Water Drip Distribution System (DIY)

[vratenza]

Looked around the market and I cannot find a water distribution system that is useful for a terrarium/paludarium/vivarium setup. So I decided to go DIY route after getting some inspiration from the internet.

My Version I:
Cobbled together this version I from some black silicon air tubes, silicon sealant and plastic tubes.
Just stuff as many air tubes you can into the plastic tube and seal it with silicon sealant. Make sure you don't get silicon into the air tube passage.
Pretty crude but seem to work ok when tested in my wash basin.


My Version II:
Decided to go a little more high tech using metal air hose control valves, plastic tubing, silicon sealant, drinking water safe epoxy putty.




For the plastic tubing, first make some holes (I use Dremel hand tool) for the metal air hose valves along the configuration that you need. Due to space constraint in my application, I opted for 90 degrees angle arrangement. Make your holes just a wee bit smaller than the valve's screw head to allow you to screw the valves in for a snug fit. Notice that I made some scoring lines on the inner surface of one end of the tube? This is to provide a rough surface for the epoxy putty to grip on later on.



First you need to seal the end of the plastic tubing which you made the scoring lines with a lump of epoxy putty. The reason why you do this first is so that you can push an appropriately sized flat end object (I used a large permanent marker pen) into the tube from the other end to provide counter pressure on the epoxy putty as you push it in from your end. This will create pressure from both ends and resultig in the epoxy putty being pressed firmly into the side of the plastic tubing for a good grip.Without this step, I suspect that the epoxy may not seal the end securely enough.



When you are ready to screw in the valves, only screw in halfway and apply a rim of silicon sealant around the screw threads. After which screw in all the way and apply another layer oof silion sealant around the joint. This will ensure that silicon sealant is within the smallest of the gaps without blocking the water flow passage. Notice the end view of the finished product, the protruding screw threads from the valves will block any attempt to put in any object to provide the counter pressure when applying the epoxy putty.

Hope this can help fellow vivarium/paludarium enthusiast in their set up

[David Moses Heng]

have you tried version 2yet? I did something similar and it doesn't work. so i have to revert back to the stuff tubes into pipe thingy. hope this helps

[davwong]

Actually Azoo have. I am using this also.

[David Moses Heng]

Actually Azoo have. I am using this also.

care to share where did you get this and the price? I have been looking for it for months...

[dkk08]

care to share where did you get this and the price? I have been looking for it for months...

hi bro I was looking for this too but according to a few places, they've ran out of stock... but I would say both version 1 and 2 will work... guess u've to tweek version 2 alittle... try using the metal air hose control valves on rain bars instead of the piping...

[vratenza]

Just tested.

[vratenza]

Actually Azoo have. I am using this also.

yeah, I was looking for this as well, but can't find it anywhere. Can't find it online as well. Apparently in HongKong forums, they have a hard time finding it as well...

[vratenza]

have you tried version 2yet? I did something similar and it doesn't work. so i have to revert back to the stuff tubes into pipe thingy. hope this helps

What is the cause of the failure on your attempt? not enough pressure or leakage?

[Merviso]

Actually Azoo have. I am using this also.

Hey bro, think I saw something similar at Seaview, Seletar Farmway.

[es88k]

Hi,

If you have a Version III, can I suggest that you change the valve to a plastic valve. as the metal air valve can rust within weeks.

I did a simple dripping holes and vale for condition of my shrimps and the valve rust within weeks and I stop using it and change to a plastic valve.

EK

[vratenza]

shucks! I did not consider the rusting part....I assumed that aquarium products are meant to be water proof until I realized that these metal valves are meant primarily for air and not water....

Hmmm.... since I am intending to adjust the flow only upon setting up and my inhabitants/plants should be more tolerant on rust in water....I think it may still be ok for my paludarium

I'll pop down to seaview to see if i can still find the azoo product though

[davwong]

Hi Guys

Last weekend check with Ben from Petmart, they do not have the Azoo but have something similar by JeBo and is selling for about least than $10. Maybe you guy can cheeck it out.

[vratenza]

Got this Jebo brand one from Seaview at $6.....working great!

[monstar]

wow wad camera is that?? slr?? can capture the water droplet. wooooo

[vratenza]

wow wad camera is that?? slr?? can capture the water droplet. wooooo

nope, not SLR, just a panasonic LX3