Locline "Penductors" ?
 

I have seen the 3/4" ones on MD.com's website.
I was wondering if just manipulating my current locline pieces could achieve a similar venturi effect.
I skimmed the search bar but maybe I missed it done already?

Gonna go tinker in the garage right now...

**plugs in the dremel**

Whoa....
Grabs camera..... inc pics.

Franken-line is in the house.

pics? what pics?

Damn you for making me work and like... move my fingers and stuff.

For your approval.
I simply marked where I wanted to keep a "brace" to not cut out with a razor blade. I then used a dremel to cut out parts of my final locline pieces to acheive a venturi effect. I had to cut my pump back by almost 50% after reinstalling them.
As you can see, it was very simple and low cost if you already have the locline.
The flow im my tank is absurd now. I had to cut the pump to 50% after 3 minutes. The sand was moved and showing the glass on the bottom.
You can see anything in the water column within an inch of the cutout areas get gently pulled into and then shot out with the pump. The spread of flow if fantastic too.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...975LLP_mod.JPG


Horribly out of focus, but showing applied.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...LP_in_tank.JPG

I would recommend anyone with locline and a dremel to do this the next time you work on your plumbing. Be careful reinstalling the modified pieces. They are much weaker and I broke one trying to get it back on, although I did cut that one really thin.

nice! lazy :)

having a hard time seeing what you did here.
I am really interested in this project though.I saw these today and was thinking of how I caould just make one so this is great!

I'm not sure how much more flow that would give you, but it is a good idea.

He says he reduced his pump by 50%.Thats pretty signifigant

Nice I think I'll try this mod.

It basically follows the principal of a penductor.
The pump passes water through a channel.
That channel has inlets on the side to allow the power of the pump output to act as a suction, or venturi if you will.
This is where the increased flow comes from. The additional water being forced, or rather, suctioned through the inlets as the pump output passes through.

Try not to cut your pieces too thin as you will lose the "channel" effect.

DIY instructional pics incoming. Don't hold ur breath :P

Things you need :
- Dremel or other rotary high speed cutting tool. Razor blades just didn't work on the stiff plastic and I don't want any of you in the ER with a gouge in your arm.
- Keyhole file or some way to remove burrs after cutting.
- Vice or some method of securing the locline.
- I used a cutoff wheel and a smaller attachement for the sides as shown below.


Mark your areas you want to cut out. Marking them is important so you don't over cut and end up with no structural rigidity to the piece.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...75DSCN0394.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...75DSCN0393.JPG


Secure the locline in a vice and begin cutting. I am not gonna go through the details here. The picture is pretty self explanatory. I will say that there is LOTS of plastic dust flying around so ... be forewarned.

Cutoff wheel used to cut the long portions.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...75DSCN0401.JPG

Small diamond wheel used to cut the smaller sides.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...75DSCN0402.JPG

The cutoff wheel would have destroyed the piece if I tried to turn it.
If you only have the cutoff wheels... then use lateral force to grind away the areas you want to remove.

The finished product after filing down any remaining burrs.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...975LLP_mod.JPG

Hope that helps.
Happy reefing.

So you just cut the front 1/3 of it off?

If you look into a peductor, there is a very small nozzle inside. That has a lot to do with performance. I do not see how just cutting the locline like that will do much.

BTW, I have the Pacific coast eductors, as well as the SUndays from champion.

Chou -
In the picture, left facing is the output... right side is the input... if that helps.

I am aware.
The flow reduction naturally occuring in Loc-Line allows for the venturi to take proper effect.
If you notice where I cut the locline at the center... that is the most reduced output part of the loclines. After the cut there, it opens up and the "Channel" created by the two pieces at the end.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...975LLP_mod.JPG

Facing left is the output.
Facing right is the water inlet. At the inlet, it gets funneled down to the smallest point, the stream shoots through the cut parts, and pulls water through.

I assure you it works quite well. Perhaps not as effective as a purchased penductor but... these are lower profile, and much more cost effective if you are already using locline.

took me looking at a piece of loc-line i have to see what you did....

to help others, take a pic of it rotated 90-degrees, so they see the solid side pieces from the side (w/ them at top & bottom)..... at 1st, it looks like they go to a point INTO the bottom piece & not that they are one whole piece

might have to do this lil mod on a few pieces of scrap loc-line i have. another idea might be to drill 1/4" holes all around the flat spot insted of cutting it out

It's my first DYI thread, and I did it after the fact. Next time I will document a process :D.

Here is a crude paint drawing I did showing direction of flow, where to and where not to cut.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/..._mod_paint.jpg

so how thick are the "side" pieces ??

what do you think the effect of drilling several say 1/4" holes would be instead of the full cut-outs??

The sides are very thick.
I couldn't get the job done with a heavy duty box cutter.

You could try holes, but don't put them behind the "Do not cut" line pictured above. They would probably have to be rather large I imagine to get sufficient flow through as well. Size of the holes would depend on locline size. 1/2" through 1 " would require different hole sizes
Marking the piece before drilling as if you were going to cut it all away would be smart to do. If you aren't happy with just drilling, then you can cut away afterwards.
If one has the arm strength and time, a file could be used to file the sides away buuuut..... They were pretty thick.

i meant how wide are the 2 side pieces left attached??? they look to be 3/6-1/4"

i have about 8 links left, so i get some time, i might have to do some experimenting

I will be trying this tonight or tomorrow, Great DIY, GREAT IDEA!!

Thanks,
Aaron

They are about the width of a pencil. I don't have a plastic ruler to insert in the tank to measure exactly. This is on 3/4" locline.

To reiterate.
PLEASE be careful when reinstalling. The new modified pieces are no where near structurally as strong as the original and pressing too hard on your work could very well break it as I did on my 2nd one trying to reinstall it.

I cannot modify my post above with the pictures... so .. for informational...

The locline with the blue tape on it is a FAILED attempt. It is ONLY for instructional purposes to show with the tape is where to make the proper cuts.
The finished product is the one with the white background.

The blue tape shows where you are SUPPOSED to cut it. I had no more spares to use a clean piece to show.
IGNORE any actual cuts you see on the piece with blue tape, particularly in this picture... Pretend it's a brand new piece. http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...75DSCN0402.JPG

Those cuts on the left side in the vice were from failed attempt #1. I cut out that side on the left and the piece kept flying off in the tank. Anyone that wants to try modding that side... I'm pretty sure it's a waste :P


Please refer to the white background picture for the final product as shown below.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/..._mod_paint.jpg

Good day.

Hey Birdman Nice shtuff here bud!!!
I see now what you did. I also grabbed up some locline last night and figured out what you did here.
At first I thought the side pieces went into the larger side.
,as the above poster did also. Good idea.

It is hard to see the second cut that I think is there, would you mind posting a different angle, it is not obvious.

Also, what kind of pump are you using this with?