take all the air. A closed loop main around the room and droppers all the same size will in theory provide all sponge filters with the same amount of air, make one dropper shorter and it will take all the air if that makes any sense :/ Thats the exact system I just put in my place & I have taps on all the droppers, works a treat! I'm pretty sure it's a bit over the top for your two sponge filters Grubby, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
028NVD Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Hey grubby, no such thing as a stupid question. Only stupid mistakes made by not asking the simple question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Well went to a LFS and bought a valve set with two taps, balanced them out nicely. Thanks for the advice everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
