Geosapper - Page 3

Dwayne · 09/21/2003, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by darrellh
The Geosapper looks like a great idea. Thanks for sharing your ingenuity with the masses. I had a question about the phytoplankton. Does the phyto have to be live, or can it be the frozen concetrate form like Brine Shrimps Direct's Tahitian Blend?

Thanks.

The phyto can be any type that works. Not meaning that in a 'smart' way, but all is good as long as the zooplankton is mulitplying.

FWIW

Dwayne

RogueCorps · 09/23/2003, 04:06 PM

Hey Dwayne,

I use Carlson type surges on my nano tanks and you and George's Geosapper is quite a cool application of them.

I realize the drip and surge rates will vary on the application, but could you describe the rates of drip and surge on your system and approximately how long that volume of phytoplankton lasts before refilling?

Also when stage 2 surges, is it usual that stage 3 will fire directly after it or does it take a number of surges from stage 2 to make stage 3 surge?

I guess live phytoplankton is the way to go since it's already at room temperature. Instant algae and Tahitian Blend need to be kept refrigerated. As long as the phyto could be kept in good shape I could see enlarging stage 1 for longer running periods, and maybe for Tahitian Blend a small IceProbe chiller could be added as well.

Truly a very cool design and excellent fabrication from your buddy George. Great job!

-Rogue

Dwayne · 09/23/2003, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RogueCorps
I realize the drip and surge rates will vary on the application, but could you describe the rates of drip and surge on your system and approximately how long that volume of phytoplankton lasts before refilling?

I have adjusted it to last for roughly a 24hr period.

Quote:

Also when stage 2 surges, is it usual that stage 3 will fire directly after it or does it take a number of surges from stage 2 to make stage 3 surge?

The unit I have is set up so Stage 3 goes right after Stage 2. It would be possible to change the set up to require mulitple Stage 2 surges prior to Stage 3 surging. This is done by adjusting the 'length' of the the bend in the surge tube. Making Stage 3 larger than Stage 2 will require more Stage 2 surges prior to Stage 3 surging.

Thanks

Dwayne

nameless · 05/18/2004, 01:50 PM

This may be the dumbest question ever, but I'm new to DIY, so I'm going to ask anyway.

With the surge tube having a downward bend like that, how does the siphon get 'reestablished' after it breaks at the end of a surge?

Also, what percentage of each holding area do you 'surge' out? In the plans, it looks like about half, but I wasn't sure if that was just for plan purposes....

No one has posted on this thread in a long time. Are people that used this still using it? Is it working?

Dwayne · 05/18/2004, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nameless
With the surge tube having a downward bend like that, how does the siphon get 'reestablished' after it breaks at the end of a surge?

The surge will restart once the water level rises above the bend.

Quote:

Also, what percentage of each holding area do you 'surge' out? In the plans, it looks like about half, but I wasn't sure if that was just for plan purposes....

The length of the bend determines the amount that is surged out. In particular the length of the downward pointing piece. The water has to drop below that to break the siphon. This is one way of determining the amount that is actually surged.

Quote:

No one has posted on this thread in a long time. Are people that used this still using it? Is it working?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I am. Yes, it works wonderful.

Dwayne

Submarine_Street · 05/24/2004, 11:13 PM

Hello, I have just saw your Geosapper today on Reefkeeping Online and I was extremely amazed by your idea. Earlier you said in the third chamber the brine shimps have to be always refilled. I was wondering would there be another type of culture that can substitue the brine shimp in the third chamber but doesn't have to be refilled and would constantly reproduce like the copepods?

nameless · 05/25/2004, 08:43 AM

maybe mysis?

Submarine_Street · 05/25/2004, 10:58 AM

I guess that could work, to tell you the truth I'm just a big lazy noob when it comes to cuture, that's why Dwayne's invention got my attention since it saves of time and work.

Thanks for the advice.

Dwayne · 05/26/2004, 06:16 PM

Mysis might not reproduce fast enough. Whatever is used in the second and third chambers will need to reproduce quickly.

Let us know if you try something different and your results.

Submarine_Street · 06/02/2004, 02:54 PM

Oh darn, if I find something that can keep on reproduce I'll let you know.

Sparky0028 · 06/24/2004, 07:08 AM

Great idea but I have a quick question, how often do you have to refill the second and third section.
Rich

Dwayne · 06/25/2004, 10:09 AM

Refilling any of the chambers will be dependent on the size of the Geosapper and the frequency of the surges. It is possible to have the second chamber, when used as described for rotifers, maintain a sufficient level by itself. This means you only have to add baby brine to the 3rd section and phyto to the first.

Dwayne

jonny1972 · 07/10/2004, 08:56 PM

Don't mean to but in but I am any way...lol. The company I work for can order this tubing through a plastics dealer. I'm going to build it and scrap the Coke bottles. Thanks for the idea Dwayne

Also about how much did it cost to build if you don't mind me asking?

norfolkgarden · 03/16/2019, 11:22 AM

Ah, the wonders of internet search. In 2019 I run across this thread.

It looked like a fantastic product.

Geos reef is still up and running and looks like it serves up some amazing and beautifully detailed items.

The idea of mixing phyto and pods and baby brine shrimp and semi auto feeding it on a random schedule sounds fantastic.

The geosapper is not listed in their catalog. Searching their site under geosapper or surge feeder produces no results.

Was it price to buy, ease of use, further refinements under a new name?

Is anyone still using this product or a similar one?

Thank you
Matt

05/26/2004, 06:16 PM	#59
Dwayne Protector of Diver Dan Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Minneapolis, MN - Land of the Frozen Reef Posts: 2,478	Mysis might not reproduce fast enough. Whatever is used in the second and third chambers will need to reproduce quickly. Let us know if you try something different and your results. __________________ SPS - Reactor media waiting to happen. "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 125

06/25/2004, 10:09 AM	#62
Dwayne Protector of Diver Dan Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Minneapolis, MN - Land of the Frozen Reef Posts: 2,478	Refilling any of the chambers will be dependent on the size of the Geosapper and the frequency of the surges. It is possible to have the second chamber, when used as described for rotifers, maintain a sufficient level by itself. This means you only have to add baby brine to the 3rd section and phyto to the first. Dwayne __________________ SPS - Reactor media waiting to happen. "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 125

07/10/2004, 08:56 PM	#63
jonny1972 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 148	Don't mean to but in but I am any way...lol. The company I work for can order this tubing through a plastics dealer. I'm going to build it and scrap the Coke bottles. Thanks for the idea Dwayne Also about how much did it cost to build if you don't mind me asking? __________________ As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death. Leonardo da Vinci Current Tank Info: 12 gal. nano, PC lighting, LR, LPS, SPS, soft corals

09/23/2003, 04:06 PM	#52
RogueCorps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 247	Hey Dwayne, I use Carlson type surges on my nano tanks and you and George's Geosapper is quite a cool application of them. I realize the drip and surge rates will vary on the application, but could you describe the rates of drip and surge on your system and approximately how long that volume of phytoplankton lasts before refilling? Also when stage 2 surges, is it usual that stage 3 will fire directly after it or does it take a number of surges from stage 2 to make stage 3 surge? I guess live phytoplankton is the way to go since it's already at room temperature. Instant algae and Tahitian Blend need to be kept refrigerated. As long as the phyto could be kept in good shape I could see enlarging stage 1 for longer running periods, and maybe for Tahitian Blend a small IceProbe chiller could be added as well. Truly a very cool design and excellent fabrication from your buddy George. Great job! -Rogue

05/18/2004, 01:50 PM	#54
nameless Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 182	This may be the dumbest question ever, but I'm new to DIY, so I'm going to ask anyway. With the surge tube having a downward bend like that, how does the siphon get 'reestablished' after it breaks at the end of a surge? Also, what percentage of each holding area do you 'surge' out? In the plans, it looks like about half, but I wasn't sure if that was just for plan purposes.... No one has posted on this thread in a long time. Are people that used this still using it? Is it working?

05/24/2004, 11:13 PM	#56
Submarine_Street Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 83	Hello, I have just saw your Geosapper today on Reefkeeping Online and I was extremely amazed by your idea. Earlier you said in the third chamber the brine shimps have to be always refilled. I was wondering would there be another type of culture that can substitue the brine shimp in the third chamber but doesn't have to be refilled and would constantly reproduce like the copepods?

05/25/2004, 08:43 AM	#57
nameless Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 182	maybe mysis?

05/25/2004, 10:58 AM	#58
Submarine_Street Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 83	I guess that could work, to tell you the truth I'm just a big lazy noob when it comes to cuture, that's why Dwayne's invention got my attention since it saves of time and work. Thanks for the advice.

06/02/2004, 02:54 PM	#60
Submarine_Street Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 83	Oh darn, if I find something that can keep on reproduce I'll let you know.

06/24/2004, 07:08 AM	#61
Sparky0028 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 300	Great idea but I have a quick question, how often do you have to refill the second and third section. Rich

03/16/2019, 11:22 AM	#64
norfolkgarden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA Posts: 258	Ah, the wonders of internet search. In 2019 I run across this thread. It looked like a fantastic product. Geos reef is still up and running and looks like it serves up some amazing and beautifully detailed items. The idea of mixing phyto and pods and baby brine shrimp and semi auto feeding it on a random schedule sounds fantastic. The geosapper is not listed in their catalog. Searching their site under geosapper or surge feeder produces no results. Was it price to buy, ease of use, further refinements under a new name? Is anyone still using this product or a similar one? Thank you Matt