New Tech Test Tank
 

The experiment begins. Stay tuned :)

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6804

Wow Ron, its been so long since you first mentioned this test that I seem to forget what it was all about, lol! Do you mind refreshing an aged mans memory?

I'm testing a coating to prevent coralline algae growth. The end pane of glass on the right has been coated and the power head on the left is coated.

It took a while to get my chemists to coat the stuff and then a couple weeks for the tank builder to do his thing too. But better late than never :)

Sweet! That would be the bomb!!! Is this a coating that could be sold and painted on by hobbyists or is it something that would have to be factory done?

I'm pretty hopeful about it :) But it won't be something an end user can apply themselves. It has to be chemically bonded to the materials under specific conditions. So factory done only at this point.

Do you have a patent on it yet?

So the little tank took a while to cycle but it's starting to settle down now. And some initial results are looking positive.

Here's the coated powerhead. A few spionid snails but I haven't been doing much to clean these powerbeads at all.

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x.../PHC290715.jpg

Here's the uncoated powerhead. Note the small spots of coralline algae starting on it.

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...PHNC290715.jpg

Wow that's pretty cool Ron so far looking good

Great experiment!! Can't wait to see the results.
Thanks for sharing.

Interesting. I gotta ask. If its not something the end user can apply then how would we make use of it. I can't see manufacturers wanting something that prolongs the life of their product. Just like the auto industry now. Everything has a lifesan then throw it away and buy new. When I started in the plumbing trade I remember pulling out 50+ year old water heaters. Now they last about 10 to 15 years.

damn those tank builders and their time taking


cant wait to see the end result

It's not something that will really increase the life of a product unless a user is really letting their equipment get gunked up which causes wear and failures. I see this coating as decreasing the work needed for maintenance and also combatting the decreases in performance you may see as coralline algae grows and blocks things. But motors on pumps will still fail or impellers wear out or heaters electronics etc will still fail etc. The manufacturers will still be able to sell you replacement products. they will just sell you products that require less frequent cleaning. Or aquariums where you don't have to scrape coralline algae off your glass. That's the goal.

Yup Tyler. Had to harass them to get it done :lol:

Thanks for clarifying. Makes good sense to me.

Now about 3 months in and things are looking better. Here's a few quick crappy pics. Will try to get better ones later...

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...Aug31-2015.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...1-2015%201.jpg

Look promising are u doing any tests to make sure nothing leaking into to the water or once its bonded is it "sealed" per say. If this works long term something you should take to the powerhead makers to get them to put on as they are being manufactured

Will be doing long term testing. But this is something that is covalently bound to the surface (a very strong chemical bond) so it shouldn't leach off. And if it does slowly over rime the amounts would be miniscule. The coating is meant for medical devices such as dialysis equipment that is in contact with patient's blood so toxicity would be a major issue there. I'm not at all worried.

The plan is to license this to all sorts of equipment manufacturers.

Ah ok cool

OK, here's some better pictures as of today. Uncoated first and then the coated pump. I'm contemplating a kickstarter project to fund a batch of coated Jebao powerbeads so not sure what the interest in that might be? Any thoughts? Would you guys pony up in advance on Kickstarter to get these?

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...ept28-2015.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...ept28-2015.jpg