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11-16-2002, 08:18 PM
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#1
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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Kevin Carpenter's Genius.
In the distant past I have proclamed the virtue inherent in Kevin Carpenter's magnificent creation: the Reverse Carlson Surge Device. A copy of his original article on the mechanism can be found here: http://216.168.47.67/cis-fishnet/seascope/00SS1705.htm
I want to give Kevin full credit for his brilliant (in a mad scientist sort of way) concept of Zilla II (the original RCSD). I promised Brooke that I'd write an article on the device I specifically have built, but I need to be careful not to step across Mr. Carpenter's.
I have built three of these devices in the past, but all were mainly to provide whole water column movement, none were designed with the intention to make a wave. Well, in working on the concept of a new living Atlantic coral exhibit, I new I wanted something that provided surge as close to the real deal as possible. I want the water motion to be as much as an inclusion factor as possible for guests, and be the best for the corals. Eric and Bruce's surge device concepts weren't going to cut it. The only type of wave that produces steady current in the wild are tidal waves caused by the moon, sun, and inertia. And that whole on/off siphon to make it "seem like a swell" was starting to feel very cop-outish.
So I re-examined the RCSD as a possibility. I went back to the basics of swell physics (which I'll hold you in suspense on until the article  ) and quickly realized how I could make it work. So I modified the design (keep holding your breath...) to allow a true surge to exist. I built the first one today (there will be two on each 36x36x24h display). I tested it in the anemone tank. The thing is AMAZING. When it fires (this is just one, there will be two), it flattens the anemones throughout the tank exactly as if they had just been creamed by a swell. I was giggling like a kid, I'm not afraid to admit. It was the most beautiful thing I'd seen in a long time 
Just had to share.
Chris
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-16-2002, 09:51 PM
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#2
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Jedi Master
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,437
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Sounds like a great idea!! If you want to provide me with one, I would be more than happy to beta test it for you.
Andrew
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I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings
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11-17-2002, 08:49 AM
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#3
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A goof
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Plymouth, MN USA
Posts: 2,923
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I want answers now
Sounds cool
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11-17-2002, 09:00 AM
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#4
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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LOL Andrew. Actually, the primary fitting alone, a 6" x 2" x 6" tee, costs about $60, plus the 6" pipe, and the 6" cap. The other PVC isn't that expensive.
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 09:00 AM
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#5
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The Border Collie Mod
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: right now? in my chair
Posts: 13,218
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Why do I have "Close to you" and "We've only just begun" playing in my head now?
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Clifford TRT's Mascot --> 
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11-17-2002, 09:01 AM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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ROTFL
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 09:27 AM
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#7
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Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,761
Reviews: 1
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Quote:
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Actually, the primary fitting alone, a 6" x 2" x 6" tee, costs about $60, plus the 6" pipe, and the 6" cap.
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Chris, for a typical home aquarium 6" PVC might be a little overkill.
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-Greg 
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11-17-2002, 09:36 AM
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#8
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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Greg, there are going to be two of these in each of the coral tanks, and they are by no stretch of the imagination bigger than a hobbyist's aquarium: 36 x 36 x 24 h and about 135 gallons. I'll convince you to put one on your "office tank" before its all said and done
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 09:39 AM
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#9
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Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,761
Reviews: 1
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There's no convincing to be done, except that I need to spend the extra $$$ for 6" PVC fittings.
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-Greg
Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
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11-17-2002, 09:59 AM
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#10
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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how tall is the tank?
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 09:59 AM
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#11
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Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,761
Reviews: 1
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24"
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-Greg
Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
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11-17-2002, 10:32 AM
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#12
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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Perfect. The unit would be identical to the one I made yesterday.
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 12:06 PM
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#13
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A goof
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Plymouth, MN USA
Posts: 2,923
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I believe that you mentioned that in the previous RCSD thread that there was a problem with blowing out the tank  could that be a problem?
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11-17-2002, 02:20 PM
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#14
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,588
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LOL Jon, no. When Kevin was first developing the idea, he used thin, clear acrylic to make the device to see what was going on. The acrylic wasn't strong enough and exploded. PVC and extruded acrylic pipe is perfectly safe. We had two PVC/extruded units running for about 4 years now. And the aquarium that the unit is in experiences no physical stress moreso than any other surge device, unless the RCSD is connected to the tank.
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"The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." Lao Tzu
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11-17-2002, 05:31 PM
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#15
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vvvvvvvvvvv
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Void
Posts: 1,236
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Errr...
Hasn't this been done before, and on massive scale even?
Similar units for a 500 gallon display in a Singapore restaurant ---I'll try to recall which one-- as far back as 1991, and of course the surge-simulator at the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in Townsend, from the late 80's come to mind (though the latter is somewhat mechanically distinct).
I know I've seen at least 8 similar others in home aquaria from before 1990, and I suspect Carpenter's design may have a very ancient lineage.
While we're at it, 'Carlson' devices have been around longer than Bruce has. They're properly called 'auto-siphons', and have been around since at least the late 1800's, and technically to the late 1500's even ---where the principles were incorporated in some very fanciful Italian water-clocks.
horge
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