keeping a dosing line sunk in a Brute

let's hear what YOU do. I tied a lead sinker onto the end of the rigid tubing and tossed it into the bottom of a 30 gallon Brute filled with kalk.
 
I had an extra TLF Magnetic veggie clip. Not the best bang for your buck but if you have one sitting around, it does the trick.
 
I use relatively stiff white john guest ppg tubing ( 1/4 inch ouside diameter ,.17 inch inside diameter) from Home Depot. It is not buoyant. It hooks up to a guest fitting before the pump.
A small zip tie through two small holes near the top of the can( above the highest waterline) is used for a tightly fitting loop that it passes through to keep it against the side of the can and to keep the depth constant.
The lid of the can has a small notch on the edge for the tube.
I think a length of rigid airline tubing would also work with the more pliable ordinary airline hose fitted over it near the top of the waterline.
An anchor of pvc might also work. The lead concerns me; I'd have to research it's reaction to the basic solution to be sure it's safe.
 
I use a semi rigid non buoyant tubing( white john guest ppg ,1/4 inc outside diameter, .17 inside diameter from Home Depot). It hooks up to a guest fitting before the pump.

A small zip tie is threaded trough two small holes in the side of the can above the highest water line . The zip tie is tightend to form a tight fitting loop for the tube which holds it to the side of the can and keeps it from slipping up or down unless I tug or push it. The tube also passes through a small notch cut in th edge o fthe lid.

I think a length of rigid airline tubing with pliable airline tubing slipped over it near the top of the waterline would work as well.

A pvc anchor could work. I'm not sure about the lead's reaction in the basic calcium hydroxide solution but would research it to be sure it's safe. The magnet covering might also deteriorate in it. Maybe not.
 
Ok, read up on it a bit. Looks like lime or another base like lye will decrease lead's solubility not increase it . I'd personally still avoid it as particulates and even very minimal solutes might be a toxic to marine organisms at extremely low levels in a reef tank. NSW holds only 36parts per trillion of Pb( lead)
 
I use a PVC rod with zip ties around it to keep the tubing at the bottom of my 2 part jugs, and to keep the tubing at a particular depth in my kalk jug.
 
I siliconed a few of those white plastic wire hangers to the side and just out the ro tube through it. then I gave it away haha
 
I took a large PVC coupler I had as a hiding place in QT, drilled a hole in it and then pushed the dosing hose in.

It sits on the bottom and I can bounce it around while stirring the kalk. Never have to worry about it sucking up precipitate.
 
I solved this problem by looking around me when I set up my water change/kalk station. There on the basement floor next to where I was working was a bin of homebrewing supplies. I grabbed an empty beer bottle, loosely tied the airline around it, and dropped it in.
 
I've never had to keep something in a Brute before, but I have had to keep airline in a 5 gallon jug of phyto before. I got a few of the highest quality stainless steel (not the zinc coated junk) washers and nuts. I put them on the line, then put an air stone on the line. Break off the end of the stone to provide big bubbles instead of small ones.

There are better ideas than mine on here though :D
 
I like the washers idea. Nuts would make me nervous. All those peaks and valleys on the thread provide ideal spots for crevice corrosion even on high quality stainless.
 
I only had the phyto going in the jugs outside in the summer for 5 or 6 weeks I think. I noticed no corrosion on them, but it is definitely something to watch for, especially on the nuts.
 
Weight

Weight

I found a 2 pack of ceramic weights with a center hole.
Threaded the tubing and attached a strainer.
Many years ago so I do not remember where they came from.:(
 
I use a piece of rigid airline tubing, like that used in undergravel filter tubes. I use airline tubing with a very small pump for top off. Obviously won't work if your using a bigger pump.
 
Back
Top