Habitat - Indoor :: DIY Basking platform/canister filter attachment

[n3hihz]

Figure I'll share my new project.

I had to consolidate both turtles into my 65G, in the efforts of not making their health any worse. I'm making a new basking platform, that will be connected to 2 Eheims to keep the water clean.



It's still a work in progress. Need to fit and egg crate on top and then cover with some kind of rock.

[steve]

Looks interesting. How are you planning the inlets and outlets? Tile is usually good and should be heavy enough to hold down the PVC.

[n3hihz]

The black mark indicates plugs. Plugging off and allowing only 2 clear passage for the water. The top adapters are both 1/2" barb, which will have vinyl tubing that will attached to the eheim intake pipe to go into the eheim canisters. I will have 2 different return, one on the water surface and one all the way at bottom, to help water circulation.

The other idea I had in my was use the red as intake to the Eheim then the green tube for outtake back into the tank. Not sure which is best yet, will have to do some testing in my tank during the next full cleaning.

I bought some silicone to glue the Slate rock to the egg crate that will be sitting ontop but it didn't smell right. GE Silicone II claims to be 100% silicone, but the 100% silicone I've used previously smells like vinegar smacked you in the face. This one smell a slight bit like glue. I'll have to go back and purchase a new tube.

I was thinking about using slate tiles to go across bottom and possibly the side, it will make it aesthetically more pleasing and give the turtles a nice little cave to hide in. but that will have to wait until testing is done.

[steve]

OK, that makes sense. 2 things to consider... outlet on the bottom will not agitate the water surface and you will get oil/protein slicks. The inlet could have several small holes drilled in (sort of like a spray bar) and it would be safer for the turtles.

[n3hihz]

Agreed, that's why I was thinking about running both as inlet, and have 2 loc-line as the return. That way I can adjust the direction and break the water surface.
I was also thinking about adding an overflow pipe in the center, but I want to test this section and how it works before going crazy.

Was thinking about adding a prefilter in the hole like this piece

but drilling holes wouldnt be a bad idea either

[steve]

That looks good, but might get clogged quickly. It has to pull in pieces of waste and also skin. If you have cork in the tank, it will have to pick up small pieces as well. If it were holes in the PVC, you might have better circulation in the tank.