| A river tank is a tank having a | | | | not be a concern. Make sure that the |
| primarily unidirectional water flow. | | | | powerheads and sponges are not touching |
| Intakes for the filtration system are at | | | | the walls. The sponges should be at |
| one end of the tank, and outputs at the | | | | least an inch away from the far wall. |
| other, directing the water down the long | | | | Drill as many holes as you can into two |
| side of the tank. Using a tank longer in | | | | shorter lengths of PVC, that can go |
| sideways length and shorter in height is | | | | inside the sponges. |
| recommended, good sizes being 40 long, | | | | The frame sits on the bottom glass of |
| 33 long, and 40 breeder. There are | | | | the tank, powerheads in one end, and |
| several ways of doing this. | | | | sponges the other. Pour the rinsed |
| Plumbing: This way involves using PVC | | | | gravel into the tank, covering all the |
| piping, 2 or more sponges, an airpump | | | | white pipe. The pipe is completely safe, |
| and 2 or more powerheads to build an | | | | so don't worry about covering it, we are |
| undergravel water system. | | | | only doing so for aesthetic reasons. |
| Filter: A modified HOB filter can also | | | | Next place your larger rounded river |
| be used, though the tank is harder to | | | | rocks and driftwood where you planned to |
| cover. | | | | do so, and fill the tank. Connect the |
| External Plumbing: The third obvious way | | | | airpump to the powerheads, remembering a |
| to make a river tank.is to use PVC | | | | check valve and extra tubing. Plug |
| piping outside the tank connecting an | | | | everything in when the tank is full and |
| intake to a pump then to a spraybar. | | | | watch the river effect. |
| First thing to do is get your tank, | | | | Add plants that are good in coldwater - |
| heater, gravel, decorations and cover. - | | | | Java Fern, Anacharis, Hornwort, Lemna |
| Even though this will likely be a cold | | | | Minor, and plastics. Place the cover |
| water tank, a small heater can be used | | | | over the tank when done planting, and |
| to keep the temp up around 70 degrees, | | | | the lights above that. Plug the lights |
| preventing dangerous temp drops. | | | | in, and stare at your tank. |
| Decorations for river tanks are normally | | | | Before you add fish, cycle as you would |
| larger rounded rocks and stones, and | | | | any other tank, as many river dwelling |
| large pieces of driftwood. Lighting will | | | | fish do not tolerate Ammonia or Nitrites |
| depend on your preferences, but many put | | | | in any amount. Many also prefer some |
| lots of light over river tanks, as many | | | | algae growth, so before getting the true |
| of the inhabitants like algae. For a 40 | | | | algae grazers manage to grow some, or |
| or 33 long, try to fit 4 4 foot | | | | borrow algae covered rocks from another |
| florescent tubes. It isn't prohibitively | | | | aquarium. |
| expensive, and will make it easy to grow | | | | Good Fish for this Setup: |
| coldwater plants and algaes. | | | | White Cloud Mountain Minnows |
| Decide how you want the river action to | | | | Homaloptera Sp. |
| happen. Plumbing is by far the easiest | | | | Homaloptera smithi |
| if you don't yet have a filter for this | | | | Spotted Hillstream Loach |
| tank. Go to a home improvement store, | | | | Beaufortia kweichowensis |
| and get | | | | Schistura Loaches |
| an 8 foot length of 3/4" PVC white tube | | | | Sucker Belly Loach |
| 4 90 degree bends | | | | Spiney Headed Hillstream Loach |
| 4 T connectors, also in the 3/4" size | | | | Nemachelius maysae |
| (if your tank is more than 13" from back | | | | Chaetostma Spec. Catfish |
| to front, get 2 more T connectors, and | | | | Darter Characin (Characidum spec.) |
| make sure to have enough tubing to go | | | | Botia Nigro |
| back and forth the length of the tank 3 | | | | Hillstream Loaches |
| times.) | | | | Good Plants for this Setup: |
| A drill and a hacksaw are also needed | | | | Lemna Minor |
| Connect the PVC. You do not need any | | | | Hornwort |
| compound to permanently connect it, as | | | | Java Moss |
| it will be underwater, and leaking will | | | | Anarchis |