Bulk Head necessary for DIY Dosing Container

ajoe · 02/08/2018, 09:15 PM

Evening all. I noticed a number of DIY Dosing containers did not utilize bulk heads in the lids. Any thoughts on skipping those or are they truly necessary. Not an expense/effort issue but just wanted to feel out why some skip these entirely.

cheers
ajoe

Gorgok · 02/08/2018, 11:24 PM

An air tight seal on a dosing container with a peristaltic pump would mean you are drawing a vacuum into it, which is probably not good long term (and may not work anyway). A connection at the top then doesn't need to seal anything as you probably are letting air in anyway, and at the top it can hardly leak liquids...

A fitting at the top looks prettier, and may be handy for maintenance (if its a push fitting especially), but that is up to you.

I use BRS jugs with the 'mixing cap' with a hole drilled into it for my dosing containers. The seal is 'splash proof' at best but leaks enough air so there is never a vacuum in them.

mcgyvr · 02/09/2018, 06:06 AM

poke/drill 2 holes and done.. one for the tubing.. one to let air in..
Thats all you "need"

d0ughb0y · 02/09/2018, 10:09 AM

you mean like this? I did it to attach the rigid tube inside the container that goes very close to the bottom, and the flexible hose will not come off or get disconnected. I used to just attach the flexible hose directly to the rigid tube that goes into a hole on top of the container. Sometimes it gets moved by accident, but for the most part, it worked fine.

ajoe · 02/09/2018, 11:42 AM

Thank you all. Good points all around. I had planned on drilling a small hole next to the bulk head to avoid the vacuum issue as stated and is what many seam to do as well. The use of a ridged tube inside the container is likely the direction I will go with along with the bulk head. Appreciate you all. thanks

laverda · 02/10/2018, 03:21 PM

You can drill a smaller hole an stick the ridge tube through it and glue in place. The disadvantage is it will be harder to replace the tube if you brake it.

02/08/2018, 09:15 PM	#1
ajoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 297	Bulk Head necessary for DIY Dosing Container Evening all. I noticed a number of DIY Dosing containers did not utilize bulk heads in the lids. Any thoughts on skipping those or are they truly necessary. Not an expense/effort issue but just wanted to feel out why some skip these entirely. cheers ajoe

02/09/2018, 06:06 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	poke/drill 2 holes and done.. one for the tubing.. one to let air in.. Thats all you "need" __________________ Who me?

02/10/2018, 03:21 PM	#6
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	You can drill a smaller hole an stick the ridge tube through it and glue in place. The disadvantage is it will be harder to replace the tube if you brake it. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

02/08/2018, 11:24 PM	#2
Gorgok Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 1,904	An air tight seal on a dosing container with a peristaltic pump would mean you are drawing a vacuum into it, which is probably not good long term (and may not work anyway). A connection at the top then doesn't need to seal anything as you probably are letting air in anyway, and at the top it can hardly leak liquids... A fitting at the top looks prettier, and may be handy for maintenance (if its a push fitting especially), but that is up to you. I use BRS jugs with the 'mixing cap' with a hole drilled into it for my dosing containers. The seal is 'splash proof' at best but leaks enough air so there is never a vacuum in them.

02/09/2018, 10:09 AM	#4
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	you mean like this? I did it to attach the rigid tube inside the container that goes very close to the bottom, and the flexible hose will not come off or get disconnected. I used to just attach the flexible hose directly to the rigid tube that goes into a hole on top of the container. Sometimes it gets moved by accident, but for the most part, it worked fine.

02/09/2018, 11:42 AM	#5
ajoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 297	Thank you all. Good points all around. I had planned on drilling a small hole next to the bulk head to avoid the vacuum issue as stated and is what many seam to do as well. The use of a ridged tube inside the container is likely the direction I will go with along with the bulk head. Appreciate you all. thanks