Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Found a link to this little device on the Speraneos group. Looks like it could be fun to play with, especially for those looking at alternating flooding of beds.



Here's a youtube video about it http://www.youtube.com/user/rskapuno

Further info including switching rates at their site http://www.3iqventures.com/oneinch.html

$40 for 3/4" or $90 (!) for 1":

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11661/product.web

The device from http://www.3iqventures.com/oneinch.html 1 inch unit Running 500 GPH is a tad more than my 10 gallon tank can handle.

Thatpetplace.com lists the 3/4 inch unit at minimum of 50 GPH. Why such high friction? Another note that should be mentioned is that it appears the unit is designed for continuous water flow pumping. The youtube video didn't really show it in action except for 3 seconds at the very end 3:33 where I could only assume that it was being used for the two small water displays (the unit was not visible in the shot).

Would it be similar to "Gardena Water Distributor"
at http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_subcategory_tap-timers_113.aspx
working on mains presure

The switching rate looks to be way too fast. My GBs wouldn't have a chance to fill before it would swtich.

About 100L before switching by the look of it. Probably OK if you have a bed with about 250L of media in it.

continuos flow needed for it to work I reckon . makes it no good unless you rig it up to 2 200L GBs that drain pretty quick , otherwise they'd just keep getting topped up faster than they can drain

or plug another one into each outlet on the first one ..

nice find anyway

Bit of an old find EB..... discussed them here.... viewtopic.php?f=8&t=883&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=scwd

About 18 months ago.....

The "Reef Shop" link in the above thread has been superseeded... new one... http://www.thereefshop.com.au/index.php ... a22c461d1a

Don't know if the video link is still current.....

Bugger... I even did a search first before posting, but then I spelt it wrong in the title, so no wonder it didn't find any hits..

Wow that thread reminds me of the good old days when we all chattered along completely off-topic all the time.

Guys,

I 'used' (many years ago and for a short time) to be the Aust distributor for the SQWD.

Not a bad little design but a few issues. Note that my comments are all based on the model that was around 4 or so years ago. Not sure if any changes have occurred to the design since.

1. They restrict flow like crazy. In my old marine setup I ran one (3/4") on a 5000lph Laguna pump as a closed loop circulation system in the main tank. At best I was getting 1500-2000lph out of it. Note that the 3/4" is the OD of the nipples. The ID is lucky to be 1/2". I think I may still have a few under the house so will check this weekend.

2. They are very prone to jamming. Especially a small piece of shell, or gravel/media etc.

3. The internals are very fragile and the unit is potentially rendered useless it it takes a hit (i.e. falls off a table as happened a few times with my customers back then).

4. As already noted, for AP purposed the switching time is going to be too fast. I think mine on the 5000lph pump was switching every 5 seconds or so (from memory).

A nifty little idea, but in the marine aquarium hobby at least, which is what they were designed for, they never really took off due to the issues listed above.

Cheers,

Aaron.