Tide Simulator?

I have an idea.

Green Line is High tide drain, which is connected by a bulkhead through the tank and down to the sump.

Blue line is the low water level drain down to the sump. The gray box in the line is an electric sprinkler valve which can be attached to a timer or controller to allow the water level to drop to low tide zone when it is open and flowing. Something like this Orbit 1 in. NPT Green Jar Top Valve - 57461 at The Home Depot

The Red line is the return to the tank, which can be configured in a few ways to prevent splashing when the tide is low.

Just a quick idea, I could really see it working.




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Following...what I was thinking would be two return pumps one small running all the time and one larger to raise the water level both pulling from same sump. Could potentially have them come through the same outlet in the tank if you wye it and through check valves in them. Or you could only use one and turn it off and on...would be the simplest. That would effectively create a tide pool.

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Ever smell your tank when you drain it? It's not a great odor.

 

lol. Now I get it. But the tank will never be fully drained. Low tide will be about one quarter to half full.

 

Neither is the low tide zone LOL

 

This should work...left to right are: return, low tide overflow, high tide overflow. To limit the noise at low tide, loc-line will be aimed below the water level.

I like the idea of two pumps going to the return line. One will always be on. The other will be on a timer...it's all 3/4" plumbing.

 

Way to show my simple drawing up. Lol.

 

Thanks for the skematic. I like the idea of the sprinkler . That would kind of create a wave effect. I'll look into that.

 

haha. I had to see for myself. :

 

Now how strong of pumps should I use? They wouldn't need to be much, but it will be about 3' of head pressure.