Why acrylic rod?

VIVVIV · 04/19/2019, 12:57 PM

Looking at DIY dosing containers. Why do they all recommend an acrylic rod for inside the container? Requires, a bulkhead, etc. Why can't you just extend the tube into the container?

Also, one I saw used a water bottle but he did not make any air hole. Won't this eventually create a vaccum and no flow?

Thanks

bertoni · 04/19/2019, 02:42 PM

I used an acrylic rod to weigh down the supplement line. A tube would work, too.

The container will need some airway into it, but a loose-fitting hole for the supplement line is more than enough. I suspect that's how the water bottle setup worked.

mcgyvr · 04/19/2019, 03:45 PM

They all use/recommend an acrylic "tube" .
Acrylic "rod" doesn't have a hole through the center and thus would be useless for drawing up liquid..

The reason you don't want to use flexible "tubing" is because it has a natural curvature to it from being stored on a round reel and wants to curl up and rarely does it reach all the way to the bottom of a container to allow you to get as much liquid as you can before requiring a fill up..

VIVVIV · 04/19/2019, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the information. The tube is fine or course, but I don't see the need for a bulkhead and different fittings.
I am going to just use flexible tubing and attach it to something to keep it straight and near the bottom.

Thanks again.

mcgyvr · 04/19/2019, 07:37 PM

With anything in life there is good and better and best...we all make choices..
I too use tubing in my dosing containers...

billdogg · 04/20/2019, 06:54 AM

I use a combination of soft silicone and rigid airline tubing to plumb my dosing containers. you can easily cut the silicone tubing to use as connectors and to make the longer runs to the sump. A piece of rigid from the lid down to about 1" above the bottom of the container.

Bpb · 04/22/2019, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVVIV

Thanks for the information. The tube is fine or course, but I don't see the need for a bulkhead and different fittings.

I am going to just use flexible tubing and attach it to something to keep it straight and near the bottom.

Thanks again.

Some people actually care about the aesthetics of every little thing and want it to look manufactured. I’m not one of those people. Being said. A push connect fitting with acrylic rod is cheap enough and saves the headache of making the airline not curl up out of the fluid. Yes it looks nicer to have the bulkhead, but it’s also functional. That being said. The push fitting elbow ends up leaking every time for me.

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04/19/2019, 12:57 PM	#1
VIVVIV Registered Member. Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 37	Why acrylic rod? Looking at DIY dosing containers. Why do they all recommend an acrylic rod for inside the container? Requires, a bulkhead, etc. Why can't you just extend the tube into the container? Also, one I saw used a water bottle but he did not make any air hole. Won't this eventually create a vaccum and no flow? Thanks

04/19/2019, 02:42 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I used an acrylic rod to weigh down the supplement line. A tube would work, too. The container will need some airway into it, but a loose-fitting hole for the supplement line is more than enough. I suspect that's how the water bottle setup worked. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/19/2019, 03:45 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	They all use/recommend an acrylic "tube" . Acrylic "rod" doesn't have a hole through the center and thus would be useless for drawing up liquid.. The reason you don't want to use flexible "tubing" is because it has a natural curvature to it from being stored on a round reel and wants to curl up and rarely does it reach all the way to the bottom of a container to allow you to get as much liquid as you can before requiring a fill up.. __________________ Who me?

04/19/2019, 06:31 PM	#4
VIVVIV Registered Member. Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 37	No rod OR tube Thanks for the information. The tube is fine or course, but I don't see the need for a bulkhead and different fittings. I am going to just use flexible tubing and attach it to something to keep it straight and near the bottom. Thanks again.

04/19/2019, 07:37 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	With anything in life there is good and better and best...we all make choices.. I too use tubing in my dosing containers... __________________ Who me?

04/20/2019, 06:54 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I use a combination of soft silicone and rigid airline tubing to plumb my dosing containers. you can easily cut the silicone tubing to use as connectors and to make the longer runs to the sump. A piece of rigid from the lid down to about 1" above the bottom of the container. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer