Quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo
Well I built one of those DIY $30 dollar surge devices. I am having a problem with it, never breaks siphon so it just flows, with plenty of air. ... ...Any suggestions?
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Jim, take a pkcture with a yardstick beside the surge siphon so I can see the arrangement. I need to know,:
- what pump and rating
- diameter of the main chamber
- diameter of the discharge tube
- height of both the discharge tube loop and the height of the main chamber
- how is it sealed and if it is venter at any point
- where is the inlet for the pump
- where is the outlet placed for the discharge pipe (both inside the main chamber and the end in the tank)
The pipette washer design siphons work great and are very reliable if they are properly constructed and have the right diameter tubing and correctly rated pumps for the volume and discharge rates. If the pump rate is too high, you will have problems. If the height of the main chamber is too low, you will have problems. If there is too big a difference between the height of the discharge tube and the main chamber, you will have problems, etc, etc, etc... Even the diameter of the discharge tube in relation to the main chamber can be an issue. Send me your photo (or post it) and I will evaluate it. You don't need the flapper, it is just another moving part that ends up needing maintenance. I have experimented in the past with several surge device designs, and have found that the ones with moving parts in them require maintenance on a 6 to 8 month basis (if your water quality is up to oligotrophic standards and you have decent Ca and Alk.) or they begin to have problems of their own (prolly ought to do maintenance more often). Biggest problem with the pipette design is that it is noisy, and the last little bit of water usually dumps a good bit of air (bubbles) into the tank that results in
salt creep.
Send me the pix, I will let you know if there is anything I can offer.
Will present a photo shoot when I get everything battoned down. Thanks Tom
