Fish Tank Habitat
![5006278164_3dcfae09c4_m.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F13/MCZ4/GE7LF4O1/F13MCZ4GE7LF4O1.jpg&filename=5006278164_3dcfae09c4_m.jpg)
Over the years I have had a several different fish tanks. As a plumber, I would put any type of mechanical fittings or valves into a tank as habitat.
Always having aggressive fish, a ball valve provided great refuge to small fish. Also, a real mean fish will go after its reflection when there is no food.
Always having aggressive fish, a ball valve provided great refuge to small fish. Also, a real mean fish will go after its reflection when there is no food.
Materials &Tools
![texarkana 058.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0G/ZN6V/GEA1HDI8/F0GZN6VGEA1HDI8.jpg&filename=texarkana 058.jpg)
![texarkana 063.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNY/GZR2/GEA1HDIC/FNYGZR2GEA1HDIC.jpg&filename=texarkana 063.jpg)
You need a ball valve and a Crescent wrench. * This instructable is on one type of ball valve. The only difference to the other style ball valve is, you put it in a vice and and turn it open with a pipe wrench.*
Break Down
![texarkana 059.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBD/K474/GEA1HDJZ/FBDK474GEA1HDJZ.jpg&filename=texarkana 059.jpg)
With the Crescent, remove all the nuts including the packing nut under the handle.
The Guts
![texarkana 060.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFL/EEBO/GE7LBRWH/FFLEEBOGE7LBRWH.jpg&filename=texarkana 060.jpg)
Remove the handle, bolts, O-ring, and Teflon seal.
Position Ball
![5006295944_81297111c7_m.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYH/BCUJ/GE7LBRWK/FYHBCUJGE7LBRWK.jpg&filename=5006295944_81297111c7_m.jpg)
With the Crescent, position the valve stem to the closed position, so the slot will let the ball roll out.
Finished Product
![5006278164_3dcfae09c4_m.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDC/5YNO/GE7LF4PG/FDC5YNOGE7LF4PG.jpg&filename=5006278164_3dcfae09c4_m.jpg)
In this photo, I have the ball sitting on the packing nut. Normally the ball just sits in the gravel. This ball valve is also 1 1/4 but several feeders will fit into a 3/4 in full-port ball valve.