Tigahboy's 2.5RL Surge/Tidal Pico

Tigahboy · #1 12/01/2005, 02:05 AM

The "RL" stands for "Really Long." haha.

I designed this tank for a pico contest over on n-r.com.

It's a custom 2.5g - 23x5x5" w/ a 2.5g AGA glass tank drilled for a Carlson Surge Device (CSD). So it actually has a "low tide" period, then water surges into the tank like a wave, etc etc. It even sounds kinda like the ocean!

I know some ppl complain about microbubbles from the CSD's, but it forms this neat frothy layer on the surface, kinda like real ocean waves.

Here's the initial design diagram I made:

SocalCreations.com made the tank for me. Here's the final product:

Oh, and for the lighting - 23" Finnex brand T5's!

Tigahboy · #2 12/01/2005, 02:06 AM

2.5g AGA - Surge Tank/Above-Tank Sump

Tigahboy · #3 12/01/2005, 02:08 AM

Overall Set-up pics:

some plumbing:

LR is all fiji premium - about 2-3 lb. of it - and I used hammer and smaller sized chisel to "sculpt" and break the large chunks into workable pico-sized LR pieces.

Tigahboy · #4 12/01/2005, 02:11 AM

the main inhabitant for my tidal pico...peacock mantis:

more pics of mantis. I named him: Mr. Nice Guy

Tigahboy · #5 12/01/2005, 02:14 AM

Added black "Tahitian Moon Sand" and patches of turtle grass to show the "wave" action better.

Tigahboy · #6 12/01/2005, 02:16 AM

In the process of stocking some hardy corals in the pico. Here's what I put in thus far...

oh, but the arrangement won't look like this now since the mantis constantly rearranges EVERYTHING i put into the tank. sheesh!

Tigahboy · #7 12/01/2005, 02:17 AM

Tigahboy · #8 12/01/2005, 02:20 AM

Short clip demonstrating the surge/lowtide cycle.

Pico in action (Right Click + Save Link As...)

The pico surges [switchin between low and high "tide"/flow] about 2-3 times per minute.

And two music videos starring the mantis as well...so be sure to play these 2 w/ SOUND.

2.5g Mantis Pico

Mantis Video 2

Okay, that's all the progress so far. I'll keep updating this thread as the pico adventure continues! Hope y'all like it. =)

IsThisNameTaken? · #9 12/01/2005, 02:54 AM

Nicely done. I like listening to that calm music while I watch a mantis kill a damsel! lol!

Mikeeal · #10 12/01/2005, 03:21 AM

The video with SOAD gave me goosbumps all over. The way you put the video together sets it apart from all others. Very very nice.

Tigahboy · #11 12/01/2005, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mikeeal
The video with SOAD gave me goosbumps all over.

Niiiice. that's what I like to hear. haha.

thanks for the compliments, guys!

sandlot13 · #12 12/01/2005, 04:25 AM

solid tank tigah....... its nice to have all the pictures right next to each other so i ddont have to find them all on the n-r.com thread! hahaha keep up the good work!

Jordan55 · #13 12/01/2005, 06:46 AM

WOW! That is so sweet!

What is that plant in the tank? I thought it was some stype of macro/ bush or something, but in the video it looks like long hair algae.

Agu · #14 12/01/2005, 09:55 AM

Outstanding

Two questions,

I don't see a vent on the surge. Did you not use one ?

Don't see a backup overflow on the surge tank. How long have you run it without it failing to surge ?

Tigahboy · #15 12/01/2005, 01:25 PM

Thanks for the compliments!

Agu - There is a vent, but just hard to see in the photos/videos. Oh, and instead of the vent on the surge plumbing in the main display, I placed it in the plumbing in the above surge tank.

I wanted to have the back-up overflow, but I was wary of drilling too many holes in the 2.5g AGA. If I could do it all over again, I'd probably add the back-up overflow, especially if I set one up on a larger tank.

But so far it hasn't been a problem (knock on wood).

It's been running w/o incident, continuously since Nov. 14th.

Tigahboy · #16 12/01/2005, 01:35 PM

Jordan - It's turtle grass - macro algae.

Sugar Magnolia · #17 12/01/2005, 02:52 PM

Really great stuff Tigah!

Agu · #18 12/01/2005, 03:13 PM

Another question and a comment...........

Why the closed loop ? Wouldn't it have worked as well to just put a powerhead behind the baffle ? Or does that lack some coolness factor ? (pun imtended

)

What I really like is that by looking at the pic it's really hard to tell that's only a 2.5 gallon tank. Maybe that's something only a nano reefer could appreciate

.

Tigahboy · #19 12/01/2005, 03:16 PM

Sugar - Thanks!

Agu - Haha. I say it's 1 part "coolness" factor and 2 parts functional. I wasn't sure exactly how much flow would be required to maintain the surge, so I wanted to be able to adjust the flow w/o putting strain on the pump. So in the event that I needed less flow to the top tank, I could simply redirect the excess flow back into the pico via closed loop by adjusting the 2 ball valves.

Right now majority of the flow from pump is directed to the surge tank w/ only a small amount of flow being redirected back via closed loop (so I guess it's not a "true" closed loop, but wasn't sure what else to call it). Took awhile to get the flow rates just right but it's been working thus far.

Tigahboy · #20 12/01/2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agu

What I really like is that by looking at the pic it's really hard to tell that's only a 2.5 gallon tank. Maybe that's something only a nano reefer could appreciate .

I agree w/ the nano reefer comment. We're always trying to find ways to maximize the small space available. I think doing a LONG tank (tho sacrificing some of the height and width) helps to make nanos look much larger than they really are. =)

oh, and since this pico is REALLY thin width-wise, I didn't want a colored back. I figured the clear back would help make it look a bit larger than it really is. no real theory behind why that is, just intuitively thought that would be the case.

Malla · #21 12/01/2005, 03:25 PM

Looks awesome, and very original.

I hope you win.

Btw, how do you top off? Seems like an automatic system would be difficult.

E

Tigahboy · #22 12/01/2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malla
Looks awesome, and very original.

I hope you win.

Btw, how do you top off? Seems like an automatic system would be difficult.

E

topping off is the BIGGEST challenge w/ this pico. I messed up when I designed the pico b/c I thought the 2.5" space behind the right-side wall would be enough to stick a float switch. I was planning to run the pump on timer and have it shut off for 5 minutes every few hours, then have the power for the float switch turn on to top off during those 5 minute intervals of stasis, but I underestimated the space needed for a float switch; basically I can't physically squeeze one in the limited space between the plumbing. =(

So I'm stuck w/ manually topping off throughout the day by turning off the power (it's on a remote control) and topping off according to the water level in the main display w/ surge off/in stasis. I'm still trying to figure out another way to set-up an auto top-off and if any of u have suggestions, I'm open to them. =)

Tigahboy · #23 12/01/2005, 03:45 PM

Oh, and I forgot to add above that I cooked the LR for a good 3 months. The LR is very "clean."

TheUltimateNoob · #24 12/01/2005, 04:29 PM

nice tank tigahboy...

regarding the surge device, how does it work? it looks like there's only 1 pipe going from the above-tank sump to the tank. how does the water go up and down to create the flow??

i'm a completely noob when it comes to plumbing/waterflow/etc....

thanks

Tigahboy · #25 12/01/2005, 04:35 PM

The pic I posted doesn't show the clear flexible tubing that delivers the water to the top. But it's there. =)

the surge relies on a siphon. So after the water build enuf pressure above the white pvc pipe in the top tank, a siphon is formed and it "surges" down into the main display.