Oh My! Tidal Waves inside!

[daniel411]

I just picked up a book called "Reef Secrets", it basically went on about how "addicts" keeping reefs at home will advance the hobby and that we should experiment with designs and such.
One of the methods it stressed was that we should try mimicking the effect tides have on reefs. Setting pumps on timers with a sump below and above the main display aquarium. Basically letting the level in the main tank drop a good six inches, exposing live rock and even some corals to air. Than the pumps coming back on and raising the level back to normal for awhile... and repeating. It showed all kinds of diagrams on ways to do this, also pictures of a test aquarium in hawaii that was trying this.
Anyone ever hear of someone trying this?

 

[nm reef]

Sounds like a interesting idea...but I've never heard much discussion about creating tidal effects in home aquariums. It does sort of make sense though. The "Reef Secrets" you've been reading...is it a newer publication or is it dated? I have seen stuff about surge devices that sort of simulate tidal currents....but I'd be a bit concerned about lowering the water level on a regular basis. Interesting idea...but I wonder how effective/practical it is.

nmreef@cox.net

 

[overanalyzer]

I've been experimenting with a small above tank surge device but can not get it to work the way I want it to work AT ALL .... I purposely built my durso stand pipes a little lower and have high walls on my sump and refugium to handle a small fluctuation in water level .....
what book are your reading??

 

[daniel411]

I believe the book is called "Reef Secrets". I believe it is new, I've never seen a copy before at any lfs's until recently. Its a pretty decent book, but more or an off-shoot than something to start with. I'll find out the correct name, author, publishing company, copyright year, etc. tonight when I get home, and post online tommorrow along with some info on what it says "possible" benefits are. I'm kind of wondering if the author had even tried it, or just thought it up. Theres pretty much a good size chapter on just it though.
It has a ton of diagrams on how to poperly set up surge devices, etc for an aquarium.

 

[wrassecal]

Originally posted by Daniel411
[B Basically letting the level in the main tank drop a good six inches, exposing live rock and even some corals to air. Than the pumps coming back on and raising the level back to normal for awhile... and repeating. [/B]
I've never heard of anyone trying it to the extent that the live rock was exposed. That kind of sounds like the tide pools we play around in at Laguna. I never notice any coral growing on the areas of rock that get exposed. I didn't think that the tides exposed the areas of the reef that would be the depth of most of the things we keep in our aquariums. Interesting though.

 

[daniel411]

Now that I'm really thinking about this. I wonder how corals will react to the intensity of light that they would get when the water level drops? Possible different color combinations?

 

[bang guy]

I have tide mimicking surges on my Lagoon. Two 32 gallon containers fill up and then dump.

 

[daniel411]

Notice any difference in you lagoon since you've been doing surges? Appearance, behavior of the fish, chemistry, etc.?
Oh, do you have a link, to pictures of your lagoon? I've really been interested in seeing this 900g of yours.

 

[bang guy]

I haven't noticed any difference in the Coral but I have no SPS there, just Lagoonal Corals. I've noticed a big benefit with the sandbed surface though. It's looking a lot healthier. When one of the surges lets loose it's a lot of turbulence. I recently switched from 1.5" tubing to 2". When both let go simultaneously it really stirs up the sand and raised the level over an inch. That's a big deal for a container 8' X 8'.

 

[austinreef]

Bang Guy,
You're something else LOL, You remind me of that Jerry lewis movie, where he fell into the ocean and became a fish, and helped the navy during the war. You definitely have the passion!! I hope I can get to where you are some day

 

[overanalyzer]

Yeah - I was running the surge above my tank - but my output was a narrow tube - I need to re-plumb the output before I set it back up! It is pretty sweet when I was running it ruing hte cycle ... you could see a difference in surface action and movement..... I will post some pictures tonight of my surge device. Got it off of some Australian guy's website .....

 

[daniel411]

The book is:
"Reef Secrets"
by Nilsen & Fpssa, Alf Jacob Nilsen and Svein A. Fossa
T.F.H Publications
www.tfh.com
copyright 2002
Co-published by Microcosms Ldt.
www.microcosm-books.com
Overanalyzer, hos long did you leave it in low tide?

 

[overanalyzer]

It was cycling pretty fast - my issue was getting the ball float to work right. The total fill amount was about 3 gallons or so - so it was not a ton (like some previous posters ).
Of course I also don't believe in building my rocks up to the top of my tank (having said that - my Nano is now full to the brim).

 

[marvida]

I have that book & read with interest the surge section. If you exposed your corals/live rock you would need to make sure they were organisms which have evolved to handle the exposure.

 

[larrylwill]

Originally posted by AustinReef
Bang Guy,
You're something else LOL, You remind me of that Jerry lewis movie, where he fell into the ocean and became a fish, and helped the navy during the war. You definitely have the passion!! I hope I can get to where you are some day
I think that was Don Knots, Mr. Limpid

 

[tcduongxx]

Have any one dive on any reef before???
From most of the reef I dive on does not have much coral expose to tidal low as to expose the coral to air. When the water is low on the reef the shalow water is really warm compare to deeper area were the current is. The only thing I think is good about the heavy surge is to remove dirts from the corals and rocks.

 

[dpdiver]

I've done alot of diving in Okinawa and Yap. Great reefs, Most corals live in the 20-60 foot mark. I seen some HUGE red gorgonias approx 15 feet across in strong current areas. I wish I was back there I miss the diving. The Keys are nice but just don't compare to be truthful. go to www.jwchandler.com and look at my buddys web site. or www.diveokinawa.com, great reef picks from there
Milt

 

[broncofish]

I don't know about exposing rock, and corals to air...but I do believe in Wave makers, and surge devices....Overanalyzer and I have had many talks about surge being a key ingredient in a long term reef. Time will tell on that one. actually reefs by nature are not exposed to air unless they are lagoons, or in tidal pool zones. I do nknow that every hundred years or so the Great barrier reef is exposed to causing corals to die, and either water levels rise back quickly and new corals grow on the dead skeleton...or sand and rock collect around the area of dead coral forming small islands all over the GBR. I have an awesome video about it that the MU made in co-operation with a university in perth. It was an IMAX movie about 7 yrs ago.

 

[tcduongxx]

I have dive in Phillipine, Thailand, Cancun area and planning another trip to Thailand this winter. It is awsome diving in Phillipine and Thailand. Cancun is OK not much diversity in coral.
**** Do not expose rock or corals to air*****
If you can create heavy surge with no air bubble in the water and it is cheap please let me know.
Power heads and timer is not doing any good.
I have a couple of big pumps I pick up at a pool sales. I was think of pumping it into a big tank placing above the tank, but my over flow will not handle the volume of extra water.

 

[infalable]

Hey Austin. That was Don Knotts and the movie was "The Incredible Mr. Limpit". FYI. Damn, I am way to old to remember that.