I need a electrition for a DIY idea

So I am building a new tank, i would like to build this system to have zero power heads. My sump return will be plumed to 4 directional return heads and my refugium will be plummed to an additional 4 return heads. There will be 2 external pumps. 1 for the sump and 1 for the refuge. I would like to make the current alternate, but the only wave makers and controllers I can find only make waves with powerheads. I could set a controller to turn off one of the pumps temperarily, but then the water level in the sump would rise to high and overflow.

My idea would be a automatic gate valve. something I could hook up to each return line. Since there will be one pipe comeing from the pump and branching off to 4 return lines. If there was a electronic gate valve that I could hook up to a timer to have one close for a few seconds, then open while the next one closes and so on. That should give me the same gph because when one return line closes the others will be come stronger.

What do you guys think? Is there anything I can do, or am I a idiot and should just use power heads?

If the power head route is the only way to make waves, what ones should I use with a Digital Aquatics ReefKeeper Elite Controller. Except the vortech because I don't want to sell a kidney to get them?I saw this
Red Sea Wavemaster Pro Wavemaker but don't think it will work with the 2 main pumps

 

I think there is a mechanical device which does just that?

Otherwise look into some garden sprinkler equiptment. They usually run on water pressure alone and have crude timing and switching mechanisms in them.



Otherwise if you find a suitable electronically controlled valve it could be done with some fairly straight forward components.

Im happy to help with the circuit design though

 

SCWD—Squid—Wavemaker
this is what i was thinking of

 

How about this?
Oceans Motions

 

Theres also Oceansmotion or something like that. PM Otty, he knows what they are called, he has it. There are ours that have it too, maybe they can chime in and post the correct spelling and a link.



Luna

 

There you go, thanks Matt



Luna

 

I am ahead of you Luna. I should be sleeping lol.

 

LMAO........but you came in at a prefect time. Sounds like your a night owl.........lol


Luna

 

Great thanks. The oceans motion is a bit on the pricy side. I may go with the super squirt and just have the sumps reurn be the wave maker. Then the refugiums return will just be constant flow. Or that scwd seems like it could work. If I got 4 of those then all the return heads would be alternating currents. 4 of the scwd would cost the same amount as one of of the OM's.

i am going to run by home depot tomarro and see what i can find

 

I would highly recommend against the SCWD wavemaker. They are very prone to getting clogged up and when they do, you will end up with a burned up pump and flooded floor from an overflowed sump.