Mugwump's Fish World

THE POND-THE FRESHWATER PLACE => THE TANK SET UP => Topic started by: GraphicGr8s on August 17, 2015, 01:05:02 PM

Title: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: GraphicGr8s on August 17, 2015, 01:05:02 PM
Anyone ever try this?


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/threads/three-aquariums-connected-via-fish-bridges.247456/
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2015, 01:25:50 PM
It sure wouldn't work for my Discus and Angels but it's really one heck of a great idea for other fish.  Thanks for posting the link.  I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: GraphicGr8s on August 17, 2015, 01:28:12 PM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2015, 01:25:50 PM
It sure wouldn't work for my Discus and Angels but it's really one heck of a great idea for other fish.  Thanks for posting the link.  I really enjoyed it.

My pleasure.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: Mugwump on August 17, 2015, 01:28:32 PM
Quote from: GraphicGr8s on August 17, 2015, 01:05:02 PM
Anyone ever try this?


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/threads/three-aquariums-connected-via-fish-bridges.247456/

No...not yet.. ;D

I've always wanted one like this too....


Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: greydragon on August 17, 2015, 03:57:49 PM
wouldnt the air bubbles slowly push all the water out of the tank?
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: Mugwump on August 17, 2015, 04:16:20 PM
Quote from: greydragon on August 17, 2015, 03:57:49 PM
wouldnt the air bubbles slowly push all the water out of the tank?


no, they use simple pumps on the smaller ones, then bigger vacuum pumps for the larger ones....

DIY vacuum pump system..

Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BillT on August 17, 2015, 04:32:51 PM
Here is a cheap product that does this. I have found it in many places.
I have used several for various purposes:

http://www.tbaquatics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=954&gclid=CIv0ovyHsccCFQUMaQodbTQKYw&zenid=1cc4906e6c6b755e07aaabc709935677#.VdJSQnueDOs (http://www.tbaquatics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=954&gclid=CIv0ovyHsccCFQUMaQodbTQKYw&zenid=1cc4906e6c6b755e07aaabc709935677#.VdJSQnueDOs)

Some of the tank connector pictures showed small copper valves (should not be in contact with aquarium water) on the pipe, presumably for the purpose of sucking out the air.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: big b on August 19, 2015, 05:20:52 PM
I actually thought someone made a bridge into an aquarium somehow. But I have seen this before. Not this exactly cuz the one I saw was in a fish magazine :). But I have always wondered about doing it myself but I am to much of a wimp to try it out. Plus I don't want to hurt my fish or tanks if something goes wrong.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: Ron Sower on August 19, 2015, 11:18:31 PM
Surely this is for migratory fish!  :P :P :P
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BillT on August 19, 2015, 11:53:01 PM
Oh nice Ron.
You could have a freshwater and a brackish tank connected by a long pipe going up from the tank might preserve the water differences (or temperature differences).
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BallAquatics on August 20, 2015, 10:23:04 AM
Aquatic hamsters   w!w

Dennis
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: Mugwump on August 20, 2015, 11:21:23 AM
Quote from: BallAquatics on August 20, 2015, 10:23:04 AM
Aquatic hamsters   w!w

Dennis


.... w!w  closest comparison yet......yup
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: big b on August 20, 2015, 08:49:11 PM
Bill gave me an idea. Could you do that with a bunch of tanks that start at freshwater and then work their way up to full salt? Like the first tank is full freshwater and then the next tanks would increase in salinity by a little bit until they would be in brackish. And then that would keep on happening until it went to full saltwater? Like 100+ tanks all combined with that bridge? Would the saltwater tanks make the salt water go over to the freshwater and make them salty-er?
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BillT on August 21, 2015, 12:17:31 PM
QuoteCould you do that with a bunch of tanks that start at freshwater and then work their way up to full salt? Like the first tank is full freshwater and then the next tanks would increase in salinity by a little bit until they would be in brackish. And then that would keep on happening until it went to full saltwater?


There are two forces, at least that would be working against this:

1) Diffusion and osmotic pressure that would tend to equalize the concentrations of both the water (water at highest concentration in freshwater) and the salts (highest in the sea water). Alone these would be slow processes since they happen at a molecular scale (very very small). They are based upon the random movement of particles which will tend to go from high concentrations to low by random chance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_diffusion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_diffusion)

2) Mass water movement which could be due to convection (due to temperature or density differences) or water being dragged along with the fish (or other things) as they move from one tank to another. This would be faster. The rate would depend upon a number of different factors.

How long this would take to equalize the concentrations will depend on things like size and length of bridges, fish movemendt, and a bunch of other things.
Regardless of that, a difference could be maintained while allowing the fish to move about from tank to tank. This could be done by periodic water changes at the high salinity and low salinity ends of the series. Or water changes at the freshwater end and conductivity controller (to add salt) at the high salt end.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: big b on August 21, 2015, 04:55:49 PM
So it would be difficult but not impossible?
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BillT on August 21, 2015, 07:09:43 PM
Once set up it would be easy to maintain (my guess).
I automate water changes and have two or three conductivity controllers going.
I would consider the bridges more of a hassle to set and to maintain.
On the other hand, bridges going up (which in my mind makes for the difficulty because of removing air that gets in) might keep the different waters from flowing together so easily.

If it were done with bulkhead fittings (straight through the tank walls), the water could flow back and forth but air leaking in would not be a problem. The greater rates of water exchange would require more and larger new amounts freshwater and more slat pumping in under control of the conductivity controller.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: big b on August 21, 2015, 07:54:39 PM
I meant the freshwater to saltwater thing.
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: BillT on August 21, 2015, 08:16:42 PM
Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

If there if a lot of exchange, blending the waters together, large enough inputs of freshwater and salt water (with appropriate removal of excess water) would be able to overcome those differences.

Not clear if I answered your question thoiugh
Title: Re: Aquariums and bridges
Post by: big b on August 21, 2015, 10:08:27 PM
Sorry, I wasn't understanding it at the time when I posted that. I understand it now. Also you did answer. my question  |^|