rygh
01-20-2010, 01:58 PM
My current scrubber is definitely not large enough.
The real problem I have is lack of vertical clearance.
I could make it longer, but that means a really big pump,
and right now, I have no pump, since it runs off normal sump line.
So, I probbly need to go to a horizontal unit.
The problem there is keeping great flow accross the screen as algae grows.
As a bonus, I would like to grow real turf algae, which I hear
is only really possible with intermittent air exposure.
A dump-bucket system is one approach. But well "clunky", and splashes.
So my theory is to get roughly the same intermittent water/air effect,
with a different method.
In this method, you simply fill, then empty, a tray, with a flushing like effect.
There is no heavy turbulence like a dump bucket.
But you still should easily break the boundary layer problem.
Another big advantage to this approach is cleaning.
It should be easy to pull the inner tray out and clean.
No need to disconnect pipes. No need to turn off pump.
Theory 1: The "Siphon Flusher"
This one relies on a siphon effect.
Water enters from inlet on right, constantly.
The water level will rise until it reaches the top of the down-spout pipe
on the left. At that point, the air will be gone, and you will get a siphon
effect. The suction effect will completely empty the water out.
At that point, you lose suction, siphon is broken, and it re-fills.
The main problem as I see it is getting enough siphon effect.
You need a long vertical drop to really pull hard, which I don't have.
Theory 2: The "Electronic Flusher"
In this one, the electronic valve on the right simply opens and closes on
a programmable interval.
The water is always entering on the right.
The drain is built to handle much more water than enters.
When closed, the tray fills.
Whe open, the tray, and the still-entering water drain out.
I have quite a few cheap ideas on how to implement the valve.
But no real easy way of making it non-electronic.
Yes, it needs various overflow protection and such. Left out for simplicity.
Any thoughts?
In particular, the concern on lack of turbulence and boundary effect.
The real problem I have is lack of vertical clearance.
I could make it longer, but that means a really big pump,
and right now, I have no pump, since it runs off normal sump line.
So, I probbly need to go to a horizontal unit.
The problem there is keeping great flow accross the screen as algae grows.
As a bonus, I would like to grow real turf algae, which I hear
is only really possible with intermittent air exposure.
A dump-bucket system is one approach. But well "clunky", and splashes.
So my theory is to get roughly the same intermittent water/air effect,
with a different method.
In this method, you simply fill, then empty, a tray, with a flushing like effect.
There is no heavy turbulence like a dump bucket.
But you still should easily break the boundary layer problem.
Another big advantage to this approach is cleaning.
It should be easy to pull the inner tray out and clean.
No need to disconnect pipes. No need to turn off pump.
Theory 1: The "Siphon Flusher"
This one relies on a siphon effect.
Water enters from inlet on right, constantly.
The water level will rise until it reaches the top of the down-spout pipe
on the left. At that point, the air will be gone, and you will get a siphon
effect. The suction effect will completely empty the water out.
At that point, you lose suction, siphon is broken, and it re-fills.
The main problem as I see it is getting enough siphon effect.
You need a long vertical drop to really pull hard, which I don't have.
Theory 2: The "Electronic Flusher"
In this one, the electronic valve on the right simply opens and closes on
a programmable interval.
The water is always entering on the right.
The drain is built to handle much more water than enters.
When closed, the tray fills.
Whe open, the tray, and the still-entering water drain out.
I have quite a few cheap ideas on how to implement the valve.
But no real easy way of making it non-electronic.
Yes, it needs various overflow protection and such. Left out for simplicity.
Any thoughts?
In particular, the concern on lack of turbulence and boundary effect.