How Does This Tank Work?!

[SimonSays]

I was browsing through youtube a came across these tanks that suction/water, air pressure, to make this amazing tank.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=5InNVJ_Ythc

Any one have any idea what's needed to build a tank like this? pumps etc? I have no idea how he's able to add air in with an air stone while maintaining the water level.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Wow!!! That's so cool.

My guess is this:

Top tank bottom rim below water level on base tank by a couple of inches. Two identical air pumps, one pump removing air from the top tank at exactly the same rate as the other pumps air into it through the airstone. Switch the top one on first in order to fill the top tank (water would rise up to fill the vacuum, right?) then switch the bottom pump with airstone on to maintain water level.

And I guess that the base tank has high enough sides to hold all the water from the top tank as well, just in case one pump and all the water splooshes back down again -- not much of a margin for error otherwise!

 

[SimonSays]

Yea, it looks great, doesn't it? I wanted to try out a smaller version of the tank for a nice little fountain/fish tank near my front door. The pump to create the suction has to be pretty strong in that tank to be able to hold up 30 some gallons, any ideas where i could get a pump like that?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Sorry mate, I'm no expert... only got a teeny tank myself!

Maybe you could bodge something out of a pond filter? They've got to be pretty powerful to move all that water around. I guess you could test the capacity of a pump to do this by using plastic storage containers etc before you actually committed yourself to glass. You might find that the fiddle music on that clip was to disguise the unholy racket two massive pumps make though!

I'm SO intrigued by this now... maybe I could make a mini version on my 5g hex with like an upside-down vase or something coming thru the hood!!! Like an "observation deck" for the guppies!!!

There must be someone else on the forums who can help you out with sourcing the pump etc... come on, you guys!!!

 

[The-Wolf]

it is the same principle as lifting an upturned glass out of water,
the water stays in the glass until you bring the glass above the water line and
the surface tension is broken, then gravity takes over.

 

[Lateral Line]

it is the same principle as lifting an upturned glass out of water,

More to it then that. If it were just that, the air from the airstone would displace the water eventually emptying the upright completely and bubbling out around the edge, assuming the upright wasn't destabilised and fall over.

Two identical air pumps, one pump removing air from the top tank at exactly the same rate as the other pumps air into it through the airstone.

I wondered about a single airpump which was not pumping air from the environment, but was getting it's air from the space at the top of the upright. In that way, there is no balancing needed. The air bubbling up through the tank is returned to the pump, thus is actually a closed circuit.

I was concerned however, that the air at the top of the upright would be at a very low pressure, (Torricellian vacuum), and hence a regular airpump would not work. There are pumps that would do it of course, and if the chap has the cash to flash, why not?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

I wondered about a single airpump which was not pumping air from the environment, but was getting it's air from the space at the top of the upright. In that way, there is no balancing needed. The air bubbling up through the tank is returned to the pump, thus is actually a closed circuit.

*slaps forehead* Yeeesss... one pump would make more sense I suppose!

Didn't pay enough attention in Science to know what a Torricellian vacuum is... does this mean that the low pressure would be the limiting factor on how much higher than water level on base tank the upright tank could be? So if you had one that sat, say, 60cm out of the water, the pressure would be twice as low as the pressure at the top of on that was 30cm out & your pump would have to be twice as powerful?

 

[SimonSays]

Yea, I was planning to try this with a small 5 gallon and a 10 gallon at first to see how it would turn out, the 1 pump thing would work, but like others say you need a pretty powerful one to be able to hold the water up.

still trying to figure out a pump that would do this.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Maybe a water feature pump? http/www.pumpexpress.co.uk/acatalog/wate...express_37.html

Or a swimming pool pump?

 

[tropical55]

In simple terms the top tank cannot drain water out without filling with something in the space of the water. If there was a hole at the top it would fill with air. What I'm trying to figure out is the air pump thats in there. The air must gather at the top of that tank and slowly empty the top.
By the way, I'm a newb to this site.

 

[bubblesburst80]

that is one amazing tank!

xXX

 

[Fatty]

that is one amazing tank!

xXX

I'm sceptical myself, I reckon it's just a tank dropped in another, the amount of power required to pull air from the top of that tank to just bubble up inside. hmm, I think if it were what it claims to be the guy would never have bothered with the air bubbles rising in the tank.

If it is real then good one, but I'm not sure!

 

[Rooster]

Bit of kidology going on here, methinks....

 

[andywg]

I note you never see the top of the top tank. Wonder why.

 

[Rooster]

Look familiar ???

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_uG3PIuEsU...ted&search=

and

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLS8WNsnIho...ser&search=

Gets through some fish - doesnt he ! ROFL .... They are short term setups - I guess they (or IT) only exists for the time it takes to film it.