Idea: "Display Canister"

[noahhs]

I'm preparing to implement an idea I haven't heard of. Curious if I'm the first, or if anyone has thought of this before.

An airtight pressure-sealed display tank connected with a sump.

Plumbing wise, it's like having a canister filter plumbed into the sump. But instead of a dark and tucked-away canister with a filter inside, here we have a lit up transparent canister with rock and animals on display.

I'm planning to use an 11 gallon cylindrical glass container that I found, and fabricate an acrylic lid for it. And just like a typical canister filter, I'll seal it with a compressed o-ring. The return and drain lines will be plumbed through the lid. Planning to do barebottom high flow SPS.

Thoughts?

 

[KrisReef]

50 years ago I came across a cylindar that is about 10 inches in diameter and 4 feet long, with bronze rings on both ends for mounting it for an unknown (to me) purpose. I silicone bonded a 3/16 inch tempered circle,about 15 inches in diameter to one of the ends and used it for a goldfish display for a few days. Then the algae started growing and I drained it and put it in the rafters. It wasn't very easy to wipe down algae since the bottom was more than an arms lenght away from the open end, and round glass isn't as easy to address as flat surfaces with algae and other stuff growing on them.

Note, acrylic does not bond well to glass. Silicone sealant and glass stick together and pull apart without much effort.

Just wanted to share my experiences that might impact your build project!

 

[FUNGI]

Interesting.....what you doing for gas exchange?

 

[UncommonSense]

One of the primary issues you’ll run into here is water pressure…

This glass cylinder will require sufficient hoop strength to withstand ~4-5ft of hydraulic head pressure reliably! — what is the nominal wall, and bottom thickness? Also height, and diameter?

 

[noahhs]

50 years ago I came across a cylindar that is about 10 inches in diameter and 4 feet long, with bronze rings on both ends for mounting it for an unknown (to me) purpose. I silicone bonded a 3/16 inch tempered circle,about 15 inches in diameter to one of the ends and used it for a goldfish display for a few days. Then the algae started growing and I drained it and put it in the rafters. It wasn't very easy to wipe down algae since the bottom was more than an arms lenght away from the open end, and round glass isn't as easy to address as flat surfaces with algae and other stuff growing on them.

Note, acrylic does not bond well to glass. Silicone sealant and glass stick together and pull apart without much effort.

Just wanted to share my experiences that might impact your build project!

Nice story! I'd love to find a 4 ft cylinder.

I plan to clean the algae while leaving the canister sealed. Attach a strong bar magnet to blade or bristles of some kind. I think it will scrape the cylinder effectively if I orient straight up-and-down and move side-side.

My acrylic lid will not be bonded to the glass, but rather compressed against it with a lubricated o-ring. I got a 5mm thick silicone o-ring that's just under the diameter of the cylinder. We'll see how much compression it needs to get a good enough seal. Or if it needs a different material like nitrile or epdm rubber. It must be airtight to 2 feet of suction, its height above the water line in the sump.

 

[noahhs]

Interesting.....what you doing for gas exchange?

It circulates with the sump, which has an open top for gas exchange.

One of the primary issues you’ll run into here is water pressure…

This glass cylinder will require sufficient hoop strength to withstand ~4-5ft of hydraulic head pressure reliably! — what is the nominal wall, and bottom thickness? Also height, and diameter?

It's sturdy -- 8mm thick, 16" diameter, 10" tall.

Why I want the sealed design is aesthetics. I like having no waterline. The air completely evacuated out of the display. Then there's no shimmer or movement in the light splash. So it's more unobtrusive in the room. And the view from the top is unobstructed by reflections. Like "upside down" tanks or the Fluval Edge.

 

[FUNGI]

It circulates with the sump, which has an open top for gas exchange.



It's sturdy -- 8mm thick, 16" diameter, 10" tall.

AHH....sorry missed reading that part...cool.