Pipeline Fish Tank
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- Date: Dec 22,2007
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88 Responses for "Pipeline Fish Tank"
That is pretty friggin’ awesome… How does it stay up in there? water usually falls to the lowest path of least resistance, right? I would think that it would just fall out of the pipeline back into the tanks causing them to overflow… is it pumped into the pipeline? or is it just a fluke of physics that make it work?
Have you ever filled a glass, submerged it, flipped it over, and lifted it? This is same thing.
I do wonder however, if the resulting low pressure at the top affects the fish.
It’s basic physics - the water will only fall if there’s something to take its place. In this case there isn’t - it’s a perfect seal, so no air can get in. You can demonstrate this yourself - just take any glass and dunk it in water until it’s full. Then turn it upside-down, and bring it straight up out of the water. The glass will remain full until the brim comes out of the water, letting air in. Sucking soda through a straw is also this principal at work.
Yeah, I don’t understand this either for some reason. I also think the water would fall right out or, unless the fish tanks were sealed, or there is some advanced knowledge of pressure going on here, Will have to test it…
Kelwin, it has to do with the vapour pressure of water. In order for the water to flow out of the top “pipeline” section, it would have to leave an area with no liquid in it, just water vapour. But at room temperature water wants to stay a liquid, and the attraction between the water molecules is much stronger than the gravity pulling them down.
No laws of physics broken. The water stays in the square pipe the same way five gallons of water stays in the water dispencer. Atmospheric pressure holds it in … as long as there’s no leakage of air into it. Glug glug every time someone takes a drink. They have to make sure the water level doesn’t get below the exit into the tank. Except that I can’t figure out how they got it in there to begin with.
@Kelwin: I was wondering the same thing. If you pump the excess water into the top then the fish won’t be able to swim up there because of the water flowing downwards at high speed, thus rendering your pipeline useless…
I would assume the water stays in there because the whole system is pressurized. That is the only way I would imagine it is possible.
Uhh, yeah…this doesn’t seem physically possible.
The air is pumped out of the tube, which allows water to completely fill the tube. It is the atmospheric pressure within the tanks that holds the water there (this is the same principal by which a straw works)
I agree, how does it work? Gravity would have the water flow down from the pipes and overflow the tanks. Unless it was a sealed system? Which by the looks of the standard looking tank lid and the water level in the closeup shot, it can’t be sealed? Can it???
Yeah, its all Physics. My Physics prof has something like this in our classroom. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe it all works on suction. As long as there is no hole or leak in the tube system, the tanks on either sides keep the water in it through suction. Keep in mind that, for the water to run out of the tube, something needs to replace it. And since the water in the system is of equal weight, you would need somehow get a gas (easiest to picture) into one end freely.
Basically acts like a pulley, with two weights on each end, of exactly the same weight.
i’m not sure exactly what its called, or any of the specific rules, but the same basic idea of a vacuum can be demonstrated with a cup and a sink full of water.
fill the cup up underwater, and lift it out closed side up.
the water will stay in the cup and not fall out until air finds its way into the cup.
i would assume that this operates on the same principle.
So cool. Same question as the other post. Do you use large pumps to avoid tank overflow? This is giving me ideas.
What I love is that the fish have a huge place to swim in, variety and excitement, unlike most fish palaces they are dull and uninteresting and the fish die of boredom! Great to see!
It’s a Siphon. Clever, nice acrylic work. Do you have an air escape at the highest point to remove rouge air bubbles? What about an overflow in the two 55gals to allow for circulating water flow?
It’s simple fluid dynamics. The pressure is lower at the top. It would not affect the fish too much. Imagine it being a crappy day, the atmospheric pressure is lower, and that doesn’t kill you.
also look at the fish. They are designed to take major pressure differences. Going a depth of about 15-20 meters of water will double the atmospheric pressure (if not, it’s less, i can’t remember my numbers off-hand.)
It appears only to be about 5-6 feet off the level of the water in the open tanks, so applying fluid dynamic properties P(a)-Density of the water*height=P(b). Pb is the pressure of the water at the top of the pipeline. so assume it is about 15psi(regular atmospheric pressure) and density of water is about 0.036 lbs/CI. This would result in 15lbs/in^2-0.036lbs/in^3*6ft*12in=P(b). One of the inches cancels in the density resulting in PSI, and you arrive at about 12.5 psi.
I doubt a change in 2.5 psi is going to kill or harm a fish, considering we experience much more of a change just flying a plane, or diving in water a few feet.
It’s physics and fluid dynamics. Simple stuff.
My step son had an idea of a fishtank that goes around the room, he’s 13. guess it’s not a new idea, but, a good one.
This is just a big siphon. Atmospheric pressure at work.
One tank is slightly higher than the other and I imagine the pump to go from the low tank to the higher one is probably downstairs.
My guess is to set it up, first they filled the pipe on the ground with the open ends facing up. Then with 5 or 6 people or some fancy rigging, they put both ends of the pipe in the 2 tanks at the same time and lifted it into place.
Nice!
Ok, so I understand the principle with still water now… I still dun see how it would work with a fish tank without there being a TON of extra work involved… fish tanks normally have aeration and cleansing filters; I would think both of those would cause an interruption of the physical properties described above… so, if those two things were left out to enable the physics, then cleaning the system would be hellish… still, looks very cool…
what would Micheal Jackson do?
The two fish tanks (there’s one at each end of the pipe) are just normal open tanks. They would have the filters & aeration in there, just like a normal tank. If they needed to change the water they would just have to pump water out of one tank and pump fresh water back in — making sure that the water doesn’t level fall below the end of the pipes (otherwise air would get in, gravity would take over & water would empty out of the pipes & go everywhere!!). And you couldn’t have an ‘air escape’ at the highest point — that would let air in.
Was this a product of a individual or is there a company who specialize in this kind of design? As a nuclear engineering student I’m almost attracted to build such a cool science contraption! My only question would be if one would need to worry about salinity… if going for oceanic fish?
fascinating…i wonder how many fish are there? its all over the restaurant… just thinking how will they clean the tank.. hehehe! just kidding
I reckon its cruel because the fish would probably get crounded if another came the other way
So cool.
Um….. Jimmy…
Look at Pic #2 and 5, both have two fish swimming side-by-side. There is enough room so they wont get ‘crounded’ which I can only guess means ‘cornered’ in English.
For those that dont understand how it works, put simply, just imagine all the air pressure from the whole room that is pushing down on the water in the tanks, that is what is holding up the water in the tubes. Its also why you couldnt have an air release hole at the top like one person said, that would result in the equal air pressure in the room to also be pushing at the top resulting in the water to escape through the top of the tanks and overflowing.
only problem is… Fish are too stupid to realize they can use this tube to move between tanks. I’ve seen a smaller version in action: Two 20 gal tanks joined by a short tube of 1 foot. The fish never crossed over on purpose, and would often sit in the tunnel, just chilling, not realizing it connected to another open area.
For those of you who dont get this, please return to 6th grade science class.
To set this up, you need to secure the pipe in place (it will be very heavy with water in it), place both ends of the acrylic piping in the two aquariums filled with water, attach a vacuum pump at the highest point of the pipe (soewhere around the ceiling) and start pumping the air out, while adding water to the aquariums. At no time should you suck the air out faster than water is added to the tanks or you get a mini shower. When all the air is sucked out, you seal the valve pon top and water will stay in the pipe. As long as the water in aquariums is covering the bottom of the piping it all works.
How do you clean it ? You do not have problems with algaes inside the pipes ?
Nah mate.
It’s English.
It is atmospheric pressure on either/both fish tanks. The tanks do have to be at exactly the same level though. Or, more correctly, the water level in the two tanks will be at the same level. If they weren’t before they were connected with tube, they would equalize (one is not higher than the other). Anybody who has gotten scuba certification can tell you, 32 feet of vertical water equals one atmosphere of pressure; or conversely, 1 atmosphere of pressure on the surface of the tank water, will hold up 32 feet water in a closed tube. Higher than 32 feet, the water will pull down. Same principle holds up the nominal 29 inches of mercury in a mercury tube barometer. You could actually have the tanks at different levels and have it operate as a siphon as long as you kept pumping water out of the lower tank into the upper tank.
Either that or crowded…
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That’s going to be hell to clean
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It’s the same principal as a syphon people! Sheesh! As long as both tanks are level, and the tube is charged properly, the water level will stay consistent. It’s very basic physics. What is interesting though is that it appears that the volume of the syphon tube is more than that of the corresponding tanks. If it ever springs a leak, even a pinhole, all of the water in the syphon would flood the tanks a everything else. Strange, cool, but strange……
You could also put a valve in the upper middle, then use it to depressurize the tube sucking the water up. Assuming you had some minions on bucket/hose duty at the tanks. Always pays to have a couple minions around.
If a fish drops dead at the highest point or hardest to reach point, how do they get it out?
If you pumped water from one of the base tanks to the other, you would generate flow through the acrylic structure. This could keep the water oxygenated and from stagnating. Further, if you have a high-point sealed ‘well’ at the top of the acrylic structure, you could create a place for bubbles to accumulate, those could be pumped out This would also be the way to fill the structure, dip both ends of the structure in water, and then pump the air out from the top using a 1-way valve, like a straw, drawing water up. Too cool.
how do you feed them
I would guess they filled it by tilting the tanks a bit, letting it rest on the ground at an angle, fill it with water while the openings are at the highest level, then when it’s full raising it all up.
I’m also assuming that some thought went into the aeration system, because if any air bubbles got up into the tube, well, they’re going to have to invest in mops.
Does anyone know where this fish tank is located? I would love to see it in person.
Regards,
Wyatt Lehmenkuler
HOLY CRAP, thats from years ago! The cafe was called Potion in Evanston, IL and it was on Noyes, just underneath the train. That pic has to be at least 5 years old …
The air is pumped out from the top. By removing the air the water is pulled up into the tubes. Its pretty simple, but will require an occasional repump as airbubles form in the tubes. It basically a vacuum of sorts.
My gawd, the ignorance of basic physics is amazing.
“How does it stay up in there?”
“I don’t understand this either for some reason”
“I would assume the water stays in there because the whole system is pressurized”
“this doesn’t seem physically possible.”
“Gravity would have the water flow down from the pipes and overflow the tanks”
“Do you use large pumps to avoid tank overflow?”
This is elementary school physics here. Put down the remote control, and pick up an encyclopedia people.
Folks, this is how a simple barometer works…
Ha! You can see the back of my head in one of those photos…and I’m reading the Onion. That was YEARS ago! The 2nd, 3rd and last image is from the Liquid Potion Lounge in Evanston, IL (RIP). I used to love that place.
This would often go up the tubes, but they’d rarely make it all the way to the other fish tank. I remember it being days before I finally saw a fish make it all the way across. Looked really cool though.
Where is the restaurant in the pictures?
lol! Is that cool or utterly insane? What does the builder dream of?
Brilliant idea, however, would it not have been easier to just fill the whole thing with water, rather than having to worry about all these “physics oddities”? (I understand why it works, with the suction and all…)
I suspect that this pipe system has a barrier somewhere in the middle of it. If it didn’t have a barrier the weight of the water above the 2 tanks would have to be PERFECTLY balanced (Not achievable in the real world) or all the water would run out one side or the other. The fish would be able to swim up into the pipe but not all the through to the other tank. With a barrier somewhere in the middle the pipe system would act like 2 inverted cups and you would get a nice illusion of “connected” tanks.
How do you clean it?
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BUT WILL IT BLENd?
It’s pretty simple to setup … all you do is fill both tanks up seperatly, without the pipe. Then you fill the pipe on the ground, and put a cover on both end so when you turn it over it is still full and no water esacpes. then when you submerge both ends into the tanks you take the covers off. then its just a matter of having a pump between both tanks that can handly the amount of water between them and having the inlet in one tank and the outlet in the other tank.
OK, but nobody seems to mention the issue of pumped air or disolved oxygen in the water, this is usually the problem of having air-tight filtration placed ‘over’ a tank because the air within the water collects at the highest point.
It is so sad to see the dismal level of physics knowledge in the average person. Siphons? Pumps? Suction?
Go to any store and get a piece of clear tubing. Fill a sink with water, hold the tube under water, then lift the middle as high as you want as long as both ends remain under water.
Try a few other experiments. If the tube is long enough, you and use it as a level. Fill the tube almost full with water, then hold the ends far apart. No matter what, the water level at both ends will be the same level.
Another theory on how they got the top part filled, would be via a vacuum port on the top of the unit. This would also solve the problem of removing any air pockets along the top.
I was a bit worried about water movement (for purposes of aeration and filtration), but realized that the water would naturally move due to temperature differentials. The water warmed in the tanks, would rise to the highest point, and as it cools would return to the tanks.
Another factor to consider is the weight. That much water would weigh quite a bit. Good to see they have it well supported.
There has been plenty of explanation on how it works… I get it. But will someone please explain to me how in the world they got this up and running in the first place without flooding the restaurant!
Stephen… every 33 feet of water depth equals an increase of 1 atmosphere of pressure (relative to sea level)
I am not a physics major ( I will probably have to take a deficiency for grad school) but this got me thinking. I like the “start upside down” idea but would it also be possible to start right side up with water in each tank. Lower the pipe in and pump air out of the tube with a vacuum while you pump water in (both additional tubes coming from the bottom and going to the top of the pipe)? It might be easier or more difficult. Not sure.
André Franquin, a belgium cartoonist, drawn that for his workless hero, Gaston Lagaffe, in the seventies ! Bubulle, Gaston’s red fish, wanted to see the world !!!
attention scientists, why do people feel the need to describe something even if they don’t understand it. anyone who used the word “physics” in the above posts is ridiculous.
Awesome!! How do you keep algae off the walls of the pipeline and how do you clean it?
well you could take my penis and scrub the walls of the pipeline since it is friggin enormus!!!! hehe i dont really have that big of a penis but i wish
I recant my “barrier” theory above and go with the simple syphon. That’s all it takes…
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My only question is how they change the water. We have to change the water in our tank every week or so, but it must be a tricky business since if the water in the tanks goes too low the water in the tubes prolly loses its suction.
It’s a self-levelling system - if the level on one tank drops water flows through from the other side to fill it until they are at the same level. What I don’t understand is how they get dead fish out of the tube, because sooner or later it’ll happen and they will be floating up towards the top of the tube.
Notice it’s self-sealing too. If the water level drops below the pipe, a few air bubbles go up the tube as water comes out, raising the water level in the tank, sealing the end of the pipe. There wouldn’t be a massive flood unless the pipe or tanks were damaged to where they couldn’t hold water.
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if i was to have 2 tanks, one on top of the other, is it possible for such a system to work?
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It’s called the Fish Highway and was built a LOOOOOOOONG time ago (like mid -90s)
here is the link to the originator who even sells a book about it: http://www.fishighway.com/
Only problem would be cleaning the pipes. Most fish tanks require cleaning as the algae starts to build on the glass.
Whaha, that’s something i have been dreaming about!. Can you order this anywhere?
[…] Pipeline Fish Tank | thecontaminated.com […]
Oh my god I always wanted to make one of those for my dream house!
Someone must’ve hacked my brain and stole the idea >_>
Man, I just need that kind of Time and mOney… Would be cool if you can put some piranha’s in there
Do they serve fish in that restaurant? Because it would suck to be a fish swimming around up there and look down and see people eating other fish.
Ok, if you found the link to the fish highway that Morton posted….http://www.fishighway.com/ it has a FAQ section that answers all your questions.
Here they are:
What is a Fish Highway?
Imagine a means for fish to swim out the top of your aquarium, up to the ceiling, across the room and then down into another tank. That’s a fish highway. Click here to see an illustration submitted in 1877 for the first one patented in the US. Today they’re made of acrylic plastic, the same material used for many custom built aquariums.
Why doesn’t the water spill out of the highway?
The highway tube is completely sealed except for the openings at each end which are submerged below the tank water levels. Like a large drinking straw, when the air is sucked out of the tube the water rises inside it and will stay there unless you let the air back in.
Do the fish swim in it?
Do the fish swim in it.
Does it harm the fish?
As the fish swim higher the pressure drops a little but it’s only slightly lower than the pressure pressure in the tank.
How do you fill it?
When the air is sucked out of the sealed tube the water from the tanks flows into it. Eventually, after all the air is removed the tube is filled with water.
How do you clean it?
Water flows through the highway continuously so the tank filters clean the water in the highway. Algea is removed using cleaning magnets for acrylic tanks.
How does water flow through the highway?
Water is pumped through a separate pipe from one tank to the other using a small pump. As the tank water levels change (one rises and the other falls) flow is induced through the highway by the force of gravity.
its amazing because the fish is not bored and can actually see what’s going on in the house, i like this !
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