whites
07-28-2012, 12:26 AM
I was taking the trash out to recycle the milk bottles we have here in oz and it hit me. I can use these.
So the idea was spawned. milk bottle uas V1.0
Its a 2L plastic clear/opaque milk bottle with some holes poked into the bottom (pen size) and then a window has been cut out to let the light in. Thats it. 4 days in and it seems to be working.
Well ill correct myself there is more to it like 3x3W of red led and a bendy air hose pumping 4L p/min
I havent any pics but just wanted to share it with you guys.
It sits perfectly between a baffle I have in my sump. the light is in a takeaway container macguyver style at this stage and intend to tweak. It all looks pretty crude. I also need to cut some holes into the top as its acting a bit like a skimmer well it is a skimmer. The bubbles are contained in the bottle and it drawns fresh water from the window that presses fairly flush against the glass and draws also from the holes in bottom.
The screen is full size minus about 5cm cut off to shorten the length and sits curved around the back wall of the bottle as the bottle starts to narrow at the top it helps hold the screen inplace and the screen ends sit just shy of the window in a corner also helping it keep in place.
As the bottle has a handle its easy to just pick up out of water and clean entire unit in sink, removing the screen is dead easy too just roll it up a bit and pull out. mind you Im 4 days in so I cant really say its that easy but thats the idea :)
Its the first model and intend to tweak the hell out of it.
upgrades planned so far
Using a juice bottle that we have here that are white helping light to bounce it will contain more light too the opaque milk bottle lets a bit of light out.
precision cuts with a razor for window
a false bottom made of screen to help with light not hitting the bendy air hose hidden underneath it. the screen will have tabs that will pull through and sit in slits cut into the side of bottle
pending on size of screen i need. the screen will also sit in slits to hold it in place
fix housing for led maybe using the juice bottle too cut to size and maybe with a window but silicone a piece of clear plastic to help stop water splashing in.
intend on using two bottles they will sit perfectly side by side (is it still recomened to clean only half of the total screen surface area at a time? this second one would be my half)
bigger air pump to create better draw of water and maybe using the air line with slits in it (see how my flexi hose performs in the mean time)
Ill try and get some pics of this version up soonish. Lets see how it goes.
What are your thoughts? Questions someone might know answers too- The bottles should be food grade so safe for tanks right? and I wanted to know about the half cleaning tech that used to be about I dont hear anything of it anymore.
So the idea was spawned. milk bottle uas V1.0
Its a 2L plastic clear/opaque milk bottle with some holes poked into the bottom (pen size) and then a window has been cut out to let the light in. Thats it. 4 days in and it seems to be working.
Well ill correct myself there is more to it like 3x3W of red led and a bendy air hose pumping 4L p/min
I havent any pics but just wanted to share it with you guys.
It sits perfectly between a baffle I have in my sump. the light is in a takeaway container macguyver style at this stage and intend to tweak. It all looks pretty crude. I also need to cut some holes into the top as its acting a bit like a skimmer well it is a skimmer. The bubbles are contained in the bottle and it drawns fresh water from the window that presses fairly flush against the glass and draws also from the holes in bottom.
The screen is full size minus about 5cm cut off to shorten the length and sits curved around the back wall of the bottle as the bottle starts to narrow at the top it helps hold the screen inplace and the screen ends sit just shy of the window in a corner also helping it keep in place.
As the bottle has a handle its easy to just pick up out of water and clean entire unit in sink, removing the screen is dead easy too just roll it up a bit and pull out. mind you Im 4 days in so I cant really say its that easy but thats the idea :)
Its the first model and intend to tweak the hell out of it.
upgrades planned so far
Using a juice bottle that we have here that are white helping light to bounce it will contain more light too the opaque milk bottle lets a bit of light out.
precision cuts with a razor for window
a false bottom made of screen to help with light not hitting the bendy air hose hidden underneath it. the screen will have tabs that will pull through and sit in slits cut into the side of bottle
pending on size of screen i need. the screen will also sit in slits to hold it in place
fix housing for led maybe using the juice bottle too cut to size and maybe with a window but silicone a piece of clear plastic to help stop water splashing in.
intend on using two bottles they will sit perfectly side by side (is it still recomened to clean only half of the total screen surface area at a time? this second one would be my half)
bigger air pump to create better draw of water and maybe using the air line with slits in it (see how my flexi hose performs in the mean time)
Ill try and get some pics of this version up soonish. Lets see how it goes.
What are your thoughts? Questions someone might know answers too- The bottles should be food grade so safe for tanks right? and I wanted to know about the half cleaning tech that used to be about I dont hear anything of it anymore.