It can be on a timer.Conceptually, I absolutely love the surge idea but I don’t want to have a tank that large sloshing all day.
It can be on a timer.Conceptually, I absolutely love the surge idea but I don’t want to have a tank that large sloshing all day.
That is what I would do.It can be on a timer.
Like I said earlier you would need a large area on the return pump side of the sump as it would need to pump to the surge and not run the return pump dry.For surge, I think the trick there is a very large overflow box at the end of the tank.
And overflow itself would be 20" wide, entire end of tank.
Cal academy had a huge surge tank. Like a serious wave. Probably way overkill for a reef tank.
Good pointSo I can certainly see a WAVE putting huge stress on tank and stand.
The way that wave is set up is through resonance, and resonance can be hugely destructive.
That back and forth oscillation will cause fatigue failure.
But a SURGE really should not be so bad at all.
You randomly dump in a bit of water. No worse than a sudden water change.
Water level rises. A bit more pressure on walls, but generally even.
Seems pretty safe.
Yeah, it’s like a giant toilet flushing constantlyConceptually, I absolutely love the surge idea but I don’t want to have a tank that large sloshing all day.
That’s what I do. Or least did, before my SPS mountain rose up to the surface of the water and blocked the flow across the top.I agree, avoid any occilations so the momentum doesn't get added. I like what the surge does. Another option is to use wave makers to push water in a circle around the tank for a few minutes, then reverse the flow. It is trying to accomplish a similar goal as the surge tank in creating some randomness or direction changes in the predominant flow pattern.
Maybe a couple gyres which are synced up on the ends could get the flow going if they are on in each direction for a couple minutes before reversing.