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Adam Haycock 
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 Topic: Surge device advice
Posted: March 04 2006 at 7:24pm |
Here is what i have right now...
A 180 gallon aquarium with a 30 gallon rubbermaid mounted about a foot above the tank.
I want to build a surge device that will empty fast and give a huge rush of water. Im hesitant to use the 2" flush valve (as in Bornemans book) since ive seen lots of people using it for smaller tanks. I really want a huge surge! I will be using a Mag 12. Any advice?
What about the Carlson surge device?
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 04 2006 at 8:42pm |
Use a flush valve. Even if you make your own with a 4" hole it will still work so well. Also, to really make it powerful put it 3 feet above your tank.
Adam
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 04 2006 at 9:44pm |
MSM uses a Carlson surge device that dumps 50 gal into a 200 gal. through 2" PVC. It's been operating for many years. Anyone can go look at it during retail hours. (roughly Thur and Fri till 7PM, Sat and Sun till 5PM)
But if Adam B., the first person in the club to use a Carlson surge device and also the first to build and use dump buckets, says a flush valve is better, I believe him.
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 5:58pm |
Okay so i have a 10 gallon surge setup now but I have a problem.
When the stopper opens up, it only stays open for about 2 seconds and doesn't drain completely. Any ideas on how to keep it open longer?
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:06pm |
I think i figured it out. I need to add a small float to the flapper that is always submerged.
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:08pm |
I have to say though, with as little as the surge is... it really is amazing! It looks like a crashing wave with lots of bubbles. The eels love it too (or hate it). They came out and swam around as soon as the surges started. 
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dnellans
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:10pm |
where are the pics adam? (and that phyto analysis too  )
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:31pm |
Im glad i went with the smaller rubbermaid...
Thanks for your help on the design Dave, The stand seems plenty strong.
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dnellans
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:36pm |
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adam that looks awesome! i assume that center brace attaches to the aluminum frame for a little support lateral support?
how much does it cause your tank to "raise" at the maximum?
i could build a surge device into my 180 now right? =p
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:44pm |
When i hold the flapper open and let it all drain it maybe goes up 2". The way it is now, it does short, powerful bursts of water that dont really raise the waterline.
Id say a 5 gallon surge would be good too for a 180. Its really easy to do but you need to not mind the noise and the bubbles. I think there are ways to get rid of both of those, but im not sure how.
Yeah the center 2x4 (the one where you can see the end of it) goes back and rests on the aluminum frame of the greenhouse. Its not really doing much for it structurally but it makes me feel better
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:47pm |
Here, this works better than me trying to explain it 
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Shane H
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 7:27pm |
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Adam,
That looks pretty cool. If I was your neighbor and didn't know any better, I would be 100% sure you were either growing pot or cooking meth in that greenhouse!
AWESOME.
Just how noisy is it?
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 8:13pm |
Thanks Shane. It's not too noisy, but I definately wouldn't want it in the house.
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 8:15pm |
I added a small piece of styrofoam and that solved the problem. It now dumps about 7-10 gallons at once.
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Suzy
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 8:26pm |
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I like to put BBS or phyto in mine and watch it fly through the tank. The
fish try to chase the big BBS and it's fun to watch!
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Mike Savage
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Posted: March 09 2006 at 5:12pm |
 Suzy wrote:
The fish try to chase the big BBS and it's fun to watch! |
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