1. Aquarium Wave Generator
Project # A
Presented By:
Aaron Goodwin
Mike Pyrkosz
October 14, 2003

2. Water movement is one of the most important requirements for coral health
90 gallon tank shown

3. Water movement is important
Most are sessile animals (attached to rocks)
Moves food past them for capture
Removes waste and allows respiration to occur
Photosynthesis and calcification rates increase

4. Types of Corals
Stony
Ridged calcium skeleton
Require high water flow

5. Types of Corals
Soft
Soft tissue surface
Require low to medium flow

6. Customer Base Amateur Aquarists Pet Stores Public Aquariums
Marine Biologists
Currently 7 million saltwater fish as pets in the U.S. according to the American Pet Product Manufactures Association

7. Customer Requirements
Surveys placed on internet forums used by reef aquarists
Water tight
Reliable
Provide adequate water flow volume and velocity
Mounted outside of aquarium
Generate oscillating laminar flow
Ability to disassemble for cleaning

8. Conceptual Design Process – Rejected Concepts –
Oscillating Paddle
Mounts inside aquarium
Large
Metal components prone to rust
Moving components can fail

9. Conceptual Design Process – Rejected Concepts –
Oscillating Output
Mounts on aquarium lip
Moving parts prone to fail
Random motion instead of oscillatory

10. Conceptual Design Process – Rejected Concepts –
Controller for multiple powerheads
Multiple powerheads inside of aquarium
Cycles powerheads On\Off causing failure
Excess heat transmitted into aquarium water

11. Rotational Diverting Valve
Selected Design
Rotational Diverting Valve
Single inlet
Alternating outlets
Low geared motor drive
Single pump allowed to run continuously

12. Plumbing Schematic Pump Outlet (2 Places) Pump Intake Diverting Valve
Magnetic Drive Pump
Diverting Valve
Pump Intake

13. Expected Performance Water Tight Primary determinant of useful life
All pipe connections will be NPT
Valve driveshaft seal (o’rings)
Targeted useful life to be 2-5 years

14. Expected Performance Make It Adjustable
Different types of corals require different types of motion
Different users will have tanks of varying shapes and sizes
Flow output/direction and wave frequency all need to be adjustable to accommodate different customer needs

15. Expected Performance Easy Installation
User should be able to add device to existing set-up with little difficulty
Device should be small and non-obtrusive
Device should require little in-tank space
Targeted average set-up time 2-6 hours

16. Benchmark SCWD- Switching Current Wave Device
Popular product among most aquarists
Usually priced around $30-$40
Flow alternates by gear mechanism driven by inlet flow rate.

17. SCWD In Operation

18. Proposed Product vs. Benchmark
Can be disassembled for cleaning
Larger passages allow for debris to pass through
Rotational speed of valve is adjustable
Can adapt to different sizes
Longer expected life
No disassembly for cleaning
Gearing is more sensitive to debris
Rotational speed is function of flow rate
Limited to one model with one size inlet/outlet hoses
Limited useful life

19. Budget Actual expense costs : $415.00 Hypothetical
Personnel costs : $22,500.00
Capital costs : $88,000.00
Direct costs : $22,915.00
Indirect costs : $7,561.95
Final total hypothetical budget: $141,391.95

20. Project Timing Test prototype constructed by January 30, 2004
Testing completed by February 13, 2004
Product revisions completed by March 15, 2004
Production / Public release on May 10, 2004

21. Questions?