Fluval Fx5 pikey venturi Mod

[wrusst]

Hi all Im Russ this is my first post and hopefully a good one I thought i had a large tank until i saw your guys wow!
I have an 8x2x2ft tank with and fx5 filter and been a bit annoyed as getting silent airation near on impossible with the dual outlet. So i came up with this very simple venturi at the cost of one piece of plastic 4mm dripper tube.

 

[wrusst]

Ok it started because my lass and i like to watch films and pulling tank outlet up and down all the time was annoying. so i poked a hole in the outlet pipe smaller than the dripper line and poked tube in a nice tight fit. The water went up the tube and poured out the dripper line dam. then when i research into venturi's more then i realised i need to have a narrow bit in the tube which would restrict output which was not acceptable

 

[dawnmarie]

Hi Russ, when I first loaded your post it did't load the diagram.
Now that I see the drawing I think you have an excellent Idea.

 

[wrusst]

I then pulled out the dripper hose and cut a point on it diginal across which apearently impoved flow and the vacuum which i was still lacking then looked at the dual port outlet and thought to myself theres loads of twists and turns in there and ran the dipper hose through it to around the 90 degree bend at the bottom bend of the plastic dual outlet after 10 mins of fidling it was pulling air naturally.

it was now adding a decent amount of air maybe not enough for some people but its a defo step in the right direction. i would leave the dripper tube quite long say 12" as it seems to have a ram effect and pull more air reliably but the problem now is its quite noisy probs noiser than before . so i popped an airstone on the pipe end now its virtually silent i left the outlet under my lid as i wanted to pull warm air in, as my house is cold and it would put extra strain on heaters.

dripper line is good because its stiffer than silicone tube and holds a water tight seal in hose and being more rigid you can poke it though the pipe easier and around corners but any normal plastic air line will do.

best free mod i ever made as i had tube lying around never tryed thick tube as it would have blocked outlet more but may have given you more air

 

[Pharaoh]

This is a nice little mod. Great job.

 

[wrusst]

This is a nice little mod. Great job.

Cheers
since doing this i had to convert it to a wet and dry lol due to issues with the fx5 rattling it seem to have ground down some of prop guides

 

[Miguel4u2]

Cheers
since doing this i had to convert it to a wet and dry lol due to issues with the fx5 rattling it seem to have ground down some of prop guides

LOL , should of sold it and just buy a 5 gal bucket or a rubbermaid

 

[Jgray152]

Cheers
since doing this i had to convert it to a wet and dry lol due to issues with the fx5 rattling it seem to have ground down some of prop guides

The only thing the impeller could grind down is the large plastic ring which centers the impeller. If its rattling, a new impeller should fix the issue.

 

[wrusst]

wounded is not the word I tell you look at the pick above where the hose pipe comes out look pretty ground to me so i think it gave it extra play in the housing

 

[wrusst]

well i contacted a week ago no reply so do you think spending £40 on a new inpeller will fix it as im half way there to the rena?