reverse carlson surge device questions

[salty joe]

I saw a plan for a RCSD that used 4" PVC main chamber & 1/2" PVC air return. It was mentioned that most of the noise is generated at the air return. Would using 1" PVC for air return make a less noisy unit?

How about bubbles from the air return. Any problems there?

I am going to make a plywood tank in a fishroom and several RCSD mounted on the exterior of tank is appealing to me.

Am I missing anything?

Thanks,
Joe

[slipknottin]

Originally posted by salty joe
I saw a plan for a RCSD that used 4" PVC main chamber & 1/2" PVC air return. It was mentioned that most of the noise is generated at the air return. Would using 1" PVC for air return make a less noisy unit?

No, the 1" would make the surge faster, and possibly make it noisier. Im using 3/4" on my 3 gallon RSCD.

How about bubbles from the air return. Any problems there?

Definatly. Your going to need to make a plan to figure out how to stop the splashing of the water. I solved it, but it looks horrible (its covered by a hood so I dont really care) anyways, my solution involves two holes exiting the surge tank, and a bunch of plumbing and a soda bottle. Ill get pics if you want, otherwise Ill try to come up with something that looks nice.

[MarkS]

Yeah, bubbles will be a problem as will the noise. Those are the two downsides.

You might want to epoxy your rock work together or the surge could blow (or rather suck) the rock work apart... No joke.

[salty joe]

Thanks for replys.

Slipknotin, I'd love to see pics!

I have fooled around with a Carlson SD & a Borneman SD. If you are familiar with these, can you compare them to a CRSD in terms of noise, bubbles, surge & anything else?

[slipknottin]

Alright, Ill get some pics for you.

Ive had borneman surges in the past. They create a total different type of surge. Bubbles arent so much of a problem, but its just as noisy.

Id imagine the carlson would have the noise and the bubble problems.

[slipknottin]

Heres how it looks from the front, I used black acrylic for the front of the RCSD, and clear on the sides (what fun is it if you cant see in?)


Heres the top. Notice all the salt creep, I cleaned it all off a couple days ago too. (dont mind the wires, I raised the hood up so there all hanging temporarily) You can see the beautiful soda bottle.


Anyways, I set it up so most of the water/air is forced upwards through the top of the surge, then it is forced down by a PVC elbow. However, if I just ran the pvc down into the tank, the air would get trapped and force its way back up, causing all sorts of bubbles and such. So I used the soda bottle as a makeshift bubble trap. The soda bottle has a couple holes in the top to let the air out.

Heres a small video I made of it surging.
http://www.imagestation.com/video/vi...207303599&dl=1

[H20ENG]

"Notice all the salt creep" and "Don't mind the wires" in the same paragraph! LOL
You could squirt a little silicone inside those wire nuts and maybe save your butt
Great setup slipknottin, glad its still kicking a$$.

[slipknottin]

Eh, Im building a new hood sometime this week.

[salty joe]

Slipknot,

Really appreciate the pics & vidio.
That thing does have quite a whoosh of bubbles. Do you think the exhaust elbo pointing up inside a chamber filled with bio-balls, with an eggcrate bottom, & holes in the top for air to escape would kill the bubbles?

Your exhaust elbo points down, doesn't it?

Does most of the noise come from the exhaust or water rushing into surger?

Thanks for your help, Just trying to get a handle on the RCSD before I start buying plastic.

Joe

[slipknottin]

Not quite sure how an elbow pointing up would work. I guess youd have to try it. Its a good idea though, sounds like it can work well.

I believe at least 90% of the noise is from the air coming out.

[Alfalfameister]

Could you please repost the pictures and video? They don't work anymore... THANKS!!!

[Alfalfameister]

Oooh... wait... I got the pictures/mpeg to work...