Most things have gone really well. A few have been less than perfect.



My bell siphon would work for 6 hours then either not activate or not stop. I'd jiggle it, and we'd go through the whole thing again. I tried increasing the inflow of water and further restricting the outflow in order to help the activation. I tried drilling a hole in the top of the bell and running a tube outside to the bottom, to help it deactivate. Those were imperfect solutions, plus now the flow of the water… Continue

I finished hooking everything up, and transplanted my plants. I seriously expect most of them to die, and I'm hoping my poor fish survives the experience. And that he likes the friends I eventually pick out for him.



The siphon is working like a charm! I found the volume control on the water pump, and turned it all the way down to the lowest setting, and I think it's filling at about the right speed. I'll need to time it, but not tonight. But it's draining completely, and stopping… Continue

This morning I did a little more shopping, and got some things set up.



Purchased:

Plastic primer ($5.49)

Copper paint (hey - no reason not to make it festive, right?) ($3.99)

1-1/4" bore bit ($5.49)

3/4" bore bit ($4.79)

Power strip ($4.49)

10 piece saw/driver set (for removing slats from the plastic shelves in order to have room for the drainage) ($14.99)

24" Level (I've been wanting one for quite a while anyway) ($8.99)

Zip-ties… Continue

I've done a lot of research, planned, revised, considered building, purchasing premade, went back to the drawing board, and finally took the plunge today. Right or wrong, I bought stuff.



So here's the fishtank I already own:…

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