DIY Design for an Overflow Aquarium Tank During Power Outages
Power outages rob an aquarium of life-giving oxygen. Tank water that runs or pours into a sump or reservoir positioned below the aquarium is immediately reoxygenated. Once this water is returned (pumped back) into the aquarium, it supplies the fish and other living creatures in the tank with oxygen and creates currents in the water column, replicating the circulation that pumps and filters would provide if the power were on. It is relatively easy to design such an overflow system for use during power outages.
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Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon bucket
- Power head pump (150 gallons per hour)
- 10 feet transparent tubing (1.96 inch diameter)
- Small plastic clamp
- 2 x large plastic clamps
- Scissors
- 1000 W hand portable diesel / gas generator
Instructions
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1
Cut the transparent tubing in half. Place one end of the first piece of transparent tubing into the aquarium water and secure the tubing to the rim of the aquarium, using one of the large plastic clamps.
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2
Place the 5-gallon bucket onto the floor next to the aquarium and place the opposite end of the transparent tubing into the bucket.
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3
Place the small plastic clamp onto this piece of tubing, 3 cm to 5 cm away from the large plastic clamp and on the bucket side of the clamp.
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4
Attach the second piece of transparent tubing to the power head's nozzle and place the power head in the bucket.
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5
Place the opposite end of the power head tubing into the aquarium and secure it to the rim of the aquarium, using the second large plastic clamp.
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6
Start the generator. Lift the piece of transparent tubing that is lying in the bucket and suck until water is drawn into the tube. Remove your mouth as soon as the water begins to flow and return the tubing to the bucket.
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7
Allow the bucket to fill to the three-quarter mark and plug the power head into the generator.
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8
Adjust the small clamp so that the water running into the bucket is approximately the same volume as the water being pumped back to the aquarium.
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9
Monitor the amount of water flowing into and being pumped back to the aquarium. Watch that the bucket does not overflow or run dry.
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10
Stop the generator once the power returns, and remove both pieces of tubing from the aquarium at the same time.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit aquarium fish 9 image by cherie from Fotolia.com
