DIY Sea-Squirrel - AquaGate Oscillating Return Unit

[ReefVan]

This thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115828&perpage=25&pagenumber=2
is presently being discussed in the Reef Central DIY forum.

It was widely discussed on the Reefs.Org General Reefkeeping Discussion forum as well a few months back until it was closed due to the discussion "straying from the subject matter".

CanReef DIYers might find this new twist very interesting...
:wink:

[beaker020]

look like free speech has been stifled once again :x

[christyf5]

Jeez, not only did they close it but they deleted it too??

[ReefVan]

MMMMmm,

Ya, welcome to the land of the brave and the free... Anyway I'm working on rebuilding some old AquaGates circa 1996-1998.

Here's the pic that was taken down after you know who crapped their shorts. I'm rebuilding them along the same lines with better components.

http://pages.infinit.net/lambertv/images/aquagate_2_800.jpg

Enjoy!

p.s - This is Canada and not the U.S, this device was never patented and if it was, it would be a U.S patent covering only the continental U.S and it's territories. This web server is on Canadian soil.

[Canadian Man]

how's the last design of the seasquirle doing Reefvan?
Is it still in testing?

[ReefVan]

Canadian Man,

Took the Sea-Squirrel off-line a couple of months ago to copy the parts for a couple of new designs, "The Wolverine" and "Reef-Rat". Have to re-plumb my tank to take the Squirrel, too busy with other projects such as KW and Calcium reactors to do it.

Will get it going again and attempt to re-post the results on a Canadian site, i.e here!, where those (I'm too polite) won't be able to threaten the BBS.

Why do I get the impression someone is hiding something? :wink:

Van

[ReefVan]

:D Hey there,

Well here is a similar product and a DIY Sea-Squirrel, what's your opinion, is the Sea-Squirrel based on the "prior art" AquaGate or not?

Other Product

http://pages.infinit.net/lambertv/images/ss_patent_actual.jpg

DIY Sea-Squirrel

http://pages.infinit.net/lambertv/images/dsc00151.jpg

Judge for yourself...

[Canadian Man]

Hey Reefvan,

when comparing the two above designs there are some very similar movements and types of items used but there are definate diffrences in sizes or pieces used.

Did you have a prefrence or opinion on what worked better, the reef-rat or seasquirrle?

I would like to build a pair of these but it seems to me that the reefrat makes more sense because your not dealing with the oring situation but just the rotating nozzle.

Any suggestions/opinions?

[StirCrazy]

hmm how hard would it be to link two nozzles to a commen shaft thus doubling the flow capability and you could have them 30 degrees offset and then a 90 degree sweep would efectivly give you 120 degree coverage.

Steve

[ReefVan]

:D Canadian Man,

Did you have a prefrence or opinion on what worked better, the reef-rat or seasquirrle

I really like the Sea-Squirrel, it was my first project although more complex. It works great.

The Reef-Rat, although still in development, is much easier to build. The big problem is the torque required to swivel the nozzle. The water rocketing out of the return pipe exerts quite a load on that pivoting nozzle.

Needs more work prior to release.

:D StirCrazy,

hmm how hard would it be to link two nozzles to a commen shaft

The torque loading on the motor and mechanism will probably be too high. The mechanism would fill the box, if it would be big enough.

These motors typically have a 4 or 5 watt rating. As it is many Sea-Swirls had a failing motor problem, part due to heat and part due to motor rating and size, they work hard and wear out after a while.

Probably easier just to add a modified sch40 nozzle fitting on the return nozzle.

Van

[ReefVan]

:D Canadian Man,

Well, after much creative thinking, I think I can answer your question on how you can fix your broken rotating return unit.

Visit my newly posted R&O page for broken rotating return units which are no longer on warranty and using the DIY parts listed you should be able to get it up and running again by looking here... :wink:

http://pages.infinit.net/lambertv/pages/diy_rotating_return_R_and_O.htm

and for those interested in a brief pictorial history of rotating return units see here... :wink:

http://pages.infinit.net/lambertv/pages/Aquagate_vs_SeaSwirl.htm

Van