how to make a tank divider?

[Flash Wilson]

I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.

I want to divide the tank - the eggs are at one end, and I'd
like to fit some kind of divider before they hatch, which gives
me about a week, I think.

Now I thought of getting a sheet of plastic and cutting it down,
but the filter (an air-driven box one) is at the end with the
eggs. So I do need water to pass through the two sides, so it
doesn't become stale in the larger part where the adults will
remain.

I thought of drilling holes in plastic, but this might shatter,
I dont know what size is needed, and if too big the babies might
get through and get munched. Also, I'd need to use masking tape
while drilling, and I don't know if the adhesive would remain
on the plastic and cause a problem.

I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.

Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
most useful :-)

Thanks!

--
Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!

[Paul McGuinness]

In message >, Flash Wilson
> writes
>I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
>turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
>male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.
>
>I want to divide the tank -
snip
>
>I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
>on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
>netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
>of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
>girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.
>
How about using nylon curtain netting? Find one fine enough to keep
babies in while letting water flow. I should think a good wash without
soap would render it safe for fishes. Maybe stitched onto an aluminium
frame made from thin aluminium bar ( from B&Q in the uk)
>Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
>but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
>most useful :-)
>
>Thanks!
>
I have not tried this but I hope it gives you some inspiration.
--
Paul McGuinness

[CanadianCray]

Yeah you could use the plastic window screen for your net... I would sugest
using plastic instead of aluminium for the frame as the alum. could corrode
in the water. The plastic would be a pain when dealing with baby fish. You
would need to drill super fine holes to stop them from getting through &
then thousands of them to allow water flow. Stick with something premade
like the window screen idea. The stuff is really cheap to.

--
Craig Williams
_________________________________

www.Canadiancray.tk
"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
> turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
> male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.
>
> I want to divide the tank - the eggs are at one end, and I'd
> like to fit some kind of divider before they hatch, which gives
> me about a week, I think.
>
> Now I thought of getting a sheet of plastic and cutting it down,
> but the filter (an air-driven box one) is at the end with the
> eggs. So I do need water to pass through the two sides, so it
> doesn't become stale in the larger part where the adults will
> remain.
>
> I thought of drilling holes in plastic, but this might shatter,
> I dont know what size is needed, and if too big the babies might
> get through and get munched. Also, I'd need to use masking tape
> while drilling, and I don't know if the adhesive would remain
> on the plastic and cause a problem.
>
> I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
> on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
> netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
> of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
> girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.
>
> Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
> but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
> most useful :-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
> Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
> http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!

[NetMax]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
> turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
> male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.
>
> I want to divide the tank - the eggs are at one end, and I'd
> like to fit some kind of divider before they hatch, which gives
> me about a week, I think.
>
> Now I thought of getting a sheet of plastic and cutting it down,
> but the filter (an air-driven box one) is at the end with the
> eggs. So I do need water to pass through the two sides, so it
> doesn't become stale in the larger part where the adults will
> remain.
>
> I thought of drilling holes in plastic, but this might shatter,
> I dont know what size is needed, and if too big the babies might
> get through and get munched. Also, I'd need to use masking tape
> while drilling, and I don't know if the adhesive would remain
> on the plastic and cause a problem.
>
> I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
> on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
> netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
> of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
> girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.
>
> Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
> but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
> most useful :-)

Use a solid divider, buy a diverter valve and a 2nd air-powered box
filter. You divider has to be the right height, and width needs to be
approximate and larger than width of tank. This lets you angle the
divider in for a tight fit (and it remains at a bit of an angle). Your
concern will be to secure the divider. I use rubber U-track on the
divider edges. Sometimes rubber suction cups along the side edge which
would fall. A few rocks. The LFS has divider kits which have a metal
bracket used to secure the divider in place. A home-made divider can be
just about any piece of inert plastic (plexiglass, dacron, polyethelene,
acrylic etc), or a sheet of glass (any thickness). Do it soon as the fry
will get in your way later.

Perferating a divider, with holes small enough to retain fry and big
enough to pass filtered water is a non-starter ;~)

NetMax

> Thanks!
>
> --
> Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
> Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
> http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!

[Andre]

Go to the craft store and ask for plastic canvas. It has small holes to
allow water movement and will be easy to cut into any size.
Andre
"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
> turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
> male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.
>
> I want to divide the tank - the eggs are at one end, and I'd
> like to fit some kind of divider before they hatch, which gives
> me about a week, I think.
>
> Now I thought of getting a sheet of plastic and cutting it down,
> but the filter (an air-driven box one) is at the end with the
> eggs. So I do need water to pass through the two sides, so it
> doesn't become stale in the larger part where the adults will
> remain.
>
> I thought of drilling holes in plastic, but this might shatter,
> I dont know what size is needed, and if too big the babies might
> get through and get munched. Also, I'd need to use masking tape
> while drilling, and I don't know if the adhesive would remain
> on the plastic and cause a problem.
>
> I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
> on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
> netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
> of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
> girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.
>
> Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
> but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
> most useful :-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
> Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
> http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!

[Eric Schreiber]

Andre wrote:

> Go to the craft store and ask for plastic canvas. It has small holes
> to allow water movement and will be easy to cut into any size.

I second that, though I wonder if the holes may be too big, and allow
the young to slip through. There may be a finer mesh variety available.

Anyhow, to the original poster, if you're not familiar with what Andre
is talking about, here are some photos of how I used this craft canvas
to divide a ten gallon tank:

http://www.ericschreiber.com/aquarium/tank3.html


--
www.ericschreiber.com

[Andre]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Andre wrote:
>
> > Go to the craft store and ask for plastic canvas. It has small holes
> > to allow water movement and will be easy to cut into any size.
>
> I second that, though I wonder if the holes may be too big, and allow
> the young to slip through. There may be a finer mesh variety available.
>
> Anyhow, to the original poster, if you're not familiar with what Andre
> is talking about, here are some photos of how I used this craft canvas
> to divide a ten gallon tank:
>
> http://www.ericschreiber.com/aquarium/tank3.html
>
>
> --
> www.ericschreiber.com
I have seen plastic canvas of different hole sizes. My biggest concern is
the adult fish squeezing between the glass and the plastic if it not a tight
fit. Also, I would soak the plastic in warm water to allow it to expand to
the correct size before cutting. The channel grove frame works great but I
can never find the stuff. One time I used drilled Plexiglas as a divider
and when it warmed up and expanded the tank cracked.

[Eric Schreiber]

Andre wrote:

> I have seen plastic canvas of different hole sizes. My biggest
> concern is the adult fish squeezing between the glass and the plastic
> if it not a tight fit.

> The channel grove frame works great but I can never find the stuff.
> One time I used drilled Plexiglas as a divider and when it warmed up
> and expanded the tank cracked.

I'll grant that it's not an attractive solution, but the channels
siliconed to the glass make this pretty much impossible. I don't mind
setting up a ten gallon this way, but I assume that an axolotl tank is
bigger, and I'd hesitate to go gluing things to the sides of a more
expensive tank.

The channels are nothing more than report binder covers, which ought to
be available at just about any office supply store. Even in Canada,
land of the free :)

I didn't know that Plexiglass expands when wet - I'll have to keep that
in mind for a future project. The craft canvas stuff may expand, but
it's so flexible that it isn't an issue.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

[Andre]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Andre wrote:
>
> > I have seen plastic canvas of different hole sizes. My biggest
> > concern is the adult fish squeezing between the glass and the plastic
> > if it not a tight fit.
>
> > The channel grove frame works great but I can never find the stuff.
> > One time I used drilled Plexiglas as a divider and when it warmed up
> > and expanded the tank cracked.

>
> I didn't know that Plexiglass expands when wet - I'll have to keep that
> in mind for a future project. The craft canvas stuff may expand, but
> it's so flexible that it isn't an issue.
>
> --
> www.ericschreiber.com
The Plexiglas was very tight between the front and back glass of aquarium.
The temperate of the water, 27 C, made it warp and expand enough to crack
the tank. I'm sure if the Plexiglas was a bit smaller the aquarium would
not of cracked.

[Eric Schreiber]

Andre wrote:

> The Plexiglas was very tight between the front and back glass of
> aquarium. The temperate of the water, 27 C, made it warp and expand
> enough to crack the tank. I'm sure if the Plexiglas was a bit
> smaller the aquarium would not of cracked.

Doh, I feel like an idiot. I don't know why I read "wet" when you
clearly indicated that it was temperature related. I need to get more
sleep, maybe.



--
www.ericschreiber.com

[RedForeman ©®]

> I'm on day 5 of having axolotl eggs, and they are starting to
> turn into little curly shapes, so at last I'm fairly sure the
> male did his bit and at least some of them are going to hatch.
>
> I want to divide the tank - the eggs are at one end, and I'd
> like to fit some kind of divider before they hatch, which gives
> me about a week, I think.
>
> Now I thought of getting a sheet of plastic and cutting it down,
> but the filter (an air-driven box one) is at the end with the
> eggs. So I do need water to pass through the two sides, so it
> doesn't become stale in the larger part where the adults will
> remain.
>
> I thought of drilling holes in plastic, but this might shatter,
> I dont know what size is needed, and if too big the babies might
> get through and get munched. Also, I'd need to use masking tape
> while drilling, and I don't know if the adhesive would remain
> on the plastic and cause a problem.
>
> I thought of making a frame and putting netting over it - like
> on a breeding net cage. I don't have any ideas where to get
> netting or how to go about it! And I did think of some kind
> of material - like stockings or something - but I don't wear
> girlie stuff so don't have anything like that kicking about.
>
> Anyone got any useful ideas? I've got lots of speculative thoughts
> but if anyone has really done this before that would be the
> most useful :-)
>
> Thanks!

I've seen UGF Plates used as dividers on a 10g tank, they had used the 29g
plates, cut and siliconed to the glass, allowed for smaller fish to get
away, but bigger ones wouldn't fit thru, other uses were for breeding
mouthbrooders, transferring fry from mouth to mouth, thru the hole...

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
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==========================
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is that better??