Nylon Solenoid Valves - reef safe? DIY quiet bubblefree surge - Page 2

Lavoisier · 09/09/2012, 10:37 AM

How do you like your bubbleless surge vs the bubble surge now that you have had it awhile? Was it primarily the noise that drove the change?

I am getting ready to start a 500g build (8ft) and am going back and forth over setting up the cl. I have used a 5gal carlson in my 90 for many years and like the bubbles and have grown accustomed to the noise. With a 20g carlson (I'm thinking of putting in one at each end) I'm not sure how much louder it will be. Any thoughts?

o2manyfish · 09/09/2012, 11:10 AM

The noise of my Carlson wasn't too bad. I built a muffler which for the outlet which pretty much got rid of the initial bubble belch. The Surge tank sits outside on a second story deck, and when the tank drained it sounded like a wave breaking on a beach, if you were outside.

My surge was cycling about every 90 seconds, so the bubbles would build up in the tank pretty quickly. And the tank is right next to my home theater, so when it was dark at night and your watching a movie everytime the surge went the room got brighter from all the light reflecting off all the bubbles.

So my decision to switch was mainly for the bubbles. And I am happy I made the switch. the only noise I hear is the click of the relay which triggers the valve. I am quite sensitive to noise, and all my equipment is located outside.

Dave B

Lavoisier · 09/09/2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

The noise of my Carlson wasn't too bad. I built a muffler which for the outlet which pretty much got rid of the initial bubble belch. The Surge tank sits outside on a second story deck, and when the tank drained it sounded like a wave breaking on a beach, if you were outside.

There are advantages to CA! Do you have a pic or sketch of the muffler?

o2manyfish · 09/09/2012, 08:31 PM

Lavoisier,

The surge comes into the tank via a 2" bulkhead in the left wall of the tank about 10" deep. I took a piece of 2" ABS pipe and set it in the chop saw and then made slices every 1/8" about 1/3 of the way through the pipe for 2". Then cut the pipe down to 3.5" and inserted it into the bulkhead. The slices take the air coming out of the pipe and break it down into smaller bubbles, so no belching.

I tried drilling holes, which worked as well, but it wasn't as clean looking and the holes were going to get smaller as algae and coraline grew on the muffler, and with the slices the algae only need to be cleaned about once a year.

Dave B

09/09/2012, 10:37 AM	#26
Lavoisier Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 1,030	How do you like your bubbleless surge vs the bubble surge now that you have had it awhile? Was it primarily the noise that drove the change? I am getting ready to start a 500g build (8ft) and am going back and forth over setting up the cl. I have used a 5gal carlson in my 90 for many years and like the bubbles and have grown accustomed to the noise. With a 20g carlson (I'm thinking of putting in one at each end) I'm not sure how much louder it will be. Any thoughts? __________________ "...for it is not necessary that these hypotheses should be true, or even probably; but it is enough if they provide a calculus which fits the observations..."--Introduction (attributed to Andrew Osiander) to On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Sphere by Nicolaus Copernicus. Current Tank Info: 600g DT, 140g sump, 200g Cryptic, 90g Refugium, 3-400w MH, 2 Reeflo Barracudas, and 3 MP60s

09/09/2012, 11:10 AM	#27
o2manyfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Encino, CA Posts: 6,199	The noise of my Carlson wasn't too bad. I built a muffler which for the outlet which pretty much got rid of the initial bubble belch. The Surge tank sits outside on a second story deck, and when the tank drained it sounded like a wave breaking on a beach, if you were outside. My surge was cycling about every 90 seconds, so the bubbles would build up in the tank pretty quickly. And the tank is right next to my home theater, so when it was dark at night and your watching a movie everytime the surge went the room got brighter from all the light reflecting off all the bubbles. So my decision to switch was mainly for the bubbles. And I am happy I made the switch. the only noise I hear is the click of the relay which triggers the valve. I am quite sensitive to noise, and all my equipment is located outside. Dave B __________________ 560g Display. 1500g System Volume. (2) 180g Outdoor Frag Tanks. 340g Sump, 30g 2 story surge tank. Dasatco EXT 9. Bubble King Skimmer. Ozone. UV. 5' Fluidized Sand Filter. Avast Kalk Mixer. Current Tank Info: 560g SPS Dominant Reef / 1500g Total System

09/09/2012, 08:31 PM	#29
o2manyfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Encino, CA Posts: 6,199	Lavoisier, The surge comes into the tank via a 2" bulkhead in the left wall of the tank about 10" deep. I took a piece of 2" ABS pipe and set it in the chop saw and then made slices every 1/8" about 1/3 of the way through the pipe for 2". Then cut the pipe down to 3.5" and inserted it into the bulkhead. The slices take the air coming out of the pipe and break it down into smaller bubbles, so no belching. I tried drilling holes, which worked as well, but it wasn't as clean looking and the holes were going to get smaller as algae and coraline grew on the muffler, and with the slices the algae only need to be cleaned about once a year. Dave B __________________ 560g Display. 1500g System Volume. (2) 180g Outdoor Frag Tanks. 340g Sump, 30g 2 story surge tank. Dasatco EXT 9. Bubble King Skimmer. Ozone. UV. 5' Fluidized Sand Filter. Avast Kalk Mixer. Current Tank Info: 560g SPS Dominant Reef / 1500g Total System