I have been working on a "simulated_tidal-pool" using a small electronic timer to activate the vacuum-pump and remove the water from the lower aquarium to a tall inverted aquarium.The timer is programmed for 6 hour intervals.
This was prompted by a question from the staff at Eilat's Marine Observatory as to whether "The Romaurie Effect" could be used for this purpose.I am using the process just for providing extra air flow to 1 of my inverted aquariums.
I was so pre-occupied by the "spin-offs" from my R&D that this development in Vietnam really "gob-smacked" me.If you look at the small glass bowls attached to the aquarium sides, you will see 4 small screws which presumably have nuts and washers inside.If you are familiar with the bird drink tube that provides water from an inverted clear plastic container into a small bowl,allowing birds to drink the water and automatically replenish the water from the reserve tube when the "vacuum is broken" by the level in the bowl dropping-----you can see the "link" as to how this fish feeder works.The bowl has to be fixed securely as visitors could "dislodge" the bowl which would slowly but surely empty the whole vacuumed section.
I am grateful to the Vietnam aquarium for "giving me a nod" by including my video and link to "Instructables" where I have posted detailed instructions on how to build an inverted aquarium.
And I in turn give "a nod" to "Bio-Elites" clear plastic tube linking 2 aquariums which was prompted by a 1934 US patent for linking 2 aquariums by a plexiglass tube.Their systems involved filling the clear tube in a bath, closing the ends and then lifting and placing the tube into 2 aquariums.When you open the clear tube, the water remains inside.This prompted me to use a refrigeration vacuum pump and "schreider-valve" to induce the vacuum artificially.The 1st. test was on copper pipes with a small clear plastic tube to indicate when the pipes were full.Problem was it filled so quickly a few liters of water got sucked into the vacuum pump before I managed to shut it off.Spent 3 hours flushing the vac pump with new oil while feeling rather "chuffed" that it had worked and that I could set to work building a glass tunnel.
That's pretty much what got the Romaurie Effect started.
The "bummer" is that someone had a US patent issued in Feb.2005, one year after my tunnel was up and running for "an aquarium enhancement" system using a vacuum.
