Anyone Use a Surge Tank?

[btkrausen]

Just curious if anybody on here has ever done a surge tank for wavemaking. I've seen some cool setups on other sites, but haven't seen it here.

Anyone?

 

[thewackyreefer]

I haven't seen one on here that I can think of. Vivid used to have an awesome surge setup in their store, then took it down when they redid everything.

 

[btkrausen]

On RC, they did a Kosair's hospital with one on it, it was incredible. I always thought about doing one when I got a bigger tank.

 

[SaraB]

I've used 2 of them for 2 years before taking down the tank a few weeks ago. Here's a link to a thread on that topic which has a video of mine.

SURGE TANKS who uses them?? - Reef Central Online Community

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks Sara. I thought that the surge was faster than that, but I guess you are emptying half a 20H within 15 seconds or so. Does yours create a nice wave of flow through your tank? I think it would be a great way to wash away stuff out of the tank.

 

[SaraB]

I had made some modifications with a John Guest fitting to release air in the line later that actually quickened the flow into the display tank. You can also make the flow quicker by raising the surge tank higher, not plumbing the return line too low in the display tank and also by using larger pipe. Yes, it added some nice flow into the display.

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks, I have always wanted to incorporate one of these into my display. Did you have to get a stronger tank to handle the surge?

 

[SaraB]

I had a 3/4" all around acrylic tank by Envision Acrylics, so it could handle the extra flow.

 

[btkrausen]

Wow, nice. Were the surge tanks plumbed right into the middle of each side I assume?

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

I have always wanted a surge tank...

I dont think it would create wave action, but reefs do get surges, and it is a good way to have some hard diverse flow.

Corals will get used to it, maybe even like it. When I build my big display, it will have a surge tank.

 

[btkrausen]

Yeah, I've been looking at a bigger tank recently, so incorporating a surge tank would be awesome, and is the perfect time to look planning one.

 

[SaraB]

Wow, nice. Were the surge tanks plumbed right into the middle of each side I assume?

I'd suggest having the return line be in the top 1/3rd of the tank and then using some Oceans Motions nozzels that come in 3/4' or 1" to adjust where you want your flow directed. My surge on the other side was my problem child as it was plumbed at the 1/2 mark which was too low with the tank water pressure and never performed like the one in the video.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Sweet, eager to see how it works out! The faster you can return flow to the tank, and the more spread out you can make that flow, the better in my mind.

Maybe have a couple inflow(s) for the return surge if that is possible.

 

[btkrausen]

Yeah, I might seriously start thinking about putting one on my tank, even if its small. A nice 10 gallon surge of water would be nice to have in the reef.

 

[SaraB]

Maybe have a couple inflow(s) for the return surge if that is possible.

I don't think splitting the flow from one surge tank would be wise as you need the pressure coming down to have a big surge ( hard to explain). On those same Oceans Motions adjustable nozzels, there is one with a wye and maybe that could be used.

 

[clowns101]

Anyway you could post a video of that surge tank Sara?Thx!

 

[SaraB]

I posted a link to RC above that has the video link on it.

 

[clowns101]

That dosnt work,Ill ty to find it,I couldnt find it first time.

 

[SaraB]

That dosnt work,Ill ty to find it,I couldnt find it first time.

I can never get that crap to post right. Scroll down to post #16 on that link and someone who knows what they are doing posted the link directly to the video.

 

[clowns101]

Ok,I found it,but I clicked on it and it told me the media was an invalid specification...and it took me to your photobucket.