Vodkaman Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Looks like the circular tank is comming out on top. There are two proposals for driving it:- A) centre mounted paddle. edge mounted pump. Both will do the job, equally efficiently from a power point of view. But the centre mounted does have a few disadvantages, minor, but worth considering. 1) More work involved. The paddles have to be constructed. 2) a beam will be required to mount a bearing at the top of the paddle spindle. 3) in operation, the paddles will disturb the water close to the test area. The advantage of the centre mounted drive is that a wider selection of motors will be available, which will probably make for a cost saving. Also, with a top mounted motor, no sealing will be required, as the bottom bearing can be wet. Disadvantages of the side mounted bilge pump is cost (no research done, just assumption). Advantages are:- 1) simple construction. 2) the whole drive mechanism is self contained inside the pump housing. 3) sealing is simple, comprising a rubber gasket or sealing compound, to stop leakage. 4) the pump, located at the opposite end of the tank, has minimum possible effect on the test area. Incidently, if the tank was 6 feet diameter and 18 inches deep. The volume of water will be 264 gallons (UK) or 1.2 metre cube. My tap (pretty low pressure) at 23 secs per gal, would take 100 minutes to fill. This thread has been excellent. We have now arrived at a practical, workable solution. Compact, low cost and reasonably storeable in a workshop. I hope someone does build it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Vodkaman, I agree, this has been an excelent thread and agree with 99.9 percent of group conclusions... Does this mean that we won't be going forward with Mini Cooper test tank prototype??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Sacrilege! my favourite car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Oooops. Sorry 'bout that Vman. Replace "Mini Cooper" with VW Bug or Ford Escourt, your pick. And I promise to never use "Mini Cooper" in vain again, unless it's as part of a really funny joke... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass4cache Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I came across this and thought you guys might like to see this test tank, http://www.salmofishing.com/images/content/about_images/about_salmo_testing_700px.jpg http://www.salmofishing.com/about.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 VM – you did not mention another important advantage. – A #### (valve) on the delivery side of the pump can infinitely regulate the flow or circulation speed, simple, no rheostats or gearboxes. 12V bilge pumps cost from $16 for 500GPH (8.3 gal/min) to $52 for 1600GPH (26 gal/min). I’m still not going to build one though! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabasshunter3 Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 I think you could use a red neck test tank that being a plastic kiddy pool with a garden hose duct taped to one side would work great for ya... As for the picture of the test tank that bass4cache attached I think that if you dug up your back yard and cut a section out of your sewer line that would work too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PikeMastaRapp Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Spike-A-Pike that is funny but they are good idea's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Just PM'd VodkaMan about this, I have been working on this idea- 'Every Mans Test Tank', but it's still in my head and am just too lazy to try it out (fear of failure), don't hold your breath as I have about half a dozen other experiments around the shed, in various stages of failure. I like the kiddie pool and hose idea, very inexpensive - but we have pretty severe water restrictions here (drought), buckets only "No hand held hoses"???. pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Pete - Just remember, only 92 days until we have access to an indoor, heated "test tank" in Clinton. So, no worries mate... PikeMastaRapp - Did you think I was just pullin' your chain about taking our "test tank" testing seriously??? NEVER!!! (figure that one out) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
