Actually there is a system like that called a Tidepool aquarium. Page 45 in the Reef Secrets book by Alf Jacob Nilson and Svein A. Fossa. There is also a similar setup called the Carlson Surge device, but it reacts in a faster motion, unlike what you want for the small creatures you will keep.
tidal tank
- Thread starter ukpoduk
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Oh, by the way, since the water will tide over the course of four hours, I was thinking of a dosing pump. Anyone know of any low flow solenoid valves? I don't know if irrigation valves will open with that little flow or pressure. Later I will post a diagram of what has been floating around in my head.
There are reverible pumps but what I meant was the timer in that link can perform three fuctions so OFF, Pump #1 ON, and Pump #2 ON. Two small pumps are cheaper than a small reversible one like this 3 gpm one, http://www.pumpbiz.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=pump_model_detail&product_id=6650&series_id=490cheaper timer
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...ID=ccfdaddidgjgiglcgelceffdfgidgin.0&MID=9876
stupid link, anyway it's an INTERMATIC model #DT17C
guppy, how are you having one pump handle both sides? what did I miss?
The three way timer and 2 small pumps is also cheaper than a single pump and a timed diverter valve, and a lot easier to set up.
How big a tank and what % lower at low than high?
How about 2 of these 80 gph at 0' head but only about 28 gph at the height you want, $15.95 each. If 28 gph is still too high just add a T-valve on the tubing on each side to shunt unneeded flow back into the side being pumped from. Cheap and easy.
http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=PON-02520
Please forgive my ignorance, but what are mud skippers? Sounds interesting. Florida has an abundance of fiddler crabs...and if you have an abundance of mud skippers, I am thinking of a trade
1. I never take no for an answer.
2. I love a challenge.
3. You are only limited by what your mind tells you that you can not do (If you tell yourself that you can't, then you already admitted defeat.)
Guppy, we are probably talking about less than twenty gallons over the course of four hours. If mud skippers are small fish then we could be talking only a few gallons, maybe five at the most. That is why I was thinking of a dosing pump. The swimming pool industry uses some that can pump caustics and acids at a variable rate. I do not know if they are reversible but they will do the job for a ten gallon tank up to a hundred gallon tank. The price is not going to be pretty though.
Anyone heard of a small three way valve that is motorized or solonoidally operated? The smallest I know of is a two inch ID valve.
BEWARE of harbor freight, they have way too many neat things at good prices. Now if they would just carry aquariumsThe harbor freight here in Orlando has two sizes of small fountain pumps. The larger one was on sale for ten bucks and the small one was regualarly priced at ten dollars (that is the one that is probably on sale now for $5). The small one was labeled to pump more than the gallonage that I needed. It turned out that it would only pump nineteen inches over the tanks water level. I needed to pump 26 inches.. I kept it though and used it on what I called my guppy tower; a tall narrow hand blown glass umbrella vase that I picked up from Goodwill for five dollars. I used the pump to overflow water into a lower aquarium. I have a coupon for 20% off, so I think I may have to stop in for some more of those just to have them when my brain starts ticking.
These are mudskippers, they range from 3" to a bit more than 8" depending on species. the pic is from here http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/gambia/page5.html
Mudskippers can be on land or water. If you could get an adjustable rate pump you could just experiment until you figure out what works. I think this might almost have to be done on a larger scale. You could try an actual tidal POOL. Maybe do one of those kiddie pools and divide it some how. Or another thing I think is really cool would be making a beach in one of those kiddie pools and having a holding tank outside of the pool. Then every four hours pump in and out the water. Your giving ma alot of ideas. This is going to turn out to be a big project. Haha
Chad
Chad
Solenoid 3 way in stainless 3/8" $99 each.
I was thinking about those little pumps you found that you said didn't have enough head pressure. Mount the pumps in the tank instead of below it and 19" should be plenty.
I was thinking about those little pumps you found that you said didn't have enough head pressure. Mount the pumps in the tank instead of below it and 19" should be plenty.
