Simulating tides/fluctuating water level?

[therman]

Has anyone done this "right" in an SPS system?

My thinking is that a fluctuating water level will hinder growth at the highest points on corals, and periodic, but not constant, interaction with the water's surface will prevent the flattening of tips into blobs like we typically see. The end result is corals with tight, thick growth at the highest points in the tank like you'd typically see on a shallow reef.

There are many considerations, including frequency and duration of exposure to air, variability in the tidal levels, plumbing, logisitics, and reliability of regularly removing a large volume of water from the display tank.

Looking to start an open discussion on the subject and interested in hearing people's thoughts and relevant experiences.

Tim

 

[inselaffe]

Simon Garratts tank did this

http://www.youtube.com/user/ReefEden.../0/9WcR6CkfyR4

 

[galleon]

Hey Tim,

Have you considered a submerged float switch on timer? Basically, the float switch would be submerged and always in the contact/on position at the relay, with a second pump in the sump hooked up to the relay. The timer allows power to go to the extra sump pump and would put extra water in the display from the sump.

You could use 2-3 float switches and smaller pumps to make the transition more gradual.

 

[galleon]

You could also do two different overflows at different heights plumbed to a common down tube with a solenoid switching valve at the lower one. When it's open, water would drain from the lower one, causing low tide. When it's closed, it would be forced to drain from the upper one, high tide.

 

[therman]

Multiple timed float switches controlling small pumps to and from a reservoir seems like a viable option. Then have the topoff float switch timed so it only is activated when you know the water level will be consistent.

Electronic ball valves and and especially solenoids seem like they would have longevity and performance issues with saltwater (calcium buildup, shells caught inside, etc), and would be expensive.

Garrett's tank looks similar to what I want to achieve, anyone know if those little acro colonies in the videos are grown out from frags in his system? They look just like wild/maricultured morphology, which is awesome.

 

[allsps40]

link to vid is broken

 

[djkms]

Maybe its this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WcR6CkfyR4&list=UUgYC2jhEkt_Ds2L2HbRZxKw&index=5&feature=plcp

 

[galleon]

Tim, this is the nicest intertidal Acropora I've ever seen.

 

[karsseboom]

That's just so beautiful...

 

[MammothReefer]

did somebody photoshop star bursts onto it?

 

[galleon]

did somebody photoshop star bursts onto it?

No.

 

[MammothReefer]

No.

huh, they are in really odd locations. nice piece none the less.

 

[galleon]

It's the sun on the meniscus where the Acropora branches are breaking the surface of the water.

 

[inselaffe]

With Garratts tank the SPS that came out of the water stripped but then he left them in there and the new growth didn't strip, thats some quick evolution for you.

 

[allsps40]

Tim, this is the nicest intertidal Acropora I've ever seen.

Freaking sweet pic, nice coral.

 

[chrisv]

those vids are awesome. can you even begin to imagine how much the tidepool smell plus the smell of acro slime must fill that dudes living room though? awesome tank though...and that flow...

 

[Der ABT]

I would think you could do it with any drilled tank with an overflow and the return tube slightly lower than that.
you could have the return pump shut off and the tank would drop the waterlevel to where the return tube from the sump is below the level of the overflow...aka the syphon of the return tube would lower the level in the tank.
have the return pump off for however long you want...turn it back on and level will rise again...just need to make sure you have enough room in the sump for the backfill.

would save a little on energy not having the return pump on 24/7 but risks restart problems.

i guess you could do a fall back with 2 return pumps and two different overflow levels as well and that way would always have the lower overflow cycling the tank and the second one there to handle the water for the second return pump.

 

[therman]

The undersized dual overflow is an interesting idea...not sure how you'd prevent a siphon when the level goes above the lower one. Have to think on that. Also leery of restart risks with a timed return pump.

Awesome coral galleon

Here's a similar intertidal gemmifera I took in east Africa. The white and yellow is a common coloration there, but I still really like it, and I love the shallow water corallite morphology.

Tim

 

[Ron Popeil]

after watching that video, i would be very tempted to do something like that if i ever redesigned or upgraded my system!

that being said, the last time i did a water change out of my main display, somehow my clownfish was left exposed in some corals as the water level dropped, and because i didnt notice and she couldnt get down to the water she essentially...drowned.