Penthouse apartment for fish

Lil_Stinker

Lil_Stinker

Jedi Master
Aug 25, 2007
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I am going to make this Penthouse style apartment above a 55g..

I have the cube for the top (although it is only like 8 inches)... I will be using 4" PVC for the elevator.. there will be holes cut in the pipe so fish can get in...

This is going on my African tank, the fish are 2-4 inches (except one) so they will fit...

I am trying to think of a way to get fresh water into the top, so its not a dead spot...

Thought one ... put a fitting on the top with a tube down to a pump in the tank...

Thought two ... Ask my friends here for other ideas.. :duh:

Thanks in advance ...

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Do you know how much it will weigh? If you post the dimensions of the cube, we could figure out the weight of the whole "high rise" system. Then you can plan how to adequately support it.

I saw another thread about something similar. A guy had used an inverted jug suspended over a 10g.

Cool idea!
 
Twill said:
Do you know how much it will weigh? If you post the dimensions of the cube, we could figure out the weight of the whole "high rise" system. Then you can plan how to adequately support it.

I saw another thread about something similar. A guy had used an inverted jug suspended over a 10g.

Cool idea!
Click to expand...

Let's call it 8x8x8 about 2.25 gals 16~18 pounds ... the PVC will go to the bottom of the tank, so support isn't an issue..

Might be 6x6x6 about 1 gal 8-9 pounds ...
 
I think I have your solution...
http://www.tomaquarium.com/webfiles/productspages/aqualifter.html

If you can drill a small hole into the top of the "penthouse" for airline tubing to fit in...stick an airline tube in and seal it with silicone. Put the tubing into this pump, and the output tubing back into your aquarium. I have one of these pumps and it works great. I use it to keep my overflow box from filling with air (it sucks air and water).
 
Similar to clayt101's idea, why don't you have 2 pvc pipes going into it? Then, down in the aquarium, you can have a pump pumping water into the "entrance" to your penthouse and the water will automatically come out the "exit", i.e. pipe number 2. I would be careful about putting any holes in your penthouse or the pvc going to it...one smallest leak and you will have several gallons of water on the floor. What really makes this a cool looking tank is if you can use clear acrylic for the tubes going in and out so you can actually see the fish swimming up and down...unless you want the "invisible" look, i.e. have the appearance of a fish suspended in mid air with no way of getting there. Personally...if I were going to all the trouble to do this I would make things a little bigger, maybe a 10 gallon size or so. I don't think the cost will be much greater (unless you are using acrylic) but will be visually more impressive.
 
Sorry, I don't actually have advice, but I was just wondering if you could possibly post a picture of your tank with the finished pent house when you finish it? =) It sounds like an awesome idea.
 
clayt101 said:
I think I have your solution...
http://www.tomaquarium.com/webfiles/productspages/aqualifter.html

If you can drill a small hole into the top of the "penthouse" for airline tubing to fit in...stick an airline tube in and seal it with silicone. Put the tubing into this pump, and the output tubing back into your aquarium. I have one of these pumps and it works great. I use it to keep my overflow box from filling with air (it sucks air and water).
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think that is the answer. ....

****

red devil said:
Similar to clayt101's idea, why don't you have 2 pvc pipes going into it? Then, down in the aquarium, you can have a pump pumping water into the "entrance" to your penthouse and the water will automatically come out the "exit", i.e. pipe number 2. I would be careful about putting any holes in your penthouse or the pvc going to it...one smallest leak and you will have several gallons of water on the floor. What really makes this a cool looking tank is if you can use clear acrylic for the tubes going in and out so you can actually see the fish swimming up and down...unless you want the "invisible" look, i.e. have the appearance of a fish suspended in mid air with no way of getting there. Personally...if I were going to all the trouble to do this I would make things a little bigger, maybe a 10 gallon size or so. I don't think the cost will be much greater (unless you are using acrylic) but will be visually more impressive.
Click to expand...

The cube is only 1 gal, not much on the floor if it fails.

I have the cube already (its actually a container) I will use standard PVC, since clear is much more expensive & this is more of a prototype project...

****

Once complete, I will put up pics, but be patient, this is not on the top of my wifes "things for him to do" list

:)
 
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