DIY bubble counter >$5.00

[rolloffhill]

I picked up this idea from Wasserpest on tpt.net, such a good idea I couldn't pass it up.

I picked up a check valve from petsmart for ~$1.50
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/rolloffhill/DIY/Picture001.jpg

and an oral syringe from CVS for ~$2.99

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/rolloffhill/DIY/Picture004.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/rolloffhill/DIY/Picture006.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/rolloffhill/DIY/Picture007.jpg
It is a simple DIY, just need to put a bead of aquarium safe silicone around the check valve and slide it right in.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/rolloffhill/DIY/Picture008.jpg

After that just make sure the silicone is sealed up good and let it cure. The check valve won't be the only one I use. I have brass one coming that will go between the regulator and the bubble counter for extra safety.


I'll be using Mineral Oil on the inside to keep evaporation down and not have to mess with it very often.

Now I just need to find something to mount it underneath my stand...:D

[kewlkatdady]

you said oral...

huhu huhu

[greeneyed]

http://images.grainger.com/images/products/1A877.JPG (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1A878)
I was thinking something like this so you can see it. Only thing is I'm sure you don't need 25. Will try and find elsewhere if you like the idea.

Edit: What is the diameter of the syringe?

[rolloffhill]

Looks like 5/8" would be a pretty snug fit definitely don't need 25....:D

[AndrewH]

Here are some clips.

$0.50 each (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lightingfx.com/media/images/product_category/ILDL-COND.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lightingfx.com/cat--Rope-Light--ropelight&h=100&w=100&sz=4&hl=en&start=23&um=1&tbnid=y7XC-C8iYk1FIM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dconduit%2Bclip%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D 20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SUNA_enUS236US236 %26sa%3DN)

$0.35 each (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lightingfx.com/media/images/product_category/ILDL-COND.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lightingfx.com/cat--Rope-Light--ropelight&h=100&w=100&sz=4&hl=en&start=23&um=1&tbnid=y7XC-C8iYk1FIM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dconduit%2Bclip%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D 20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SUNA_enUS236US236 %26sa%3DN)

[AndrewH]

I know Lowes/HD/WM has these -
http://www.medtechpc.com/index/images/conduitstrap.gif

[biggin]

You have a big shop...you can store them for everyone...

Looks like 5/8" would be a pretty snug fit definitely don't need 25....:D

[rolloffhill]

True, true...come to think of it, if I looked hard enough in the shop I could probably find something to use to clamp it....:D

[Travis_Conklin]

If you are still looking for a clamp, I am going to try some magnetic one's from zoo-med that I found at pet co. only comes with one magnetic strip but it has multiple sizes of clamps...my bubble counter I made from 5/8" tubing so I needed a large clamp but there is also smaller ones.

[rolloffhill]

I am actually thinking of some heavy duty Velcro and just stick it to the stank.

[supersmirky]

stank?? wow.....what a turn in conversation.

Hey...does anyone know how many bubbles per minute you are supposed to have??

[rolloffhill]

roflmao, you never heard of a stank before???

Its a combo of stand-tank.....:hehe:

[AndrewH]

Hey...does anyone know how many bubbles per minute you are supposed to have??

Well the idea from my understanding is to reach 20-25ppm (parts per million) of dissolved CO2 in the stank's <--- ;) water. To achieve this, you have as many bps (bubbles per second) as needed. It depends on your equipment and how efficient it is at dissolving the CO2. More efficient = less bps, less efficient = more bps.

I think I've read that a good starting off point is 3-5 bps (or 180-300 bubbles per minute), then adjust from there. I've heard people using up to 10 bps and as low as 1 bps.

Other factors which affect the bubble rate are: number of plants, temp, GH, KH, water surface aereation/CO2 loss, & filtration design.

[supersmirky]

Good core info. Thanks Andrew!

[AndrewH]

You're welcome. :D

[rolloffhill]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t64/chickiepea86/fail.jpg



Make sure you get it in there REAL tight like.....:twitch:

Apparently I'm gonna have to shove it all the way in and use a bit more silicone.....

Then possibly use a bit of 2 part epoxy on the outside for good measures.

[AndrewH]

Sounds like you had a problem?

[greeneyed]

What happened?

[rolloffhill]

Yeah I did, first off I shouldn't have even had the bubble counter hooked up before I had all of the adjustments made. I didn't see where the regulator was at 40+ instead of 11....and then the needle valve was wide open. So all the mineral oil I had in the bubble counter made a b-line for the reactor, luckily it wasn't hooked up yet so I get to clean that out tonight.

The hose was a tight fit on the bubble counter and pulled it the check valve right out of the syringe.

So I resiliconed it last night, pushed it all the way in flush with the end, and then put 2 part epoxy on the end where they meet. It shouldn't come apart now...:)

[ElijahTurtle]

Man if I had known ya'll were gonna go to all that trouble I could have sent you an IV solution set from the hospital, all I did was clip the line fill with water add a check valve below it and plug it up.

http://www.angiplast.com/images/IV%20Set%20005.jpg

[AndrewH]

Cool idea.

How's it been working?

[ElijahTurtle]

I'm not running CO2 right now, but I ran it for 18 months at the old apartment with no problems

[AndrewH]

OIC