Toilet flapper wave maker thing?

[triggreef]

Anyone use anything like this?

Not sure what it's called but it was discussed at a previous meeting about water flow. I'm referring to the set up that fills a reservoir with water and the float opens the flapper letting the water out creating a wave/current, then fills again etc.

I was just thinking over the idea of it, which I obviously like a little bit, but I'm thinking that it would cause issues with my ATO and just not sure if it's a good idea or not. It's probly not, but I just have this perfect bucket for it thats calling out to me everytime i look at it. :lol2:

 

[Tweaked]

Interesting, and the ATO would be an issue for me for sure. My tank gets ****y if I stick my arm in the tank lol.

 

[triggreef]

What I liked about it is you can do it with one small pump, and every say 10 minutes or so you get a nice little blast. Not really sure how the ATO would be, not to mention what about a power outage/failure etc. Just wanted to see if anyone actually has this or tried it in the past.

 

[Masedaddy]

Are you talking about a wavebox?

 

[Tweaked]

Nope it's a surge device. I've seen one on a show for a large system. Fills a reservoir that is released once full creating surges.

 

[mtc1966]

ato should be a problem it may top of first time wave box fills but after that water height should remain at a level not to set it off

 

[Tweaked]

Ya, he's not referring to an intank wave box. It's a device that sits separate of the system like a five gallon bucket and fills only to release and repeat creating the surge.

 

[FishWrangler]

like the big bucket at Lake Compounce!

 

[Tweaked]

Look up reef surge device on YouTube. There are a few different designs out including toilet flapper and one no moving parts "u" shaped PVC that creates its own siphon upon filling each time. Super slick.

 

[FragsFragsFrags]

Its on my list to try...

http://youtu.be/jdvXAT7lmq8

 

[mtc1966]

ato should not be a problem it may top of first time wave box fills but after that water height should remain at a level not to set it off

what I meant to say

 

[triggreef]

Yeah thats what I'm talking about. Is there a way to stop those bubbles though? Thats horrible IMO I couldn't deal with that.

I like the idea of the PVC trap instead of the flapper. less room for error. When that fishing line lets go that guy is in for some trouble.

 

[Tweaked]

Yeah thats what I'm talking about. Is there a way to stop those bubbles though? Thats horrible IMO I couldn't deal with that.

I like the idea of the PVC trap instead of the flapper. less room for error. When that fishing line lets go that guy is in for some trouble.

I was thinking the same thing on all accounts lol. The auto siphon trick is very slick, and yes, toilets can fail, and the water on the floor is usually inevitable lol. Also, the bubbles.. Ya that sucks. I don't believe you could eliminate all the bubbles either. A very neat idea nonetheless less

 

[ca1ore]

FWIW, I ran a toilet-flapper surge device for a few years a long time ago. Worked fine, though I never could solve the bubbles problem. I then replaced it with a dump bucket surge device that was even worse with the bubbles. ATO just ends up running a bit more frequently.

 

[Tweaked]

I know Collin mentioned stirring up his large 100g sump by hand each night to release detritus. This would be an easy way to automate the process I would guess.

 

[triggreef]

Yeah the bubbles kill the idea for me.

Collin was talking about a closed loop, although I didn't really get it. I might have been over-thinking that.

I started out thinking about supplementing the circ pumps I have, but I wouldn't be apposed to scrapping them all together and going a completely different route. I have 5 koralias now and they just don't seem to be doing much, as things grow its getting worse.

 

[ca1ore]

I have futzed around with just about every contraption imaginable. Frankly, the only thing that worked well for me was a float switch controlled/actuated ball valve surge reservoir. Trouble was the ball valve was very expensive and didn't last all that long. Device didn't produce many bubbles but ultimately I just felt that Tunze stream pumps then, or vortechs now, work just as well.

 

[Tweaked]

Ya, as stated would be great in a fuge etc, where the bubbles are no concern.

 

[jrmx635]

Don't forget the noise they make.

 

[FishWrangler]

Don't forget the noise they make.

Does it sound like a toilet flushing?