Home Made Fluidized Bed

[healerhand]

Hey Gang,
I have a Rainbow Fluidized Bed 300 (FB). After i analysed my current FB for a while, i think i can make this out of a 2 liter 7-up bottle.
this is the process i have been thinking of
1. Drill the 7-Up bottle cap with a 3/8 bit.
2. Make a hole 3/8" or more at around the upper area of the bottle.
3. A tube will be insert into the cap. The tube will extend all the way to the bottom of the bottle. The other end of the tube will be powered by Rio 800.
4. The bottle will be filled with coralife fluidized sand at about 1/4 to 1/3 of the bottle.
5. the water outlet will be existing from the hole made at the upper area of the bottle.
of course i have to be careful calibrating the water flow. if the water is too strong, the sand will spilt out.....if too slow, i would not get the optimium gas/waste exchange.
Any comments on this home made fluidized bed? the FB will be place in the wet/dry sump....

 

[mr . salty]

It works kinda like an under gravel filter in reverse. Water is forced through the sand frome the bottom and out the top. Healerhand, How about making it out of some pvc pipe instead of a pop bottle. Use a 5or6 inch diamater section about a foot or two tall. Cap off one end and put a threaded insert in the other for a lid.This will cost a little more than a bottle,but the end result would be much more reliable and profesional.

 

[healerhand]

Mr. Salty,
Great idea... thanks,,, but i should get something that is clear, so i see the level of the sand.....
thanks
david

 

[healerhand]

Mr. Salty,
From that principle, i can make a protein skimmer too.. using 6" PVC...

 

[mr . salty]

I havent heard of too many succesful home made skimmers.I even tried once.They look simple but tricky.