Recent content by jsilver

You could use sprinkler valves except there would be a few concerns: 1) I think they have metal parts in them. 2) They're pretty low quality and not meant to be activated as often as you'd want them to be in a circulation system. 3) Since they're just on and off, if one fails to open or it's...

Yes, as stated, this would be a closed loop, so there are no power-out siphon problems... the concept is well tested... just not with DIY actuators. z8askooter, good point about the static friction. Perhaps the way around that, as you stated, is a more torquey motor, or using smaller ball...

seven ephors, Thanks for the flow data, although I'm sure that's gph instead of gpm right? Actually that's much more flow than I thought it would be. I might be able to get away using a 3/4" valve and that would put less stress on my motor... may I ask what the conversion formula is (or...

Thanks for the comments so far guys... here's some comments... >>Had it been me I would have just gone and bought an actuated valve - I know they're really expensive but it would work without 200 hours of effort . Yeah, I know how you feel! This project should take maybe 10 hours at most...

>>Does the 3 way valve give you 3 separate outlets? No. One inlet, and a "choice" between two outlets. >>Is there only one outlet open at a time (mostly)? Not really... while the valve is being turned between one outlet and another, you get a proportional "mixture" of the two outlets so the...

This is a cross-post with the DIY forum. _________________________________ Hi everyone... this is my first post in these groups and I hope it gets some replies. It's a long post but please hang on! I'm in the planning stages of a reef tank and am looking into ways to make some current in my...

Hi everyone... this is my first post in these groups and I hope it gets some replies. It's a long post but please hang on! I'm in the planning stages of a reef tank and am looking into ways to make some current in my future aquarium. I know about surge tanks, those rotating heads you can put on...