Carlson Surge Device Replacing Powerheads?

[toi_ss]

Hi, does anyone know if a carlson surge device (designed by bruce carlson at the waikiki aquarium) with a holding tank of at least 20 gallons would be enough for a 475 gallon display tank? I would like to be able to grow some sps corals as well as lps and softies but also have a calm top down view in between the surges, my inspiration from this is from the Sulawesi Beach Exhibit at henry doorly zoo. The tank would be 300x150x45cm or 1800 litres. The surge would be a strong wave going across the water, exiting through a flap controlled by an air cylinder. Thanks

 

[Cousteau666]

Hi, does anyone know if a carlson surge device (designed by bruce carlson at the waikiki aquarium) with a holding tank of at least 20 gallons would be enough for a 475 gallon display tank? I would like to be able to grow some sps corals as well as lps and softies but also have a calm top down view in between the surges, my inspiration from this is from the Sulawesi Beach Exhibit at henry doorly zoo. The tank would be 300x150x45cm or 1800 litres. The surge would be a strong wave going across the water, exiting through a flap controlled by an air cylinder. Thanks

Yes it will. My mentor and I built one on a kelp forrest tank at the aquarium we worked at. The nems loved it. The Tank was 2500g we used a 30-40 ish gallon Brute and a 15 gallon one if I am not mistaken. Both pointed in different directions and timed a min apart so It blew the kelp like the ocean surge.

I'll try and get a pic this weekend.

 

[toi_ss]

Alright thanks. How long do you recommend I leave the flap open for? Will probably have 1 minute intervals between the surges.

Yes it will. My mentor and I built one on a kelp forrest tank at the aquarium we worked at. The nems loved it. The Tank was 2500g we used a 30-40 ish gallon Brute and a 15 gallon one if I am not mistaken. Both pointed in different directions and timed a min apart so It blew the kelp like the ocean surge.

I'll try and get a pic this weekend.

 

[ca1ore]

Cannot say whether a 20 gallon bucket would suffice. There are a number of disadvantages, including noisy, messy and screws up overflows. I used a dump bucket design many years ago but, frankly, when variable flow power heads became available I was happy to get rid of it.

 

[Cousteau666]

Alright thanks. How long do you recommend I leave the flap open for? Will probably have 1 minute intervals between the surges.

I'm not familiar with the pneumatic flaps. We used a bell siphon and a pump to fill until the siphon triggered then it straight up emptied the generator. But your interval sounds great. If the water leaving the surge generator is determined by the flaps then I would empty the whole bucket each time.

 

[toi_ss]

Cannot say whether a 20 gallon bucket would suffice. There are a number of disadvantages, including noisy, messy and screws up overflows. I used a dump bucket design many years ago but, frankly, when variable flow power heads became available I was happy to get rid of it.

Was going to use a 20 gallon glass tank positioned above the display with several holes drilled for piping. I just would like to be able to view the tank top down as well as being able to keep high flow corals and this is the only solution I have come up with that I think would work. I'm not concerned about noise or spills because this will be in my garage and any water that would overflow from the surge if I messed up would probably go back down into the display tank.