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First things first this carbon snake is the design and creation of our resident DIY guru John Crowder (FSHFRK), I am just some random joker who witnessed it and who has enough time to type all this out.
NEEDED MATERIALS
All materials listed below available at Lowe's
1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe (10-20FT)
1.5 x 3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing (2)
1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter (2)
3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting (2)
4' - 6' Rubber washing machine fill hose
PVC or All purpose cement - Jar
Purple primer - 4 oz Jar
Crazy glue (1)
Teflon tape
Purchased at Hobby Lobby - In knitting section
Plastic canvas /equivalent (1)
- this is used to make screens to hold the carbon in the spa flex hose yet allow water to flow through
Step 1
Wrap the 3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting with Teflon tape. Thread the pipe end of the fitting into the 1.5 x 3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing(you may use the All purpose cement for this). Note this fitting has both a pipe end and a hose end. You will notice that the threading is different. I would suggest test threading it before using the cement
Step 2
Take the now mated 1.5 x3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing and3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting and apply Purple primer to the lower PVC half. This serves to clean the plastic in order to ensure a good bond between the PVC. Next use the PVC or All purpose cement to glue the 1.5 x3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing to the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter.
Step 3
Use a marker to trace 3 circular templates on the Plastic canvas /equivalent using the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter. Cut these discs out and try to fit them on the inside of the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter . They will require some trimming. Once you have trimmed these to fit arrange them inside so that all are not aligned in the same direction. Once these have been fitted use the Crazy glue to attach them to the inside of the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter. Repeat steps 1-3 twice this step completes the fittings for either end of the carbon snake.
Step 4
At this point you are ready to glue the fitting to the 1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe. Apply the Purple primer to the last two inches of the 1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe. Once the Purple primer has dried you are ready to glue the fitting to the hose. Now liberally apply the PVC or All purpose cement to the same area where the dry Purple primer was applied. Now shove the prepared fitting to the hose with as much force as possible.
Step 5
Use a funnel to fill the hose with activated carbon. This is easier if you have three people. Have one on the far end stretch the hose. One on the still open filling in the carbon and one in the middle to shake the house so that you don't end up with loosely packed carbon.
Step 6
Repeat step 4 with the second prepared fitting on the still open end.
Thats it, your done!
You can use the 4' Rubber washing machine fill hose to connect your snake to the your Python outlet adapter. On the other fitting you can hook up a regular hose to reach to your tanks. The inventor (John Crowder) takes it a step or two further and uses quick connects and other fittings to hook up to his water outlet of choice. Once you have the carbon snake built using the directions above you can use the fittings of your choice and modify it at will. Well I hope this helps those that were curious. If you have any questions you can either PM me or post in thread below.
One last important note - Hook your new carbon snake up to the water spigot outside and and blow out the extra carbon powder before using it to fill your tank. You will end up with nice black water if you don't. It will not harm your fish but blow it out before using on your tank and save yourself the hassell!
John - Please feel free to correct me anywhere I might have gone wrong.
NEEDED MATERIALS
All materials listed below available at Lowe's
1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe (10-20FT)
1.5 x 3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing (2)
1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter (2)
3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting (2)
4' - 6' Rubber washing machine fill hose
PVC or All purpose cement - Jar
Purple primer - 4 oz Jar
Crazy glue (1)
Teflon tape
Purchased at Hobby Lobby - In knitting section
Plastic canvas /equivalent (1)
- this is used to make screens to hold the carbon in the spa flex hose yet allow water to flow through
Step 1
Wrap the 3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting with Teflon tape. Thread the pipe end of the fitting into the 1.5 x 3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing(you may use the All purpose cement for this). Note this fitting has both a pipe end and a hose end. You will notice that the threading is different. I would suggest test threading it before using the cement
Step 2
Take the now mated 1.5 x3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing and3/4 GH x 3/4 Inch MIP fitting and apply Purple primer to the lower PVC half. This serves to clean the plastic in order to ensure a good bond between the PVC. Next use the PVC or All purpose cement to glue the 1.5 x3/4 Inch SCH 40 Bushing to the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter.
Step 3
Use a marker to trace 3 circular templates on the Plastic canvas /equivalent using the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter. Cut these discs out and try to fit them on the inside of the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter . They will require some trimming. Once you have trimmed these to fit arrange them inside so that all are not aligned in the same direction. Once these have been fitted use the Crazy glue to attach them to the inside of the 1.5 Inch SCH 40 Adapter. Repeat steps 1-3 twice this step completes the fittings for either end of the carbon snake.
Step 4
At this point you are ready to glue the fitting to the 1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe. Apply the Purple primer to the last two inches of the 1.5 Inch ID PVC Spa Flex Pipe. Once the Purple primer has dried you are ready to glue the fitting to the hose. Now liberally apply the PVC or All purpose cement to the same area where the dry Purple primer was applied. Now shove the prepared fitting to the hose with as much force as possible.
Step 5
Use a funnel to fill the hose with activated carbon. This is easier if you have three people. Have one on the far end stretch the hose. One on the still open filling in the carbon and one in the middle to shake the house so that you don't end up with loosely packed carbon.
Step 6
Repeat step 4 with the second prepared fitting on the still open end.
Thats it, your done!
You can use the 4' Rubber washing machine fill hose to connect your snake to the your Python outlet adapter. On the other fitting you can hook up a regular hose to reach to your tanks. The inventor (John Crowder) takes it a step or two further and uses quick connects and other fittings to hook up to his water outlet of choice. Once you have the carbon snake built using the directions above you can use the fittings of your choice and modify it at will. Well I hope this helps those that were curious. If you have any questions you can either PM me or post in thread below.
One last important note - Hook your new carbon snake up to the water spigot outside and and blow out the extra carbon powder before using it to fill your tank. You will end up with nice black water if you don't. It will not harm your fish but blow it out before using on your tank and save yourself the hassell!
John - Please feel free to correct me anywhere I might have gone wrong.
)
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