Water Pumps?

[HerpDerp]

I'm FINALLY starting to set my eyes on my rebuild! I went to the reptile expo in Manchester, NH yesterday, but was pretty disappointed with lack of supplies. But I did manage to snag some good stuff. I've decided the crappy water pump that I have probably isn't going to be enough for my water feature. So I'm looking for suggestions for a reasonably priced pump that can push the water up at least 4 inches and possibly can filter the water as well? A general GPH figure could help as well. I have a pretty tight budget for this build. But I still can't start it until Glurmo is better. So I have time to buy all the stuff and actually start prepping. I'm excited to get this thing started!

[DartEd]

I have a zoomed 104. It does not filter but does circulate water pretty well. It pumps at a rate of 30-60 GPH according to their website. I with a LECA bottom I think this would solve filtration problems so long as whatever you have isn't pooping in the water constantly.

MicroPump 104

[deranged chipmunk]

I use reptiflo 250's. I get them for about $7. pumps around 60-80 gph and has a 12" head height. as long as you have decent substrate and drainage, that will be your filtration

[HerpDerp]

So it sounds like I'm looking for somewhere around 60gph. What do you suggest for substrate that will filter well? I had started to sway more towards just using coco fiber or tree fern substrate (I was thinking it may not stain the water?) and not having that layer of soil on the bottom. The tree fern substrate packaging says it's nutritious for plants but I'm slightly skeptical. And I'm going to grade the bottom a bit so I have more of a down hill stream. Should I just use substrate to grade it or should I actually angle the false bottom?

[deranged chipmunk]

tree fern substrate may or may not release tannins into the water, discoloring it. it also may be slightly nutritious for plants. i would mix it with some peat moss and it will be golden. as far as grading it, you can do either. i would just grade it using substrate, that way, you'll have deeper substrate in the back for larger plants.

[HerpDerp]

I use reptiflo 250's. I get them for about $7. pumps around 60-80 gph and has a 12" head height. as long as you have decent substrate and drainage, that will be your filtration

Where do you get it for $7? Do you have a link by any chance?

[deranged chipmunk]

it's a local aquarium outlet store. i can grab one for you and ship it up. total cost would be about $12

[HerpDerp]

Hmm maybe I'll check my local stores and see what they have, I did find it on amazon for $11 (free since I have amazon points ). But it's the 200 not the 250? I can't seem to figure out that the difference is.

[deranged chipmunk]

it's the same pump

[HerpDerp]

Okay, so what size tubing works with a pump like that? My LFS has a lot of different size tubes so I should be able to find the right size... so long as I know what size that is LOL.

Also, I decided instead of a hard plastic material for my river that I'm going to use the substrate to create a small trench and line it with plastic, and then cover it with rocks and moss on the edges. Any suggestions on a good safe plastic to use? I'm assuming anything vinyl is a big no-no? I saw somewhere people use painters plastic (to cover furniture) but I only need a little bit! Maybe a PEVA shower curtain?

[deranged chipmunk]

the reptiflo uses 12mm or 7/16" tubing. a shower curtain would work, if all else fails, you can hit up a garden center that sells pond supplies. many places like that sell pond liner by the foot. they may even have some scraps laying around to give you.

[deranged chipmunk]

i keep meaning to ask you, how is zoidberg doing?

[HerpDerp]

Zoidberg is doing great, Bill. He has some new tank mates. I had some silver-tipped tetras in there that didn't do go great with the lower temp of the tank (72ish) and he picked off three of the five when they were weak. So I found a safer tank for the remaining two tetras and a female guppy (I had three babies left, two turned out to be male). So now I have the two male feeders, two endlers and two fancy guppies... Oh and a BN pleco. The duckweed almost completely died, but it's slowly recovering AND I got some awesome spirodela at the expo. I plan on putting some of that in my vivarium when it's complete .

[deranged chipmunk]

very cool. glad to hear he is doing well. and exactly how did you manage to kill duckweed? that stuff is almost impossible to kill! lol

[HerpDerp]

very cool. glad to hear he is doing well. and exactly how did you manage to kill duckweed? that stuff is almost impossible to kill! lol

You know, I have no idea! It just started turning white and dying. Funny thing is, there's no way there wasn't enough nutrients since I had a big of algae problem (hence the pleco). But I think it may have to do with the cooler water maybe? And the fact that the crayfish was climbing on top of one of the decorations and stretching for all he was worth to snag bits of the duckweed LOL. But it's starting to come back. Zoidberg has also been keeping the snails under control. I have a lot of tiny babies but they never seem to get any bigger hehe. Unfortunately, I don't expect Zoidberg to live beyond this summer. I did some research and I'm guessing I found him during his second summer and they usually die at he end of their third summer. But hopefully life in captivity will change that.