Upside Down Aquarium

[KenR60]

Here is an idea for other Pond Owners who would like to see their Fish like in an Aquarium.

Its called an "Upside Down Aquarium" and as it says, its upside down so the Bottom is the top and the fish can swim up into the tank above the water surface. I made this one to test the Idea and will replace this one soon with a 2.4metre one thats built around the Decking so that it looks part of the Design.

The first picture was taken within 10 min of adding it to the pond and since adding it I've seen some fish I didn't know I had as well as others I haven't seen for months.

[cazador]

now that is awesome!

[DaveOponic]

What a neat idea! I wonder if my Koi fish would swim up to investigate the upturned tank though. They're very shy and the only way of seeing them is to stand well back and play statues. As soon as you move they swim for cover.


Dave

[POC3442]

All the algie growth...no! thats what I'd be curious to see after a few week.

[KenR60]

Thanks Cazador,

Dave, odd that your Koi are so scared? Try feeding them everytime you walk out there and soon they will recognise that seeing a people means FOOD ... LOL ... Being similar to Goldfish they'll soon remember. As soon as they hear me open the sliding Door my 70 Goldfish all gather in the one area and they follow me where ever I walk. Even the Hundreds of Natives ( Rainbows ) were very scared like that once and I hardly ever saw them, now they too gather in large schools waiting for the food to drop.

All the Fish enjoy the Cube, thats why the Next one under Construction now is 2.4 metres in Length so that we can sit back and watch them either in the Pond or in the Tank. Of cause the Water needs to be nice and clear which I seem to always have.

POC3442, Yes depending where you have the Tank Algae can be a Problem, the next version has a 30degree angle on the Top so that the Decking will continue up over the Tank so that it looks like it was built into the Decking, I'll have sections cut out to allow Light but thinking of using some kind of Blind System to give shade in Summer but left off in Winter to generate heat. I intend adding one of the Heavy Duty Magnets to the Front for Cleaning. At the moment the Cube is 4 weeks old and gets Sun daily, yes its got a nice coat of Algae but not like an indoor Aquarium that you try and keep perfectly clean its not something that I'll clean when I can't see the fish. The Algae gives it a more natural look when in a Pond.

[KenR60]

Night Time Viewing is good too if you throw lights towards it, the Next Model I intend lighting it from the Top so I'll build in the Lighting so that its out of sight. Planing on using the 12mm Round Neon Tubes that they use to lightup under Cars. This way its easy to hide and I'll use 2 or 3 different Colours so that I can change the effect.

The whole Idea of the Deck/Pond/Aquaponic System was to have it looking just as good at night so that we could enjoy it anytime.

[fishfood]

If and when i get to Qld thats one system i would like to see

[gooseraiser]

Stupid question...... how do you keep the water in it? :confused:

[bunya boy]

Gooseraiser,
Simplistically, fill your Kitchen sink with water, put a drinking glass under water, tip it so it fills completely under the surface. Rotate the glass so that the top opening is at the bottom and raise the whole glass up, keeping the opening under water. The air pressure (at sea level) will suport a column of water 32 feet (10000mm) high with a vacuum at the top.
That's how it stays there.
Air (Atmospheric) pressure will support a column of Mercury 1000mm (32") high, which is why until recently, Barometric pressure was measured in mm or inches of Mercury!!
Physics lessons, I love it!

Cheers IanK.:D

[gooseraiser]

Well that makes me feel stupid..... but at least I learned something
thanks for that. I appreciate it.

[bunya boy]

Never feel stupid about asking questions. There is always a smart arse like me to answer them!! Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question; only a stupid answer!

If you don't ask, you will never know; only form an opinion at best, and we all know that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

I really enjoy questioning and people who can adapt common principles for unusual applications; it only expands our pool of knowledge and enjoyment of what we do.

Cheers IanK. :D

[iain]

Hi Ken,

Are you making the new cube yourself? It would be interesting to see photos and thoughts on construction.

cheers Iain

[nwestwood]

It would seem to me that if you circulate the water, or aerate the water in the upside down tank that you loose your column. So what do you do long term to keep it in column?

[KenR60]

Hey IanK, never thought of doing it the way you mentioned, what I did ( and maybe not the best way ) was to stand in the pond and suck the air out through a 4mm aquarium Tubing turning blue many times LOL

My NEW Upsidedown Tank has been completed and hope to have it delivered next week so this home made version will be on the scrapheap. New one is a whoppin 2.4 metres long and will be lit from above. Algae isn't as bad as an indoor aquarium in terms of it doesn't matter if you see some and once it does get too bad I just throw a magnet cleaner on it and its gone.

Picked up 30 new Goldfish in the past week, Pure Black Comets. A new developed Strain thats in limited numbers and possibly not being restocked in australia again after this last shipment runs out. Can't wait til they get to 300mm plus as they look incrediable schooling together in the pond even at 70mm.

.

[bunya boy]

KenR60,
Jeez, mate you are going to have to do some sucking for the new one!!!

If it is 2.4m long and say 600 high, at 500 wide it will have 720Kg of water Plus the mass of the glass to lift. If you do it the same way as a small tumbler in a sink!!! No way you could lift that amount of water and glass safely!!:eek:
I reckon you are going to have to get a good "vacuum" pump to expel that much air for the feature.
Be very interesting to see it finished. By the By, are you coming up to the Xmas get-together at my place (Mt Crosby) in a couple of weeks time? Have got 5 acceptances plus the guys to pick up their fish so far.

Cheers IanK :D

[KenR60]

KenR60,
Jeez, mate you are going to have to do some sucking for the new one!!!

LOL I think I might have to find another method!!!! I've seen a normal pump used by putting a T section in the inlet and extending the 4mm tube up into the highest corner and then the air is automatically sucked out. This is used when you want to use an airstone to add to the effect so that the added air from the airstone is removed automatically.

Whats the date for the Party? Hardest thing will be getting a weekend off as these are the busiest days in the store.

[fishfood]

Get an old vacuum pump for sucking down refrigerators they will suck a vacuum to 20 feet
[ Pity you arent a bit closer i have 3 or 4 around the yard ]