RM...........here are some links to some good sites that have the proper bulbs

Reel McKoi said the following on 12/26/2007 7:59 PM:

"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...

Brevity snips

The biggest problem I had was fooling with them to get the situated to
get the flow pattern that I wanted.
=======================
Mine will stay in place.

It wasn't so much getting them to stay still that I had the problem
with. With it "locked" into the rock, I couldn't lean it to get a more
upward flow that I wanted and the directional attachment didn't quite
give me the direction I wanted.

The problem is the intake slots clog quickly with plant debris.

When I do water changes, I simply pick the rock up, pull the filter out
the bottom, rinse it off in a bucket, and put it back. So far, I get
very little debris on it and what I do get easily rinses off.

Or bits of plant debris get pulled through the intake
slots and clog up the impeller.

That is why I put the filter in the rock. I couldn't attach it to the
power head because of the way they were made. So, I used the rock to
hold the filter and power-head so that the power-head can only pull
water through the filter. The filter keeps the power-head from becoming
clogged.

The two "rocks" that I have (they aren't actually true rocks) look like
someone pulled a post out of the ground that was concreted in. Then took
the concrete and cut it into 4 inch sections so that they have square
holes in the middle. I cut filters to fit into that hole and then have
it pull through the filter. In the end, about all the rocks do is give
me a stable place to hold the filter and power head where they are
stable with one another.


--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind
comp.lang.javascript FAQ - http://jibbering.com/faq/index.html
Javascript Best Practices - http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com/bestpractices/

"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...
Reel McKoi said the following on 12/26/2007 7:59 PM:

The problem is the intake slots clog quickly with plant debris.

When I do water changes, I simply pick the rock up, pull the filter out
the bottom, rinse it off in a bucket, and put it back. So far, I get very
little debris on it and what I do get easily rinses off.

OK, mine are made so there is no filter on the bottom but Roy reminded me
about some I have stored. As I recall they have an intake strainer I can
pull a sponge over to prevent clogging. My other powerheads not made the
same.

Or bits of plant debris get pulled through the intake slots and clog up
the impeller.

That is why I put the filter in the rock.

What filter? These powerheads have no filter?!?!?! They have slots where
the water is sucked in and a outflow tube.

I couldn't attach it to the
power head because of the way they were made. So, I used the rock to hold
the filter and power-head so that the power-head can only pull water
through the filter. The filter keeps the power-head from becoming clogged.

Are you talking about a sponge filter on it's intake screen? Not all of
these powerhead-like water pumps come with screens you can pull a sponge
over.

The two "rocks" that I have (they aren't actually true rocks) look like
someone pulled a post out of the ground that was concreted in. Then took
the concrete and cut it into 4 inch sections so that they have square
holes in the middle. I cut filters to fit into that hole and then have it
pull through the filter. In the end, about all the rocks do is give me a
stable place to hold the filter and power head where they are stable with
one another.

You have the type of powerhead that comes with a strainer then. I'm hoping
I have one or two out in storage.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

Reel McKoi said the following on 12/27/2007 5:44 PM:

"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...
Reel McKoi said the following on 12/26/2007 7:59 PM:

The problem is the intake slots clog quickly with plant debris.

When I do water changes, I simply pick the rock up, pull the filter
out the bottom, rinse it off in a bucket, and put it back. So far, I
get very little debris on it and what I do get easily rinses off.

OK, mine are made so there is no filter on the bottom but Roy reminded
me about some I have stored. As I recall they have an intake strainer I
can pull a sponge over to prevent clogging. My other powerheads not
made the same.

One of mine is not made with an intake strainer. The other one I removed
the intake strainer from it.

Or bits of plant debris get pulled through the intake slots and clog
up the impeller.

That is why I put the filter in the rock.

What filter? These powerheads have no filter?!?!?! They have slots
where the water is sucked in and a outflow tube.

You have to make your own filter or use a different power head. The
power heads that I have in my plant tank, one doesn't have an intake
strainer (it isn't made to have one) and the other has an intake
strainer that I removed. I removed the strainer from it because the
strainer was too tall for where I wanted to use it.

Now, you have to figure out how to attach a filter to it. The solution I
came up with was to take a rock that I had (I saw some similar in
Petco). It has holes in the rock. I put a filter inside that hole. Then,
you sit the power head on top of the filter, so that the intake for the
power head is inside the filter. Any water that goes into the power head
has to go through that filter.

Then, you have to figure out how to secure the power head to the filter.
What I used are the ties that you can buy in Walmart. Cable ties. They
sell them in the Automotive section. They also sell them at Lowes and
Home Depot. They come in packs anywhere from a few to hundreds.

The purpose of the rock was to give it a stable base so that the filter
wouldn't get crushed onto the pumps. Put the pump on the filter, then
Cable Tie it all together. It is that simple. You are going to have to
be innovative or change power heads.

I couldn't attach it to the
power head because of the way they were made. So, I used the rock to
hold the filter and power-head so that the power-head can only pull
water through the filter. The filter keeps the power-head from
becoming clogged.

Are you talking about a sponge filter on it's intake screen? Not all of
these powerhead-like water pumps come with screens you can pull a sponge
over.

I can't even find that type of filter here. I hunted one and had to come
up with a solution of my own. None of it would have happened if my wife
hadn't decided that since she could feed dog food to the fish at the
dock that mine would eat it too and dumped a hand full of dog food into
the tank. I was stubborn enough to want to figure out how to clear it up
without having to change all the water.

The two "rocks" that I have (they aren't actually true rocks) look
like someone pulled a post out of the ground that was concreted in.
Then took the concrete and cut it into 4 inch sections so that they
have square holes in the middle. I cut filters to fit into that hole
and then have it pull through the filter. In the end, about all the
rocks do is give me a stable place to hold the filter and power head
where they are stable with one another.

You have the type of powerhead that comes with a strainer then. I'm
hoping I have one or two out in storage.

No. One is, one isn't. The one that is I removed it from the power head.

Right now, my digital camera battery is in the charger being recharged.
I have to do some work on the tank and will try to take some pictures
and post them online so you can see how I made it.

--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind

"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...

Now, you have to figure out how to attach a filter to it. The solution I
came up with was to take a rock that I had (I saw some similar in Petco).
It has holes in the rock. I put a filter inside that hole.

What are you using for a filter? A sponge on the end of the intake?

Then,
you sit the power head on top of the filter, so that the intake for the
power head is inside the filter. Any water that goes into the power head
has to go through that filter.

Then, you have to figure out how to secure the power head to the filter.
What I used are the ties that you can buy in Walmart. Cable ties. They
sell them in the Automotive section. They also sell them at Lowes and Home
Depot. They come in packs anywhere from a few to hundreds.

What kind of sponge are you using for a filter? You can just cut a hole in
the sponge and stick the intake in it.

The purpose of the rock was to give it a stable base so that the filter
wouldn't get crushed onto the pumps. Put the pump on the filter, then
Cable Tie it all together. It is that simple. You are going to have to be
innovative or change power heads.

So every week or so you have to clean the sponge filter and replace the
ties?

Are you talking about a sponge filter on it's intake screen? Not all of
these powerhead-like water pumps come with screens you can pull a sponge
over.

I can't even find that type of filter here. I hunted one and had to come
up with a solution of my own. None of it would have happened if my wife
hadn't decided that since she could feed dog food to the fish at the dock
that mine would eat it too and dumped a hand full of dog food into the
tank. I was stubborn enough to want to figure out how to clear it up
without having to change all the water.

If you can't find these "filters" I probably wont either. Is it a sponge? I
have no idea what you're talking about.


Right now, my digital camera battery is in the charger being recharged. I
have to do some work on the tank and will try to take some pictures and
post them online so you can see how I made it.

Yes, I would love to see what they look like. :-)
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

Reel McKoi said the following on 12/28/2007 12:12 PM:

"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...

Now, you have to figure out how to attach a filter to it. The solution
I came up with was to take a rock that I had (I saw some similar in
Petco). It has holes in the rock. I put a filter inside that hole.

What are you using for a filter? A sponge on the end of the intake?

Sorry for the delay in replying. I have been chasing plant tank
equipment the last two days.

The filter I use is actually a filter that is made for a wet/dry filter
in a sal****er tank. It is about as "coarse" as most sponge filters you
see for power heads.

Then,
you sit the power head on top of the filter, so that the intake for
the power head is inside the filter. Any water that goes into the
power head has to go through that filter.

Then, you have to figure out how to secure the power head to the
filter. What I used are the ties that you can buy in Walmart. Cable
ties. They sell them in the Automotive section. They also sell them at
Lowes and Home Depot. They come in packs anywhere from a few to hundreds.

What kind of sponge are you using for a filter? You can just cut a hole
in the sponge and stick the intake in it.

I didn't have a way to mount it in the tank unless I attached it to
something. I simply decided to put my rock to multiple uses. And, the
filter I have actually floats my power head if it is not attached to
anything.

The purpose of the rock was to give it a stable base so that the
filter wouldn't get crushed onto the pumps. Put the pump on the
filter, then Cable Tie it all together. It is that simple. You are
going to have to be innovative or change power heads.

So every week or so you have to clean the sponge filter and replace the
ties?

No. The way they are attached it allows access to the bottom. And, most
of the time, simply turning the pump off allows the plant matter to
simply fall off the bottom to be vacuumed out.

Are you talking about a sponge filter on it's intake screen? Not all
of these powerhead-like water pumps come with screens you can pull a
sponge over.

I can't even find that type of filter here. I hunted one and had to
come up with a solution of my own. None of it would have happened if
my wife hadn't decided that since she could feed dog food to the fish
at the dock that mine would eat it too and dumped a hand full of dog
food into the tank. I was stubborn enough to want to figure out how to
clear it up without having to change all the water.

If you can't find these "filters" I probably wont either. Is it a
sponge? I have no idea what you're talking about.

There is a picture of it on the page I linked to at the end of this post.


Right now, my digital camera battery is in the charger being
recharged. I have to do some work on the tank and will try to take
some pictures and post them online so you can see how I made it.

Yes, I would love to see what they look like. :-)

URL: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/hikksnotathome/fishtank/index.html

If, for some reason, the pictures don't load, let me know and I can
email them directly to you. The very last picture the power head is not
attached with tie strips because I bought a kit to mount the power head
on the back of the tank with suction cups and found the filters for
power heads. They were simply put on in an X pattern so that they didn't
lock the filter into the rock.

For yours, if it doesn't have an intake tube, and only has an inlet
area, you can use a piece of air conditioner filter for a window unit,
wrap your pump in it, and use rubber bands to hold it on.
--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind
comp.lang.javascript FAQ - http://jibbering.com/faq/index.html
Javascript Best Practices - http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com/bestpractices/

On Dec 31, 7:40*pm, Randy Webb wrote:
Reel McKoi said the following on 12/28/2007 12:12 PM:



"Randy Webb" wrote in message
...

Now, you have to figure out how to attach a filter to it. The solution
I came up with was to take a rock that I had (I saw some similar in
Petco). It has holes in the rock. I put a filter inside that hole.

What are you using for a filter? *A sponge on the end of the intake?

Sorry for the delay in replying. I have been chasing plant tank
equipment the last two days.

The filter I use is actually a filter that is made for a wet/dry filter
in a sal****er tank. It is about as "coarse" as most sponge filters you
see for power heads.

Then,
you sit the power head on top of the filter, so that the intake for
the power head is inside the filter. Any water that goes into the
power head has to go through that filter.

Then, you have to figure out how to secure the power head to the
filter. What I used are the ties that you can buy in Walmart. Cable
ties. They sell them in the Automotive section. They also sell them at
Lowes and Home Depot. They come in packs anywhere from a few to hundreds.

What kind of sponge are you using for a filter? You can just cut a hole
in the sponge and stick the intake in it.

I didn't have a way to mount it in the tank unless I attached it to
something. I simply decided to put my rock to multiple uses. And, the
filter I have actually floats my power head if it is not attached to
anything.

The purpose of the rock was to give it a stable base so that the
filter wouldn't get crushed onto the pumps. Put the pump on the
filter, then Cable Tie it all together. It is that simple. You are
going to have to be innovative or change power heads.

So every week or so you have to clean the sponge filter and replace the
ties?

No. The way they are attached it allows access to the bottom. And, most
of the time, simply turning the pump off allows the plant matter to
simply fall off the bottom to be vacuumed out.

Are you talking about a sponge filter on it's intake screen? *Not all
of these powerhead-like water pumps come with screens you can pull a
sponge over.

I can't even find that type of filter here. I hunted one and had to
come up with a solution of my own. None of it would have happened if
my wife hadn't decided that since she could feed dog food to the fish
at the dock that mine would eat it too and dumped a hand full of dog
food into the tank. I was stubborn enough to want to figure out how to
clear it up without having to change all the water.

If you can't find these "filters" I probably wont either. Is it a
sponge? *I have no idea what you're talking about.

There is a picture of it on the page I linked to at the end of this post.



Right now, my digital camera battery is in the charger being
recharged. I have to do some work on the tank and will try to take
some pictures and post them online so you can see how I made it.

Yes, I would love to see what they look like. *:-)

URL:http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/hikksnotathome/fishtank/index.html

If, for some reason, the pictures don't load, let me know and I can
email them directly to you. The very last picture the power head is not
attached with tie strips because I bought a kit to mount the power head
on the back of the tank with suction cups and found the filters for
power heads. They were simply put on in an X pattern so that they didn't
lock the filter into the rock.

For yours, if it doesn't have an intake tube, and only has an inlet
area, you can use a piece of air conditioner filter for a window unit,
wrap your pump in it, and use rubber bands to hold it on.
--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind
comp.lang.javascript FAQ -http://jibbering.com/faq/index.html
Javascript Best Practices -http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com/bestpractices/

I am not knocking youir filter, but to be h onest I sure wuld not
want all that in the tank. IMHO its just as easy to stick a strainer
piece into the powerheads inlet tube and if needed then slip on a
foam / sponge filter sleeve that tyupically comes with a Pondmaster or
Danner Mag 3 or 5 sized piump or use the foam sponge filters that are
made for the Maxi Jet like of pumps.............The "rock" appears to
be a portion of concrete that was evidenlty poured around a 4 x 4 post
or so and it appears to be almost as big around as the bottom of that
bucket............just way too much "material" for a little 4 x 4
area of foam to be exposed and do the work. A typical foam filter
sleeve has approx the same square inches of fitler surface and needs
no "rock"

AquariumFatasies said the following on 12/31/2007 8:58 PM:
On Dec 31, 7:40 pm, Randy Webb wrote:

snip

URL:http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/hikksnotathome/fishtank/index.html

If, for some reason, the pictures don't load, let me know and I can
email them directly to you. The very last picture the power head is not
attached with tie strips because I bought a kit to mount the power head
on the back of the tank with suction cups and found the filters for
power heads. They were simply put on in an X pattern so that they didn't
lock the filter into the rock.

For yours, if it doesn't have an intake tube, and only has an inlet
area, you can use a piece of air conditioner filter for a window unit,
wrap your pump in it, and use rubber bands to hold it on.

snip

I am not knocking youir filter, but to be h onest I sure wuld not
want all that in the tank.

OK, so you wouldn't want a rock, a power head and a filter in a tank.
Novel idea. JFTR, it is in a 55 gallon tank and it is actually small for
that size tank.

IMHO its just as easy to stick a strainer piece into the powerheads
inlet tube and if needed then slip on a foam / sponge filter sleeve
that tyupically comes with a Pondmaster or Danner Mag 3 or 5 sized
piump or use the foam sponge filters that are made for the Maxi Jet
like of pumps.............

Hmmm. Have you read the entire thread? Perhaps you should and you will
come to realize why I used what I did. I used it for more reasons than
just the filter.

An even easier solution would have been to get a strainer for the power
head and then put a sponge filter on it. Not near as much satisfaction
in it though.

The "rock" appears to be a portion of concrete that was evidenlty poured
around a 4 x 4 post or so and it appears to be almost as big around as
the bottom of that bucket............

Nice to see you agree with my description of it. And yes, it is almost
as big around as the five gallon bucket I had it sitting on.

just way too much "material" for a little 4 x 4 area of foam to be
exposed and do the work.

Actually, there is twice that much area of filter exposed (It isn't
actually foam, it is a plastic media for wet/dry filters). The exposed
area of the filter is also on the bottom of it. And, testing it with a
flow meter from the local reef store shows that I do not have restricted
flow. The output is the same with and without the filter on the power
head. The advantage I have is more area for biological filtration. I
wouldn't even begin to guess at the surface area of the filter itself.

A typical foam filter sleeve has approx the same square inches of
fitler surface and needs no "rock"

I can't find filter sleeves where I live. I don't order from the
Internet for personal reasons. I prefer to see what I am buying before I
buy it so I can make sure it is going to work. The only filter sleeves
you can find here are if you buy another power head to go with it. I
need another power head about as much as Methuselah needs another does
of ugliness.

Second problem is that without the rock, the filter I have has enough
buoyancy that it will actually float my power head in the tank. I could
buy a suction cup setup to mount it to the side of the tank but I chose
not to. I actually like the rock.

In the end, it is nothing more than a way to show people how they can
come up with ideas/solutions of there own. Whether it is by choice or by
need.

--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind