Bidirectional tidal flow

[MitchM]

Hello,

Would it be possible to set up a water flow pattern where I could have the main tank water flow in one direction for 5 hours, off for 1 hour then reverse direction and repeat?
I'm wondering if there is a set up with an Oceans Motions unit along with some timers that would accomplish this.

Thanks,
Mitch

[Delphinus]

Not sure about the OM's but as long as you could have the motor turn very very slowly I suppose it could work. I wonder if it would just be easier to use some Tunzes or Vortechs and work with the controlling options to alternate gyres on a 6 hour cycle. Or just two separate closed loops with different inputs/outputs on each end. Actually considering the recent advent of controllable pumps (Red Dragon? I think? I dunno I'll have to dig up the reefbuilders/reeftools/where-ever-I-read-it link if you need more info), I think this last option could have the most merit because instead of having the the pump "off" on the slack part of the cycle, it could just be at 10% and thus avoiding stagnant buildup or critters seeking haven near the inactive bulkheads and so on.

[sphelps]

Pretty common setup, it's typically done with two separate closed loop systems. One CL system with the output on one side of the tank and the input on the opposite side. The second CL system is the exact opposite. Put them on separate timers and set them however you want. You could do it with a single system and pump but you'd have to use special solenoid valves which will cost more than the additional pump and plumbing. The OM won't give you exactly what you're looking for.

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by sphelps

.... You could do it with a single system and pump but you'd have to use special solenoid valves which will cost more than the additional pump and plumbing. .....

Do you have a specific solenoid and valve in mind?
I'm using Reeflo Dart Supergolds that are $500.

Thanks,
Mitch

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by MitchM

Do you have a specific solenoid and valve in mind?
I'm using Reeflo Dart Supergolds that are $500.

Thanks,
Mitch

Yeah the solenoid valves would be more than that. I don't recall the brands but I've priced them out before for a customer and they we're fairly ridiculous because of the size and material needed to be aquarium safe.

[Delphinus]

A few years back I looked into the possibility of creating this kind of flow but using one pump. It was before OM was around. What I thought about using was a MOV (motor operated valve - electric in this case, although you can get pneumatic-activated as well) on a 3 way mixing valve. The trick is having the right ball in the valve so that as one side begins to close, the other begins to open so that the total flow through the valve remains constant at all times.

The reason I didn't pursue it was the cost of the MOV's was too prohibitive for me. I forget exactly where they were landing in price point specifically but I do recall thinking I would have done it if I could have found one for $200ish so I think it was well above that. The pneumatic ones were cheaper but then who wants to have a compressor going all the time and "psshhhhh!! psssssh!!! psssshhhhh!!" going on all the time in the tank room.

[MitchM]

Hi Tony,
Thanks. Powerheads would be the easiest route, but at $800 per Vortech, of which I would need two (1" acrylic walls), I would rather try to incorporate it into either a closed loop setup or from the sump return.
If it was from the sump return I would need to either have the sump height at a level high enough to reduce drainback or have holes drilled in the supply tubes to prevent drainback to a lower level sump.
Right now I have my tank drilled for 4 1" seaswirls and I could eliminate 2 for this bidirectional flow idea.


sphelps,
I would prefer to keep the upper water layer moving with the seaswirls with less current at the mid and lowest level.

On Oceans Motions website they say they do some custom work, so I thought I would inquire.

Mitch

[golf nut]

This is a standard revolution (albeit upside down)I dreamed this up to get more random flow with a 4 or 8 way, it indexes 8 times to 45 degree firings, each time the flow goes off it rises, or in your case would fall (by gravity) and part index, when pressure resumes it would be forced up and rotate again, you can see the 8 position cam in the pic below, you need a similar version to this that you might be able to build yourself.

You only need 4 position index, pump runs and water is sent to the right, pump turns off shuttle falls and partly indexes, 1 hour later pump turns on forcing spool up to the left output location and stays there till the pump turns off again.

If I get a moment I will sketch up a quick paint picture to make it clearer.

Paul

[golf nut]

and a quick sketch to show how it would work...

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by golf nut

This is a standard revolution (albeit upside down)I dreamed this up to get more random flow with a 4 or 8 way, it indexes 8 times to 45 degree firings, each time the flow goes off it rises, or in your case would fall (by gravity) and part index, when pressure resumes it would be forced up and rotate again, you can see the 8 position cam in the pic below, you need a similar version to this that you might be able to build yourself.

You only need 4 position index, pump runs and water is sent to the right, pump turns off shuttle falls and partly indexes, 1 hour later pump turns on forcing spool up to the left output location and stays there till the pump turns off again.

If I get a moment I will sketch up a quick paint picture to make it clearer.

Paul

thats not going to give you a left/right flow though.. to get that you would need a 2 position index and the angle would be to shallow requiring a huge force to switch it. with 4 positions it will rotate 90 degrees each time the pump starts.

Steve