Alternating Gyre Flow Via Vortechs?

[ebayes11]

I'm in the process of putting together a 140 gallon tank (4' x 2' x 28"). I flirted with a closed loop manifold or ocean's motions permutation, but after learning about the gyre flow, I've decided that that is what I want to replicate. However, I don't want to have a permanent uni-directional gyre - I want it to alternate after sustained intervals. In order to minimize power requirements and external noise I have decided to use either Tunze streams or Vortechs. My inclination right now is to go with Tunzes, but I'm not set on it. I have a few questions to this end:

- Is this possible to create using only two pumps
- Has anyone done something similar?
- Does the Vortech wireless controller capability enable me to set up these intervals?
- Will only one pump be able to get the water mass moving quickly enough to generate the desired velocity? (The other pump operating at a low output until the direction changes)


This will certainly not be a conventional vertical "gyre" tank, but the flow will be similar. My primary concern with this is that I will not able to generate the necessary flow velocity with only one pump running at a time.

Thoughts from the Vortech experts?

 

[Putawaywet]

I don't think you are going to see the results you are hoping for using just two pumps.

First, you will more than likely need to combine your pumps with some kind of timing system. Be it with a dedicated wave controller, or the more low tech approach of digital lamp timers. The Vortec driver/controller is not capable on it's own of running the pumps in a way that's compatible with what you are looking to do.

Second, even with a island arrangement on your rockwork, to get a true vortex I believe you will need FOUR pumps to really see this work properly. You may get lucky with just two, but more than likely you will have a choppy, somewhat chaotic type of flow rather than a nice smooth vortex.

Using 4 pumps would definitely hedge your bet. This is how I would orient them:

Two pumps would be placed on each end of the tank, one near the front, one near the back. The two rear pumps would flow down the length of the tank behind your rockwork, the two in the fornt would flow across the front.

Front pump on end "A" would be connected to timer/wave circuit #1 along with rear pump on end "B". Front pump on end "B" would connect to timer/circuit # 2 along with rear pump on end "A"

Timer #1 would run for set length of time creating a nice srong circular flow until timer shuts down and timer #2 comes on reversing the direction of flow.

Personally, I'd just go with a closed loop on a motorized ball valve on a dedicated controller or 4 Seio's or modded Maxijets on a wave timer and call it a day.

Brett

 

[ebayes11]

Brett, I tend to agree that a closed loop would be the best way to go. However, as I'm not entirely sure that this method of flow is going to achieve the results I'm after, a closed loop kinda limits my options. With the internal pumps (streams, vortechs, etc) I have a little more flexibilty to change.

For cost and aesthetic reasons, I'm trying to avoid having more than two pumps in the tank, but it seems as though two vortechs will not quite cut it.

Anybody else want to weigh in?