How Is It Done?

[SkiFletch]

Well there are air-only check valves out there... That way you could setup the check valve at the top of the tank and hook it up to a vaccum... That way when the check valve dries out, it pulls air out the top, but not water. Would prolly be noisy as heck but would work.

 

[Danno]

And then the electricity goes out! Ahhh hahahha! I throw water on you! Ha hah!

 

[SkiFletch]

And then the electricity goes out! Ahhh hahahha! I throw water on you! Ha hah!

lol, but if you use a check valve or have the top sealed the water says up there Has to be displaced by something...

 

[jgray152]

I so want to build one now.

 

[jgray152]

Thats very interesting.

so you would use something like this. Except you would need more specs on the pump.

 

[jgray152]

I found out what pump the guy is using. Its a Huaykiaen 309.

You can search on youtube and search for ROMAURIE EFFECT

 

[Romaurie]

but there IS air in there. he has airstones in them. i know how a vacuum works..without air.
that's the point of my post. i am asking how this is possible WITH a continuous airflow, as shown in these videos.

O.K. If you must have an air stone in the system, a small electric float switch has to be fitted inside the "vacuumed" part of the aquarium.This switches the vacuum pump on and off by way of a small load relay. This can also be used to simulate "tidal changes" in a rock-pool/high water system.
I say "if you must have an air stone" 'cause as a fish enters the vacuumed section it displaces its volume of water into the lower tank. When it leaves, the water flows in to replace its volume. So the fishes movement effectively provide aireation to the vacuumed section by osmatic transfer from the "open section" of the aquarium.
I would like to know how the type of pump was dicovered as "Mr.Ho" shows no view of the "mechanics" of his "Fishfreedom" system.
If you check on "youTube" The Romaurie Effect: Genesis, you will see how I and my son constructed the original vacuumed tunnel and tested it. Its an ongoing project. The flow switch I mention is used to control water flow in cold water dispensers. Rather expensive if you want to buy 1, but cheap for the companies that manufacture water coolers.

Romaurie. {Laurie}

 

[SJ2K]

Impressive and beyond my scientific knowledge.

 

[edgelgil]

I would bet the little dog houses on top of the two tanks are the key to the question.
The dog houses hold the air pumps and a small sump station that allows for the injection of air and then pumped back into the tank. I guess someone could always contact the producer of such a display and simply ask for the makings.

Maximo

 

[Romaurie]

I would bet the little dog houses on top of the two tanks are the key to the question.
The dog houses hold the air pumps and a small sump station that allows for the injection of air and then pumped back into the tank. I guess someone could always contact the producer of such a display and simply ask for the makings.

Maximo

I have sent e-mails to Mr.Ho, the producer of the "Fishfreedom" system but have no reply. From the outside it appears to have the same function as the "Romaurie Effect", but if you observe the speed at which the air bubbles ascend, it suggests there is a strong circulating pump. I have tried to get this to work with a 5000lt/hr water pump forcing water from the lower tank into the upper tank with a "non-return" "clapper-valve" in the top. It produces excellent water circulation in the upper tank, but does not pass thru the non-return valve. Now I know there are water pumps available, that self-prime and will suck water thru a 6" pipe to a height of 30 feet. But these pumps are collosal! Not to mention the power consumption. {and "her indoors" would be extremely niggled if I set that up} So, as I suspect "her indoors" used to be a " test pilot in a broom factory", I'll give that approach a knock on the head.
However, if you go to "youTube" "romaurie Effect-rebuild " you will see the current set-up and how it works. {nothing hidden in a "dog-house"}
Romaurie.

 

[Tommy Gun]

This is an interesting topic! I once came across this video, or one very similar to it on another non-aquarium related forum and I thought it was explained....but can't remember exactly how it goes other than it may be similar to one of those aquarium bridges, like the one you can see by clicking HERE.

Anyways, I am sure I am wrong, but I remember something about submerging the tank upside down in another tank which is full of water, then pumping the air out of the upside down tank, which creates the vacuum needed to pull the water up and keeps it there...but if the seal is broken (e.g. because of evaporation), then all that water falls back down. I also thought that the air bubbles were actually carrying food or something....and the reason for how quickly they ascend is due to the powerful vacuum that is created since air is lighter than water. Perhaps the air pump is needed to continually remove the air. I will have to see if that forum I was one way back when is still around or archived.

I did just test that theory out though....I placed an empty cup in a sink full of water, submerged the whole thing while it was right side up (so no air is trapped) and then turned it over and tried to pull it out of the water....it is hard to pull out and for a split second, it did look like some water was still in the cup above the water line. Could this be how it is done...or at least partly (and with the aid of some pumps, air or otherwise)?

 

[Romaurie]

This is an interesting topic! I once came across this video, or one very similar to it on another non-aquarium related forum and I thought it was explained....but can't remember exactly how it goes other than it may be similar to one of those aquarium bridges, like the one you can see by clicking HERE.

Anyways, I am sure I am wrong, but I remember something about submerging the tank upside down in another tank which is full of water, then pumping the air out of the upside down tank, which creates the vacuum needed to pull the water up and keeps it there...but if the seal is broken (e.g. because of evaporation), then all that water falls back down. I also thought that the air bubbles were actually carrying food or something....and the reason for how quickly they ascend is due to the powerful vacuum that is created since air is lighter than water. Perhaps the air pump is needed to continually remove the air. I will have to see if that forum I was one way back when is still around or archived.

I did just test that theory out though....I placed an empty cup in a sink full of water, submerged the whole thing while it was right side up (so no air is trapped) and then turned it over and tried to pull it out of the water....it is hard to pull out and for a split second, it did look like some water was still in the cup above the water line. Could this be how it is done...or at least partly (and with the aid of some pumps, air or otherwise)?

Try that test with a glass, you will see the glass is full until its open end leaves the water. The resistance you feel is the force of the vacuum. What I am doing with my glass tunnel is removing the air with a vacuum pump so the water is not so much "sucked" in as flowing in to replace the vacuum.
The advantage of the vacuum pump system is that you are not limited by size. Imagine trying to lift a 50 liter or more plastic tunnel, inverting it and placing each end into the aquariums. You then have to un-screw the plastic caps that keep the water in untill the entry points are underwater.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Try that test with a glass, you will see the glass is full until its open end leaves the water. The resistance you feel is the force of the vacuum. What I am doing with my glass tunnel is removing the air with a vacuum pump so the water is not so much "sucked" in as flowing in to replace the vacuum.
The advantage of the vacuum pump system is that you are not limited by size. Imagine trying to lift a 50 liter or more plastic tunnel, inverting it and placing each end into the aquariums. You then have to un-screw the plastic caps that keep the water in untill the entry points are underwater.

I guess by 'cup', I really meant glass and yes, found the same thing to be true. I understand the principles of a vacuum and a siphon. So you know how to do this then? It was confirmed to me today from a friend...actually an old science teacher of mine...that it is the same thing, more or less, as the water bridge. If one of my FW tanks wasn't so much taller than the other, I would give that water bridge a try in a heartbeat. How cool would it be if it my fish could pass over my head while I am watching TV??? Uh oh...I can see this project starting to form already. Think my wife would let me justify another big tank just for this purpose???

 

[Romaurie]

Try that test with a glass, you will see the glass is full until its open end leaves the water. The resistance you feel is the force of the vacuum. What I am doing with my glass tunnel is removing the air with a vacuum pump so the water is not so much "sucked" in as flowing in to replace the vacuum.
The advantage of the vacuum pump system is that you are not limited by size. Imagine trying to lift a 50 liter or more plastic tunnel, inverting it and placing each end into the aquariums. You then have to un-screw the plastic caps that keep the water in untill the entry points are underwater.

I guess by 'cup', I really meant glass and yes, found the same thing to be true. I understand the principles of a vacuum and a siphon. So you know how to do this then? It was confirmed to me today from a friend...actually an old science teacher of mine...that it is the same thing, more or less, as the water bridge. If one of my FW tanks wasn't so much taller than the other, I would give that water bridge a try in a heartbeat. How cool would it be if it my fish could pass over my head while I am watching TV??? Uh oh...I can see this project starting to form already. Think my wife would let me justify another big tank just for this purpose???

Perhaps I didn't make it clear in my reply. And as I am still trying to figure out how you made that clever link "NEXT" to the South African Doctor who made the acrylic waterbridge that I saw some 4 years ago now : sent him a couple of e-mails with my idea to put a "ventil" in the center of it and got no reply, I built one in glass. So, untill my son explains how you made that link, go to "youTube" "Romaurie Effect", where you will see 3 of these systems in my garden that I spend most of my free time "playing" with.
Glass is much better long term than plastic. You can give the design to a good glazier and have him build it. I just order the glass and assemble it myself. What would be usefull, though, would be to locate a company that produces "extruded plastic" tube and have them make a version of this in one piece. The non-return valve is home made, it could then be sold over the counter in an aquarium shop, ready-made for anyone to connect 2 aquariums together.They would just need to contact a refrigeration service engineer to make the vacuum for them.
Romaurie.

 

[Tommy Gun]

And as I am still trying to figure out how you made that clever link "NEXT" to the South African Doctor....So, untill my son explains how you made that link...

If you mean the link I made by using the word HERE, doing so is pretty easy....just copy the address to the page you want to use, type out the word or phrase (e.g. HERE), highlight it, and then press that button in the reply box toolbar that looks like a 3D green plus sign (+); a box should pop up (might have to approve the use of a scripted window....or at least I do - which I would like to know how to change that setting so I am not prompted all of the time, if anyone knows) where you can simply paste that website address and click "OK"...poof, your done.

I realize that the coincidence which must be involved in your replying to this topic under your screen name is less than ironic, but wasn't going to assume that you are an expert or know alot about these set-ups; so I asked if you knew about them just to be sure. Hopefully that hasn't made me look too dumb yet 8) I will check out those videos right now.