buckdawg Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 like many i am struggling with getting the powder to suspend correctly. i started with a little aquarium air pump, moved up to a bigger one and nothing seemed to work. I tried coffee filters and paper sacks..nothing. Now I have this new crazy idea that I need help being talked out of. What if you replaced the aquarium pump with a PCU cooling fan installed in directly in the bottom? I'm thinking you could regulate air flow with a rheostat installed so your not blowing powder all over the place. the fan units are pretty cheap actually...usually less than $10. the problem i'll have is powering the thing...i'm not that knowledgeable electrically. anyone see any issues with this setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dungeonhawk Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I dont think the air flow itself is as big of a fluidizer as the pressure. I think if you just used a fan you are isolating areas and it would just make it worse. I like where your head is at but I think half the reason the tubes, and air pumps work is because you create and air tight seal where the only place the air can go is through a semi porous membrane. with a fan, you arent introducing air to the pot, you are just moving it around. hence, no pressure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckdawg Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I dont think the air flow itself is as big of a fluidizer as the pressure. I think if you just used a fan you are isolating areas and it would just make it worse. I like where your head is at but I think half the reason the tubes, and air pumps work is because you create and air tight seal where the only place the air can go is through a semi porous membrane. with a fan, you arent introducing air to the pot, you are just moving it around. hence, no pressure I see what you're saying. I would enclose the unit within the PVC similar to the most common designs I've seen on the board. I'm thinking if you drilled a hole in the side for the wires and made it a tad bigger than necessary to pull the wires through then that would be sufficient for air intake and still create the pressure necessary. but who knows? i may give it a whirl tonight and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dungeonhawk Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I wish you luck. I just dont think having ANY air being able to escape is going to give you the desired effect. as soon as one bit of pressure is lost, you are going to struggle to get air flow anywhere but out that hole. Air is obviously going to take the path of least resistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckdawg Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I wish you luck. I just dont think having ANY air being able to escape is going to give you the desired effect. as soon as one bit of pressure is lost, you are going to struggle to get air flow anywhere but out that hole. Air is obviously going to take the path of least resistance. yes, you're right. i thought about it and am going to shelve the idea for now. i went and bought a couple smaller fittings @ Lowe's over the lunch hour. I was using a 3" system before and I just don't think using the aquarium pump was enough. Hopefully the smaller chambers will do the trick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 I can under stand the frustration. on my bigger fluid beds I have been using a 30 gal air comp. to supply the beds. the aquarium pump should supply 2" beds or smaller. have five 4" beds with different colors and a valve on each cup to reg. each bed, and use the paper bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckdawg Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 I actually have some moderate success tonight using a couple 2" pvc adapters and a new (bigger) air pump. I'll make a new thread with pics so everyone can see what I did. It probably would have been cheaper to buy one but it's been fun!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamarocks Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 i have made sveral fluid beds and the aquaium pumps are actually more air than you need. on certain colors i have to turn the air down so they are not blowing out of the cups, the membrane in the bottom of your cup is what determines how much air is getting thru. it cost me $35 to make the whole thing but i got a pc of the membrane for my cups from a chemical company here in town. the fluid membrane is expensive but it works awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel7@mac.com Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 I Gave Up And Went Back To Sifting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
