Has anyone read Eric's book? What does anyone think a good surge tank about the DT would be?

I'm afraid of surge/dump tanks. Another thing to flood my house :)

Dave

LOL! I hear ya. Have you seen the device he shows in his book "Corals?" I love the idea, I am going to try and incorporate the idea into my new acropora 29gal tank setup. I think it's great for people with small tanks who cant have the wave makers.

I haen't read Eric's book, could you give an idea of how he has these set up?

I just helped a friend install two 10 gal surge tanks on his 220. Stupid simple setup. Just a rubermaid container, a toilet flapper valve and some PVC. The corals and fish love it.

Oh really! sweet, so what kind of rubbermaid are we taking about here. Did you put a bulk head into it? When it releases the water, does it make a lot of noise? I am happy you know what you are doing, and like them, becuase everyone thinks I am going to have this huge flood.

Oh sorry. how he has it setup, is he has a feed pvc coming up from the tank with a pump attached to it. It then feeds into the container where the water level rises pulling the flapper up and realesing the water down into the DT. There is also an overflow pvc in the middle of the container in case of malfunction. Eric Borneman wrote that he got the idea from hearing someone flush a toilet.

Yep, a bulkhead on the side fed by a Mag 9 from the sump. Water rises lifting the float, dumps the water down PVC into the DT. Simple and brilliant. I just helped install them, didn't build or design them.

Oh ok. What kind of rubbermaid did they use? How did they have installed above the DT? Did they secure it to the wall?

Yeah, they're on a shelf maybe 3 or 4 feet above the tank. I don't know the model number of the containers or anything, but they are about the size of a standard 10 gallon tank. I'll be back over there this week if you want me to take some pictures.

How does Eric reccomend doing it?

He doesnt say anything about it. The pics would be great to give me an idea. Your awsome thanks. I am very excited to start this project.