reeferx
Member
I got some details last night from a guy with one of those eco-wheel filters. I had asked him what exactly the setup was because it was an enigma to me. Pretty interesting. Is it worth 2000-3500 bucks? I don't think so. But the concept is cool and the potential for a DIY project is high. Check it out:
Matt
I have nothing to say but good things about the sytem. Some bad mistakes on my part but not the eco-wheels falt.
The system is very basic in operation but I am not very good at describing it on text. In the fish tank you have an in and out overflow. lets start with the out. the out goes to the eco-wheel tank via 2 inch plumbing. The eco-wheel tank is set level to the main tank but the plumbing from the out goes down to the floor and lengthwise across the tank(in my case. You can have the Ecowheel tank anywhere just as long as it is level to the main tank). At the base of the up-flow to the Eco-wheel tank the plumbing is connected to a powerful air pump. This acts as a air lift for the water. It actually has the power to suck the water from the overflow in the main tank. The air and water mix is directed to the paddles of the eco-wheel itself. This action turns the wheel(which resembles an oldtime paddle boat). Well physics takes over and the water wants to equalize so the excess volume of water returns to the main tank via the plumbing to the influent overflow. This complete the water cycle. So there is a constant flow of water into the main tank. There is a current but no turbulance realy. The only variation of current happens when the wheel, as it turns, displaces an extra 4 gals of water. this happens about 4 times a min. This happens because half of the wheel has more solid mass than the other, thus displacing more water when it is forced around. The influent box has a plastic weir that you can set to your liking/situation. The normal water flow is set to go thru a gap between the influent overflow lip and the bottom of the weir. This action makes a constnat arch of water into the tank. when the extra 4 gals are forced into the influent box, the water level rises over the top of that weir and interrupt/changes/redirects the constant flow that is already happening. An alternating current, This does not provide. But it is rated at 1800 gal per hour turnover, all due to the input of air and physics.
They used to have blue prints of the set up on their web site. maybe they removed them. I hope this helps out a little. To me what I typed make perfect sence, but I know it is hard to understand without seeing it in action.
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Matt
I have nothing to say but good things about the sytem. Some bad mistakes on my part but not the eco-wheels falt.
The system is very basic in operation but I am not very good at describing it on text. In the fish tank you have an in and out overflow. lets start with the out. the out goes to the eco-wheel tank via 2 inch plumbing. The eco-wheel tank is set level to the main tank but the plumbing from the out goes down to the floor and lengthwise across the tank(in my case. You can have the Ecowheel tank anywhere just as long as it is level to the main tank). At the base of the up-flow to the Eco-wheel tank the plumbing is connected to a powerful air pump. This acts as a air lift for the water. It actually has the power to suck the water from the overflow in the main tank. The air and water mix is directed to the paddles of the eco-wheel itself. This action turns the wheel(which resembles an oldtime paddle boat). Well physics takes over and the water wants to equalize so the excess volume of water returns to the main tank via the plumbing to the influent overflow. This complete the water cycle. So there is a constant flow of water into the main tank. There is a current but no turbulance realy. The only variation of current happens when the wheel, as it turns, displaces an extra 4 gals of water. this happens about 4 times a min. This happens because half of the wheel has more solid mass than the other, thus displacing more water when it is forced around. The influent box has a plastic weir that you can set to your liking/situation. The normal water flow is set to go thru a gap between the influent overflow lip and the bottom of the weir. This action makes a constnat arch of water into the tank. when the extra 4 gals are forced into the influent box, the water level rises over the top of that weir and interrupt/changes/redirects the constant flow that is already happening. An alternating current, This does not provide. But it is rated at 1800 gal per hour turnover, all due to the input of air and physics.
They used to have blue prints of the set up on their web site. maybe they removed them. I hope this helps out a little. To me what I typed make perfect sence, but I know it is hard to understand without seeing it in action.
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