Homemade eductor

[mharris7]

I just used these parts:

1/2" male to hose barb
3/4" male to slip
3/4" female to slip
Epoxy putty - the stuff we use to mount our frags


Should be able to figure out how it's assembled by looking at it. ;) Pretty simple.

Here's some pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/ravenmore/educt3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/ravenmore/educt1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/ravenmore/educt2.jpg


I painted it purple with pvc primer in an attempt to match the coraline. Jury's still out on that one. ;)

[Instar]

How do you plan to detoxify and leach out the purple primer dye?

BTW: nice pics of that.

[JimD]

Greg, just click on the little X in the square to delete the post.

[Polkster13]

I understand the general purpose of an eductor, but am wondering what your usage plan is. Are you going to use this in your tank? Sump? Mixing container for saltwater? A reactor of some kind?

Just curious.

[Shark_Bait]

What kind of pump is that going on?

[Polkster13]

Chris called and explained it to me. Apparently you put one of these on a MaxiJet outlet and it significantly increases the flow rate out of the nozzle.

Very clever. Let us know how it works out.

Do you have any way of measuring the flow? If so, it would be cool to know the before and after rates.

[brewercm]

Larry,
I didn't think that the primer was toxic since it is usable for potable plumbing. Am I missing something here since that's what I've used in my plumbing for years for the primer?

[mharris7]

Yep - as far as I know the primer should be non toxic once it cures. I figured it would be ok since I've had it on my plumbing (tank and home use) for years. If anyone knows better though, esp. with this much of it, let me know.

It improves the flow of the maxijet a little. The big improvement in my opinion is that it diffuses the flow. The flow "feels" the same but it is a broader stream. I can see it drawing particles in the eductor vents so I know it's educting some, but on a maxijet it's not a tremendous increase. I want to experiment with heating the "mouth" of the eductor and flaring it out. That'll accentuate the low pressure zone and draw in more water I think. I also want to play around with pinching the nozzle to create more pressure and therefore more velocity. But as is it does work. I need to go to HD and by a reducing bushing for my return line. I'll try it out in comparisson to my "store bought" version. It's on a mag7 which still isn't ideal, but the existing eductor does at least double my flow. The improvement is dramatic enough to easily see it.

An ideal pump is a pressure rated pump. I think one of the Iwaki's is especially good(can't remember the model). They have a pump that produces a good amount of pressure at low flow rates, which is ideal for eductors apparently....

Oh yeah - it was about $2 (actually even a little less) to make this.... ;) At that price I'd certainly slap one on all my returns...

[Tim Marvin]

When you use it on your plumbing it is between the pipe fittings and not painted on pipe that is constantly submerged. It is usually cover by the PVC cement as well.. I don't know if it would be toxic over time or not, but do keep us informed if corals and fish start expiring for no apparent reason....

[brewercm]

The reason I was asking is I usually overdue the purple primer when I use it on all of my plumbing and so far no bad stuff has happened to me or my fish since it's on the house plumbing also.

Well that could explain this third arm growing out the back of my neck though. :P

[mharris7]

I know I get the purple primer all over the place too, that stuff is messy. I've learned to do it somewhere where you don't care if it drips. I definitely get it outside the joints and in places where it's not covered by cement. So far no harm...

[mharris7]

well I ran it for a while yesterday. It does work but not as well as the "retail" version I purchased. That shouldn't be a big suprise I guess. One of the reasons I think is that the eductor vents need to be bigger, and I also think I need a smaller diameter nozzle. I may experiment with both in the future. The primer didn't seem to be a problem at all, at least not in the short term.