DIY Carlson Surge System

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Has anyone succesfully ever built one of these or any type of surge system?
If so, please post details here.

I want to build one with a "low profile" water container over my tank. By low profile, I mean keeping the container tank as short as possible so that it will fir above my tank and not be intrusive to maintenance functions and lighting fixtures.

 

[skatezen]

I Dont know if this helps but I have this page bookmarked from research I have done. http://www.masla.com/reef/csm.html

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Csd

Thanks!

I Dont know if this helps but I have this page bookmarked from research I have done. http://www.masla.com/reef/csm.html

 

[skatezen]

I'm still debating whether or not to do a surge. After seeing Richar Harker's presentation and the HD show with the Waikiki Aquarium I got into a must have surge mode. I dont know if I can deal with the sound and bubbles though. I think Kelly's in Saugus has a surge.

 

[sw300galma]

It is darn cool....

 

[ceige]

good talk over here about one....neat design..

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic28449-13-1.aspx

 

[sw300galma]

hmm i keep forgetting about the skimmer problem and overflow problems...

There has got to be a way..

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Thanks

Thanks, I'll check it out.

good talk over here about one....neat design..

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic28449-13-1.aspx

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Other Wave Devices

Another wave generation method comes to mind. Moving an object into and out of the water. The volume displacement of the object would cause a wave....but how practical is this to implement?

hmm i keep forgetting about the skimmer problem and overflow problems...

There has got to be a way..

 

[RichConley]

hmm i keep forgetting about the skimmer problem and overflow problems...

There has got to be a way..

I just posted to that thread.

If your skimmer is in a chamber that has consistent water level, I dont see an issue...for those of you who use drain fed skimmers though..I think you're outta luck.

 

[naturebatslast]

"Another wave generation method comes to mind. Moving an object into and out of the water. The volume displacement of the object would cause a wave....but how practical is this to implement?"
If you had a way to keep the wave in the tank, instead of lapping over, hanlding the displacement.
The Montrey Bay Aquarium uses a massive glorified plunger. What about instead of a plunger, there is some sort of small disk mounted ( say,in the corner of the display) on the end of a shaft that where it moves vertically. Kind of, sort of more internal displacement instead of external displacement. two cents

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Plunger

I was thinking of a wedge shaped object with the vertex of the wedge pointed down towards the water. The wedge, when inserted would move the top of the water first, followed by the bottom layers. You would need a camshaft to move the wedge up and down using a small electric motor.

For my tank, this might work and it might be better than a CSD since I do not have a lot of room above my tank.

"Another wave generation method comes to mind. Moving an object into and out of the water. The volume displacement of the object would cause a wave....but how practical is this to implement?"
If you had a way to keep the wave in the tank, instead of lapping over, hanlding the displacement.
The Montrey Bay Aquarium uses a massive glorified plunger. What about instead of a plunger, there is some sort of small disk mounted ( say,in the corner of the display) on the end of a shaft that where it moves vertically. Kind of, sort of more internal displacement instead of external displacement. two cents

 

[sw300galma]

The good old toilet bowl method is tried and true though...

 

[NateHanson]

I was thinking of a wedge shaped object with the vertex of the wedge pointed down towards the water. The wedge, when inserted would move the top of the water first, followed by the bottom layers. You would need a camshaft to move the wedge up and down using a small electric motor.

For my tank, this might work and it might be better than a CSD since I do not have a lot of room above my tank.

But this is what the Tunze wavebox does - it displaces a volume of water, and then lets it rush back into the box. I think you could build one, but I'd probably use a pump rather than a flapper or moving object for the displacement. I think the moving parts would be subject to jamming by a snail or coraline build-up.

 

[sw300galma]

Don't forget about the Wave2k box

 

[redpaulhus]

Oceandrop is (or was the last time I saw his tank) using a Carlson surge based on a 4 or 5 gal bucket - worked nice, but his tank is in his fishroom not his living room, so he doesn't need to hide the bucket.

Hopefully he'll chime in here.

I've been looking for DIY wave2k plans but haven't found much (the original is too pricey for me and appears to have durability issues)

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Wb

The WB works great and would be really easy to build. As Nate said it is just a box with a pump at the bottom that empties out water from the box really quickly. The only problem I had with it is that it took up too much room, even in my tank! I'm trying to determine if there is a good design for a system that takes up less room in the tank and above the tank. These two design constraints imply and "out-of-tank" solution like a CSD with a low profile tank, or an "object displacement" type system.

Another design could be a water lift system that pulls water from the tank bottom to the top. Keep the ideas coming!

But this is what the Tunze wavebox does - it displaces a volume of water, and then lets it rush back into the box. I think you could build one, but I'd probably use a pump rather than a flapper or moving object for the displacement. I think the moving parts would be subject to jamming by a snail or coraline build-up.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Wave2k

Is this a water lift type wavemaker?

Don't forget about the Wave2k box

 

[NateHanson]

I'm just saying that any displacement system is going to be large. The volume of water moved depends directly on the size of the device in the tank. If you wanted to create significant flow with your wedge-displacement device you described it would have to be roughly as big as a WaveBox. If you need to save space, either use pumps, or put a surge device outside the tank.

 

[KAS]

I'm just saying that any displacement system is going to be large. The volume of water moved depends directly on the size of the device in the tank. If you wanted to create significant flow with your wedge-displacement device you described it would have to be roughly as big as a WaveBox. If you need to save space, either use pumps, or put a surge device outside the tank.

That's exactly what I was thinking Nate. In fact, I would bet if you want any reasonable surge in a 300 gal tank you will end up taking MORE space than the wavebox did. Also, with the wavebox, you could put some corals on it like zoos, digi, anything really.