Tidal carlson surge display

[SeymourDuncan]

Ok, so I have begun my planning for my new tank. I am moving to a new place and it will be @ minimum 300 gallons.
I want a Surge tank, but I really didn't want a tank suspended in the air because I am lazy haha. So! Researching and experiencing them myself...i discovered that I like the CARLSON SURGE DEVICE the most. it works and is very adjustable.

However, i concluded that I shall not just make a surge device, but make the display tank itself the surge device.

I would have the syphon tube about 1/3rd of the way from the top of the tank, so that the bottom 2 3rds would always be wet.
The top would support corals that of course are designed to be in these environments while still having any coral I want in the lower section. I would stock strong fast swimming fish as well, I don't thing a pajama cardinal would appreciate the current.

So this is my idea cartooned out. TIDAL SURGE TANK - YouTube

 

[wysiwyg]

like the idea wish you look keep us posted

 

[3Twinklets]

Wow! This is going to be interesting!!

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Thanks guys! The other cool thing is the salt spray won't have a chance to make it to the light due to the low water level at the time of the powerhead bubble explosion

 

[bige]

I want one too. That's what sea world says is the best for a reef tank. And they are easy to build.

 

[poomba]

That sounds like a perfect tank for an achilles tang!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Pappy]

I will be looking forward to pics and progress of build . Sounds really wild!

 

[Acroholic]

I had a twin Carlson Surge device (one on each back corner) on a 58 gallon tank back in 1996. They've been out for a while. One of our LFS in Atlanta has a 5000 gallon pool/reef with a surge device that dumps a couple hundred gallons every minute or so.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

don't stare too long or you will be covered in salt crystals.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Looking at this very close

 

[uall8up]

Sounds amazing!! Please keep us updated.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

ok, and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, you may need to change your name to YOUNG SALTY! but really, the hovering over my shoulder has really got to stop, its making my palms sweat

 

[Young Frankenstein]

ok, and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, you may need to change your name to YOUNG SALTY! but really, the hovering over my shoulder has really got to stop, its making my palms sweat

LOL i never build ed one and i am seriously thinking about it Some consideration of reinforcing the tank has to be made if glass, "Frequency" wave makes have and will separate bad silicone joints, remember Tesla with the small hammer making a building shake

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I plan on doing the epoxy and plywood type build. I figured that much of a surge has GOT to be dangerous. Also, I am doing the sump as a frag tank to utilize the waves down there as well. I just picked up 5 new frags for my current grow out tank because people won't stop buying all my corals! haha. I love craigslist. so at this rate, my fragtank will be paying for the future Tidal surge beast

 

[SeymourDuncan]

OK! Sorry about the delay in posting. I just Got the plumbing done after a quick 150g upgrade. The left over 75 with 2 overflow pipes is now exactly what I planned. I left one Overflow pipe as it was. The other one I cut shorter and added the Carlson Surge Siphon tube type Deal. instead of drilling a hole in the top of the pipe for the SNORKEL TUBE i went through the underside and routed the hose up to where the air would collect @ the top of the U. It is ziptied just above the intake.

I am going to get flowrates and stufff down tomorrow and video it for U tube. Here are some pics, dont mind the wall of Green Coraline. I cant get it off the back wall to save my life. lol.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Tilt head Left for pic 1
Tilt head right for pic 2
Crack neck and look straight for Pic 3. My apologies.

 

[bige]

Interesting. Why such a large tank? Your surge is going to go on for an hour! I've seen a five gallon bucket used on a 150 and it makes a serious wave. I would like to see this in action.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

freshwater aquarium planters are what I use for the drain covers..no snail will ever block them holes. I am doing a rock Island up the pipe in the final product to hide the pipe, also forcing water past the rock ~whenst* draining.
The sump is going to be a very large container yet to be decided. IT will have to be something like those bait tanks or pond liner, something that can handle the surge and not shatter.

The other idea and reason My Emergency overflow drain is sooo much higher than the the surge pipe is becasue I am going to have an extra return pump on a timer that will come on at night, thus keeping the water @ High Tide. Hopefully.

This will take much tinkering I am sure. I cannot wait.


I am a HUGE fan of Daisy Chaining my systems. I am very tentative towards disease and All my tanks are Bipassable if need be. I will eventually do this. My 150 will be my living room display. It will be plumbed into a large sump and Frag grow out system on my front porch, all sun lit. What ever the lowest tank is will be the largest. It will be sent directly up one story to my bedroom where the Motion of the Ocean Tank (Just thought of that and the GF rolled her eyes) will be the hallway piece. Giving a high velocity surge back to the 150 in the living room. Gravity fed through all my tanks. This should in theory send a surge through every box of water in my house. I drive a hybrid. its only right that I have a stair stepping surging multi tank system. And its not even difficult. Simple yet powerful and efficient. As long as the drains are all high volume and the return pump can pump a story high. This is however, SOME DAY

 

[SeymourDuncan]

This is a display tank that surges itself into a sump. i want to put ZOANTHIDS that live out of water for hours a day in there

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Interesting. Why such a large tank? Your surge is going to go on for an hour! I've seen a five gallon bucket used on a 150 and it makes a serious wave. I would like to see this in action.

I used the 5 gallon surges and thats what inspired this. Salt spray is limited to the sump where it can be controlled and does not ruin your lighting.

This ALSO keeps you from having to suspend 50lbs of water in the air, which Im really not a fan of doing.

I dont know how long it will take to cycle through a whole surge, I cant wait to try it in to morning.