Siphon Cover / Rubber

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by lillys Grandad, Dec 4, 2008.

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  1. lillys Grandad

    lillys Grandad Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2008
    Messages:
    2,074
    Location:
    Rio Linda, California
    OK..So this is a known issue...some of your more expensive siphon overflows, like CPR have a black out section, thus REDUCING algae.
    BUT....some of the more popular models(cheaper) do not.
    SO....
    Here's what I'm working on.
    Got a piece of PVC rubber, home depot, used for underlay for a shower stall. smallest section I found was 12 inch x 4 feet...and grey...I wish it was black, but this is a prototype so 5.00 and were off and run'n.


    Square and clean it.
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    Had some common VELCRO...cut a couple of small pieces...use the fuzzy one on the light and the plastic hook side on the rubber..so you can clean it easier.
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    Put a couple of pieces on the rubber...........
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    a couple of pieces on the back side of the light fixture...
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    slide it in over siphon...line up with velcro...
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    front view...
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    make some cut marks to make fit...
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    cut...
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    I made mine longer to cover intake for my fluval...approx 11" x 11"...but when done it was approx. 11 inches wide by 10 inches deep.
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    put a little piece of double sided tape on the siphon to hold it down...but I now realize that the screen in the overflow does the job.
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    heres the back...
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    and again...
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    I'm watching right now to see how the pvc react to the heat/light.... and I have a couple other adjustments...I think it will be great....I need to do one in black though.
    Thanx for look'n
    LG
     
    lillys Grandad, Dec 4, 2008
    lillys Grandad, Dec 4, 2008
    #1
    1 person likes this.

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  2. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2007
    Messages:
    5,734
    Location:
    Bend,Oregon - USA
    I just took a piece of black plastic. I cut it to size. Then heated it where I wanted to bend with a torch and bent it into a 90. Then notched in the spot for the aqualifter. I'd share a pic but, just ran down my batteries taking pics of my mandarin.
     
    missionsix, Dec 4, 2008
    missionsix, Dec 4, 2008
    #2
  3. Bogie

    Bogie Snowflake Eel

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,350
    Location:
    CT
    looks nice.
     
    Bogie, Dec 4, 2008
    Bogie, Dec 4, 2008
    #3
    1 person likes this.
  4. 10acrewoods

    10acrewoods Fire Goby

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2008
    Messages:
    1,337
    Location:
    Carbondale Il
    Nice fix just hope rubber don't melt.
     
    10acrewoods, Dec 4, 2008
    10acrewoods, Dec 4, 2008
    #4
    1 person likes this.
  5. lillys Grandad

    lillys Grandad Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2008
    Messages:
    2,074
    Location:
    Rio Linda, California
    The PVC rubber is holding up nice...not even close to being a danger....not over heating or shrinking up.
    I did some trimming of the corners and adjusting of the size and it now it even looks ok in the grey color...kinda looks like brushed steel with the lights on.
    My goal was to reduce the light, yet have the ability to inspect the fixture without much trouble...so I can see it in the back at a glance, and it can be removed within a moment for other maintanence issues....and it covers two pieces of equipment for cosmetic purposes.....and also reducing the light to the sides of the fixture as well....so I am monitoring the algae growth with this on...I know how fast it grows with it not there!!...thats for sure! to fast to keep up I'm here to say. : )
    LG

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    [​IMG]
     
    lillys Grandad, Dec 5, 2008
    lillys Grandad, Dec 5, 2008
    #5