Dyson into Plankton cultivator = Cheap!!!!!

[Dal]

Hi all just want to see if anyone would be interested in how to make a cultivator heres a pic of mine i just made
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/reactor.jpg
Post up and let me know what you think and ill do a how too if your interested

Cheers Dal

[stegoodall]

It looks very interesting, post a how to :)

[Macca]

Yep come on - SPILL THE BEANS


James

[tonyponty]

yep come on how

[oakwell]

go for it!!

[Gillybaby]

Cool, can't wait to hear how you did it. Could do with a bigger pic too ;)

[Electric Monk]

Thats nothing, I just turned a Plankton cultivator into a Dyson........ :)

[subz88]

Doesn't the missus go bananas everytime you need to vacuum the living room? :D :D

Looks intriguing mate.

[Dal]

Hi all,

Ill try my best to explain how to do this as the pics I have arnt great sorry. First of all you will need the following:

-Dyson bin (got mine for 9.99 from here-http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DYSON-DC04-Bin-Insert-Silver-lime-ONLY-3-99_W0QQitemZ190029663146QQihZ009QQcategoryZ42146QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem )
-an air pump
-5mm rigid air line about
-normal air line with one way valve and a T piece
-a base for the cultivator I used a food storer from asda!
-a light starter with 18“ tube
-about 7" square of acrylic or suitable plastic that can be cut into a circle for the lid
- 2.5 “ by about 15-16“ long tube for the light to sit in see pics
-a suitable tap of your choice.
-super glue and aquarium safe silicon

Right when you have all that start by getting the centre of the bin and draw round the tube for the light. cut this out as best you can i cut it too small and then filed it out until the tube fit a tight as possible. then push the tube right through until so its sits above the lid line.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/1.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/4.jpg

You need to then cut your hole for the tap close to the bottom then seal the joints of light and tap holes with super glue first, then let it dry, then silicon and let that dry for recommended time. I left mine for about 2 days to make sure.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/3-1.jpg

While thats drying mark the lid out with centre hole and cut that. I was lucky and had hole cutters which made this very easy. all so drill the holes for the rigid air line (6mm I think?)
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/5.jpg

[Dal]

Also you can make the base with a hole for access to light unit and cooling
Once its all dry and sorted test it with normal water for leaks and then I washed mine with RO and then set up light and air pump, then add your phyto and you know the rest.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/2-1.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/driftingdal/reactor-1.jpg
So there you go I'm sorry its a bit vague! but you get the jist of it. make it your own by using better stuff than i did but this was a test build until I upgrade and have a higher demand for phyto and zoo etc I will make a few more but this one only cost me about £30 compared to the £100-150 you can pay for this size it will do me :D

Post up and show me your versions if anyone does good luck, and I'm here to help.:)
cheers Dal

[oakwell]

Excellent Post!!

[liquidlogic]

very well done. whts the benifits for plankton ?

[Dal]

Its great natural food for fish and corals especially filter feeders. Also boost micro life, polyps love it

[oakwell]

How much/often/how would you feed it?

[Dal]

There are many ways to feed it by dosing pumps automatically or at you discretion. I defrost my food in it everyday for them and add a bit twice a week.hope this helps

[eskimoigloo]

Just a thought - if you use the electrolux version of the bucket, this comes with the centre pipe built in (my vacuum is one of these and I've just investigated)! save a bit of work there, and probably cheaper than a Dyson part as well!

Chris.

[Tangman]

Hi I think you guys on here will be getting Deltec worried if you keep this up. well done Dal nice job. Eric

[liquidlogic]

whts the difference between. plankton and phyto wht ever? . thanks dal

[berns]

Just a thought - if you use the electrolux version of the bucket, this comes with the centre pipe built in (my vacuum is one of these and I've just investigated)! save a bit of work there, and probably cheaper than a Dyson part as well!

Chris.


exellent thread Dal,

now looking to have a go myself wat model vacuum you looking at eskimoigloo?

[Dal]

whts the difference between. plankton and phyto wht ever? . thanks dal

You got me on that one mate I found this but it blew my mind at this time of night sorry.
http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/1

Thanks for the comments:)

[Macca]

Up at this time getting orders ready :( yawn!!

Phyto = phytogenesis (Plant matter)

Plankton = Microscopic organisms

so phyto-pankton = Microscopic plant matter.

I have read many articles that indicate that many corals CANNOT digest plant matter and the corals are actually benefiting from not the phyto direct but the organisms that feed from it zoo-plankton

Zoo - Meaning animals

so zoo-plankton - Microscopic animals :D

Please dont say I am talking rubbish or anything I am only quoting far more knowledgeable people than myself. So in that respect a refugium were you grow your own zoo population can be more beneficial. Please discuss in a civil manner as it is an open theory! i.e This is a subjective statement by me!

James

[Hairy Monster]

Great post!

Ive just joined and this is the first one ive read (i was attracted to the 'DIY - save money' heading! lol)

Im just gutted that i chucked an old dyson out about 3 weeks ago!!!!!!!!!!

[Kev]

lol. Don't know nowt bout plankton, but classy gadget or what?:D

Kev

[callum_parsons]

that is ver cool, you seem to be very handy

[Dal]

that is ver cool, you seem to be very handy


:D Thanks! Im a mechanic so I use them all the time;)

The cultivator has worked a treat my first batch didnt crash like I thought it might so me and my tank inhabitants are happy!:D
cheers for the comments
Dal

[spk]

Dal,

This is great. I currently cultivate 14 odd 2litre soda bottles and am deperate for a larger container for growing phyto. I will definitely have a look at this.

What volume does this hold and how green did you get your phyto?

Thanks

Steve

[spk]

Dal,

Can you tell me more about how you attached the centre tube please. The one for the light.

Thanks

Steve

[disco jr]

im very impressed by this thank you for sharing it with us, ive no doubt that a few guys from the club will be building one of these.

cheers chris

[Dal]

Dal,

This is great. I currently cultivate 14 odd 2litre soda bottles and am deperate for a larger container for growing phyto. I will definitely have a look at this.

What volume does this hold and how green did you get your phyto?

Thanks

Steve

I think at a guess they are around 5 ltrs mabye more. The phyto was very deep green, alot greener than you buy from lfs.
hth



Dal,

Can you tell me more about how you attached the centre tube please. The one for the light.

Thanks

Steve

I got a length of clear pvc pipe, big enough for light tube to go through. Then cut a hole slightly smaller than the pipe(luckly I had a hole cutter the right size) then filed it out bit by bit to get it exactly the right size. Put the pipe in with a slight over hang at top and bottom to support light tube. I sealed the base of the tube with super glue at first then let that dry(its a pig to do inside without getting it everywhere) then sealed over the top with aqua silicone. remember to rinse it out with ro.
HTH mate

Thanks for interest and I want to see some of your own;)

cheers Dal