Tidal Brainstorm

[Brandon L]

Has anyone ever heard, seen or tried to simulate a tidal cycle in a reef aquarium? I was thinking about the best way to set up my system and began to think that in the natural environment our hobby derives from, most of these creatures are affected by the tides in some way, shape or form. They aren't necessarily in a tidal pool or exposed at low tides, but the amount of water over their heads changes during these times, I would imagine. Would a simulated tide be extremely complex and more work than it's worth or could it have a great impact on the health and potential reproduction of some corals? Initially I was thinking of a way to have a lock and dam set up in a sump that could be controlled with a lunar controller or something along those lines. I know water level changes would be real interesting with all of the RR overflows skimming water off the surface, but if you can simulate a tide, you can make your overflow work differently too. Like I said, it is a brainstorm and I'm still in the crouched position under my basement stairs waiting for things to settle down!

[Frogbone]

Interesting thought. I have read somewhere that some corals in shallow water are even exposed to air for longer periods of time during low tide. I don't know what effect it would have on corals that we keep in our tanks (and not interested in experimenting ) but changing water levels could be something very nartural to some of them.

Now, as far as how to implement something like this....retreating under the stairs too now , lol

[reefmyster]

I don't think it would be too terribly difficult to vary the water level in your tank. You would just have to figure out a way for the overflows to slowly slide up and down. With a bottom drilled tank you could have the top 1/4 (or top whatever ") be a seperate piece that sealed itself to the walls of the tank and the bottom section of the overflow, and moved up and down. I bet I could build that in 3 or 4 of my sleepless nights. Another option would be a back drilled tank where the whole overflow box would slide up and down. I think that might be a little harder to get a good seal. I think the bottom drilled would be the way to go.

You would have to have a sump that was capable of running with the lack of water at "high tide" and the extra water at "low tide"

If you have more than one overflow they would probably have to both be connected to the same device that moves them up and down. Or have confidence in your timing.

All that diarrhea of the brain written down, on to the important question.

Whould it help anything?

I don't know. Maybe someone else would enlighten us.

I would assume that tidal flows, periods of higher water movement (low tide) and vice versa, would have much more of an impact on the coral than just water level. And last but not least. Tie the whole thing into the phases of the moon.

OK I am done adding to your brainstorm/brainfart. My head hurts.

[trodder]

WOuld the exposed rock be more efficent at "filtering" water?? I guess think of a wet/dry... the question then to would be is it going to create a "nitrate factory" ????? I would be curious if doing it in a home aquarium would add value/benefit. It would be a fun/cool project whether it helps or not.

[Tutmos]

Ahhhh, think of the wonderous smells you would be providing your home each time the water level went down for a number of hours. Your family would kill you : ). It would stink A LOT most likely.

Kevin

[clownfishcrazy]

This skimmer is kind of big for a tank under 300 gallons, but the skimmer floats to the water level. So if you had a water holding tank next to your sump, you could plumb the sump and tank together with an electronic valve. The valve could run on a timmer of when to open and when to close, it would open to lower the water level, then it would close and you would need a pump to pump all of the water back into the sump.

[Jeremiah]

I think Capman had something on one of the tanks at the college there. ( I could be mistaken, I was a total newbie when I was there) I thought that he had something that sat above the tank that filled up with water via a pump. And then when it got so full it dumpted it all in at once filling the tank up. I don't know if it changed the level in the tank or if it just made a big instant surge of water in the tank. I haven't seen him on the boards in ages but maybe you could email him and ask.

[vost82]

I may be wrong, but what difference would the small change in water level you can achieve in a tank have on its inhabitants? Would it be better to look at the changes that tides have in lighting and flow then try to reproduce these?fficeffice" />>>

Just for thought, I would assume that at high tide you would have: high pressure, low light, high flow at low velocity. The opposite would be true for low tide.

As for benefits, I read somewhere that some organisms do best when they receive their energy in pulses, be that light, or flow. >>

[vost82]

OT: What's with the extra chars that it put in at the end of my sentances?