Romaurie Effect.
Well, I had to "hit the water non-return-valve on the head". The other morning before work, I noticed the water level in the vacuumed aquarium had dropped about 8 cm. I decided to raise the level with a couple of sucks.When I went to remove the tube from my mouth, there was a sudden strong suction that pulled my tongue into the clapper valve.I struggled free and put a rubber bung in the valve.Later, I had to remove the tank to release the valve. I found 2 very small snails sitting under the seal for the valve.
An aquarist, "No.6" from Canada, had suggested making the vacuum with a tube inserted from the base tank. I used a piece of semi-rigid hydraulic tube and it actually pulled the vacuum more quickly than using the schreider valve. Its not quite so easy to adjust the water level, but it avoids drilling a hole in the aquarium.
On another suggestion, I tried an experiment to re-cycle air from the space at the top of the vacuumed volume of water back into the base of the inverted tank.It works. This means when the water level is not "fully vacuumed" there is a "partial vacuum" with air. That air can be "scavenged" by an air pump to provide aireation without displacing the water.I've posted a couple of video clips on youYtube to show this. For all those folks who want an air stone, this provides a solution.
Romaurie.
Well, I had to "hit the water non-return-valve on the head". The other morning before work, I noticed the water level in the vacuumed aquarium had dropped about 8 cm. I decided to raise the level with a couple of sucks.When I went to remove the tube from my mouth, there was a sudden strong suction that pulled my tongue into the clapper valve.I struggled free and put a rubber bung in the valve.Later, I had to remove the tank to release the valve. I found 2 very small snails sitting under the seal for the valve.
An aquarist, "No.6" from Canada, had suggested making the vacuum with a tube inserted from the base tank. I used a piece of semi-rigid hydraulic tube and it actually pulled the vacuum more quickly than using the schreider valve. Its not quite so easy to adjust the water level, but it avoids drilling a hole in the aquarium.
On another suggestion, I tried an experiment to re-cycle air from the space at the top of the vacuumed volume of water back into the base of the inverted tank.It works. This means when the water level is not "fully vacuumed" there is a "partial vacuum" with air. That air can be "scavenged" by an air pump to provide aireation without displacing the water.I've posted a couple of video clips on youYtube to show this. For all those folks who want an air stone, this provides a solution.
Romaurie.
