macmanmike6100

I saw this vase at Pottery Barn that is 18 inches tall and, at its widest point, 8 inches wide. It is widest in the middle and tapers at both ends.

I saw it and wanted to turn it into an aquarium. I bought the smallest pump filter I could find but it's still unsightly.

<b>Do you have any suggestions for minimizing the visual impact of the filter and the heating element?</b> This could include buying new devices, if there are smaller/less obvious ones out there. Thanks!

Boo Radley

inches eh.. *tries to visualize size in head*

my opinion is to have it house a air breathing fish like a beta, or something simular, i have one in a 10L fish tank wiht no filter.. Doing so would completely remove the unsightly filter..

Just be sure to change the water on a regular schedule and to toss in java moss or some other plant for mister fish to swim about and through.

Just talk to someone at your local pet store they will be able to show you your options on air(surface)breathing fish.

just be sure what ever you do choose you don't block it's access to the surface .. many ppl put a water lilly in vases like that and have the fish swiming around the roots.. the bad thing for this though is that A .. it's hard to feed the fish.. and B it's hard for the fish to get up to the surface to breath.

bparker805

there are small under gravel filters that you can buy but unfortunately there is a part that sticks out of the gravel about 4-5 inches. and you would have to deal with an air tube so i dont think thats what youre looking for but it is an option...

clavus

I think your only option is to put goldfish, gouramis, betas or other air-breathing/laberynthine fish in there. (Ya, I know that's probably not spelled right. So sue me)

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JohnnyCarson

I agree with the above...In an environment of that size, there isn't anyplace for a regular fish to swim. A betta would be your best bet...only 1 though!

Hard8s

Man Johnny it is nice to hear from you. I just heard you had died! I'm glad to see you can still post on the internet from there!

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lemurlad

Lots of folks in these parts use a plastic clay pot base; cut an * shape in center, clean the dirt off a small peace lily; push the roots thru the *; fill the plastic base with decorative glass beads. The plant detoxifies the water so you rarely do water changes. Don't clean the base rock too well. You need the bacteria to turn the fish waste to nitrates that the plant can use. Trim the roots when they get too prolific.

jstory

Yea a beta would be the way to go.

ergdork

Not much of a fish person, but it seems you might be able to drill (with a dremel, carefully) two (in/out) feed holes for water lines into the base. Then run these to a filter and do it that way. Its probably a lot of work and you risk breaking the vase, but it you really want to, it might work. Get some clear caulk for around the feed tubes and seal it nicely. Not sure how to hook them up to a filter/airator, but once its away from the vase, I suspect theres more you could do.

Tirian

I got an idea while reading this.....

Maybe have a second container of water (ie an old rectangular aquarium etc.) placed in a location near the decorative vase, but out of site.

Place the filter and heater in the second holding tank. This would filter and warm the water in the "system".

Install a circulating pump to move water from one container to the other and back. Then you'd only need two small tubes (going and returning pipes) viewable in the vase. If the second tank was below, you'd need to the pump the water up, and have a gravity fed overflow return hose.

macmanmike6100

A lot of great ideas guys. Certainly going to be one of my next projects! As it stands, I just tossed the smallest filter I could find in there. Keep them coming; I appreciate it. And if anybody tackles one of the ideas in here, please be sure to post a how-to :-)

Thanks,
Mike