Loc-Line Pvc Eductor w/ lotz o pics

allstar.h2o · #1 05/31/2007, 09:04 PM

Hey I just wanted to show my simplistic eductor I just made. It is made with a 3/4 to 1/2 Loc-Line adapter that came with my Perfecto 120 slightly bored out on the inside to remove the lip inside and enlarge it a little. Drilled three holes in it to accept some carbon fiber rod from a broken tail link from my T-Rex 450 R/C heli.

The I drilled three holes in a 2 in wide by roughly 3 in long piece of pvc pipe for the carbon fiber, I drilled everything real snug so it is all press fit so no glue was required.

The just for the heck of it I dremeled the outer edge on an angle and colored it with a sharpie marker.

Looks like a rocket nozzle!

Here it is in the tank, looks better without the flash as it makes it look ugly. Look at the vortex it pulls, sometimes it draws in bubbles, next to it is a modded Tunze 1645.

Here is a shot of some of the right of the tank with overgrown green star polyps, I call it Polyp Mountain.

This this really puts out some flow compared to a stock 3/4 nozzle. I figure it is doing 600 to 800 gph (just a guess tho) running off a Eheim 1260 with 1 inch plumbing with one of these eductors on each side.

Total cost $0.00 bucks since it is made of junk I had laying around!

jest · #2 05/31/2007, 09:13 PM

very cool !

GuySmilie · #3 05/31/2007, 09:52 PM

The carbon fiber rod looks a bit fragile to me.
Is it strong enough to take the wrangling required to position the finished connector without breaking off the rods?
Is there a reason why you didn't use a larger diameter rod?
Nice DIY, by the way!

allstar.h2o · #4 05/31/2007, 10:10 PM

I was going to use larger rod but decided if it broke I will replace it with larger rod,, besides the drill bit and the carbon rod was a perfect tight fit. It feels really strong and doesnt flex much moving it around. Carbon fiber is strong stuff. I try to grab it at the base not the pvc. The only thing I am careful with is attaching it to the rest of the Loc-Line. I use plyers at the base to snap it on.

allstar.h2o · #5 05/31/2007, 11:47 PM

Here is a pic of the left side. I had ammonia problems when I transferred tanks and lost a lot of corals. But with my new flow and the tank stable now I am ready for more coral. The acrylic tube has a purple and yellow feather duster that is recovering from a bi-color blenny attack also copperband proof now.

johno4 · #6 06/01/2007, 08:13 AM

That looks good. Much easier than the other diy educator I have seen. Nice work!

allstar.h2o · #7 06/01/2007, 07:46 PM

FYI
Hey oops just realized the abs is 1 1/2 in diamater not 2 inch. Still lovin the nice dispersed flow out of them.

customcolor · #8 06/01/2007, 10:17 PM

i was told that black abs pipe was not safe do to it may leach, that is y its only used for waste water in a house.

GuySmilie · #9 06/01/2007, 10:58 PM

You're liable to be told a lot of things on these forums.
Your savvy will come from the experience of separating the truth from all that is said.

FloridaFishMan · #10 06/02/2007, 08:51 AM

Nice work I have been waiting for someone to do one of these! What pump are you running and how many eductors are you using?

allstar.h2o · #11 06/02/2007, 12:46 PM

I am using a Eheim 1260. I enlarged intake on the Eheim for more flow because I just cant leave anything alone. 1 inch pipe going to 2 of these eductor thingers. Each side has a ball valve if I shut one side off the other eductor really blasts water.

I feel abs is safe but maybe not. You never know your acrylic tank could leach, or the plastic pump housing could leach, or one of the many materials your tank and components are made of could leach toxic stuff also. But thanks for the heads up.

FloridaFishMan · #12 06/02/2007, 01:03 PM

We can use some pretty weird stuff in the tank without ill effect; superglue, pvc , amide resin (pool leak fixer) in the tank, cement, foam... there are many things that people use. A lot of things may leach some nutrients like phosphate but so does overfeeding. If people use it for years with no problem it is probably ok.

warr40 · #13 06/02/2007, 01:48 PM

i was looking into to things i really dont get how they work and what they do?

nicolicious · #14 06/02/2007, 02:25 PM

could you post a full shot of your tank?

i like the rocklayout and would like to see in full...

allstar.h2o · #15 06/02/2007, 03:27 PM

Here is a tank shot. The tank is a Perfecto 120 Corner-Flo. The fish love the rockwork and spend more time in there than just free swimming. I tried to keep as much rock off of the sand as possible. After transferring tanks this was only my second attempt with aquascaping so I got lucky. I used to have more live rock but sold them as a bunch of the green star polyps took over. Polyp Mountain on the right is turning out to be lucrative. Notice the roughly 10 by 6 inch sheet of star polyps on the back held by magnets that is going next. I have a sheet of white 1/4 hdpe on the bottom and am considering going barebottom, but still not sure.

Still learning how to take tank shots with my Panasonic TZ3

Daemonfly · #16 06/03/2007, 02:11 AM

It might be easier to get the longer nozzles themselves. Could then use small pieces of abs or pvc sheet lengthwise for added strength .

allstar.h2o · #17 06/03/2007, 02:20 PM

This is Eductor V2. This one is 1 1/4 schedule 80 pvc that got oven formed.

350 in the oven for 10 minutes

The I jammed it on top of a Fosters bottle and let it cool, I originally had it on a Gordon-Biersch bottle buy liked the Fosters neck taper better, It was so plyable that I stuck a 1 1/4 sch 80 PVC on the other end.

This time I used larger carbon fiber rod.

V2 in the tank.

GuySmilie · #18 06/03/2007, 02:58 PM

Nize!
Looks a lot less fragile with the new rod work.
Wonder how the trailing edge bell shape (or leading edge, depending yon your reference) works in the scheme of things?

allstar.h2o · #19 06/03/2007, 03:09 PM

Thanks GuySmilie.

I actually broke the other eductor taking it off. But the carbon rods are fine, the Loc-Line fitting itself broke in half. I must have bored it out a little too much.

Flow compared in the two is not really noticable V1 seems more dispersed whereas v2 seems more jet like.

Daemonfly, I dont get what you are saying?

johno4 · #20 06/03/2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by warr40
i was looking into to things i really dont get how they work and what they do?

They basically create more flow by pulling water from behind the nozzle. It is an easy way to get more flow without adding an extra pump/powerhead.

warr40 · #21 06/03/2007, 03:54 PM

ah i see nice work

Daemonfly · #22 06/04/2007, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by allstar.h2o

Daemonfly, I dont get what you are saying?

I mean that instead of the small carbon rods(solved with bigger ones...) on the loc-line connector peice, you could use an actual loc-line nozzle and then use small abs or pvc sheet pieces (would glue better).

Quick & very dirty MSPaint example.

GuySmilie · #23 06/04/2007, 02:53 AM

...another certified brainstormer!

Icefire · #24 06/04/2007, 05:37 AM

The are 25$ for a commercial one btw

allstar.h2o · #25 06/04/2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Icefire
The are 25$ for a commercial one btw

Thanks Icefire but what fun would that be, lets not forget about all the poor reefers out there with DIY disorders.

That is a good idea also Daemonfly, you could even put the slots in the nozzle on an angle to create a swirl out of the exaust side of it. If you wanted to get exotic you could make it out of acrylic, which might be easier to work with too.