Dave, double check on the pond pumps. (I used to own a pet shop). I believe it would be your best bet.
tom
Dave, the simple way to regulate the output from a pump is to have a bypass line, with valve, from the discharge back to the suction. A second valve should be placed in the discharge line for fine adusting. The suggestions to hit the pet shops is probably the best, also if there is a Grainger’s near you check out their catalogue, they have a large selection of pumps from fractional flow to 100’s of gpm.
Actually, with a reservoir, you can feed the water into different places. Some at the top, of course, but a few places downstream could have little streams adding to the flow.
But back to the fish.
Make sure the pump you get won’t hurt the minnows, should one accidently get sucked down the pipe.
John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com
Hey, look at the google ads! There are web sites for pump companies.
John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com
4 Kitties, I had that thought in the back of my mind about the solid state dimmers when the others suggested that the dimming concept might be a problem. I have some very large and expensive Lutron dimmers, that claim to be able to dim fluorecent lights, though I have never tried using them that way. Of course this could be an expensive experiment, and it is Dave’s nickel.[;)]
Roger, If I understand it correctly, your’s is a very clever solution. Taking the normal high volume pump that Dave was orriginally considering, and diverting a portion of the flow back to the reservoir. By adjusting the amount of volume bypassed, the output flow can be regulated. This method would be totally adjustable without damaging the pump motor, and may be the ultimate solution.[:D]
Maybe something like this.
I called Petco and their water pumps will not meet the height/flow requirements.
I really like Roger’s idea about the diversion return line. I can use a cheap shut-off valve, similar to the one that cuts water off to the toilet, and connect is via CPVC tubing. I’m unsure as to why I’d need a second valve, but it would be easy enough to splice one in if I do.
Another great suggestion, and I didn’t even think anyone would reply to the original question. Lot of expertise out there on this forum!
Try www.hagen.com you might find some help there . I’ts so much better with runing water.Ihave a three stage water fall into a pond see my web
Big Boy,
Your graphic just came thru & that is exactly what I had in mind.
John K,
You got me thinking again. If I should decide to go with the fish route, a fine mesh at the end might keep all but the fry out of the pump. Or maybe something finer like stocking or cheesecloth?
A sidebar to this, I’ve never had any success at all in raising tropical fish; you know acidity, temperature and stuff like that. They are too finicky, except for goldfish. Anyway, once they died out, I went to a local stream and netted very tiny minnow. Some of these are even colorful and boy oh boy are they hardy. They even tolerate straight tap water and wild temp flucs. If you select the wrong “minnow” however, it can get pretty big. I think I had one “minnow” grow into a sunfish and another one grow into a chub. Course you could always eat it, but it’s hard to eat a pet.
dav
Experience, yes, although not with water on a layout, necessarily. Mostly, I think, you are seeing the imaginative minds that play with trains.
The switch I suggested was electrical: turn the pump on and off to keep the reservoir filled. That way, you don’t have to get the flow rate of the pump exactly matched to the flow of the stream. As long as the pump capacity is greater than the stream flow, then it will work. It will also work if you change the flow rate, to make the stream more interesting.
Bye-the-way, how did you come up with an estimate of needed flow? I can’t think of an easy way to do it.
But back to the fish.
You are into scale. Think of it. You could have a REAL aquarium car, since you already have the fish. You would be the only one in all of train modelling!
Or, an underwater view through the side of the pond. With underwater lights!
John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com
“Think of it. You could have a REAL aquarium car, since you already have the fish. You would be the only one in all of train modelling!”
John,
Not quite (see below link). The fish are real. A pump car behind the aquarium car shoots air into the aq car.
http://www.trainweb.org/NationalCapitalTrackers/NCTPhotosgum.htm
That was great , I never new something like that excisted
Frank Hale built it with glass and brass. He also designed a Lionel disappearing loop in his layout and other nifty things. He’s an elderly gent who lives atop a mountain not far from my home near Manassas, VA. The all-day rides at club meets appear not to bother the fi***oo much. They get lots of attention, for sure. Of course, in O scale, they would represent giant carp. Incidentally, there really were aquarium cars.
The idea of a under water seen was agood idea . I still have my 55gal that could be my next winter project
I knew there were real aquarium cars, but didn’t even imagine it had been modelled for real before. Thanks for the link. I thought I had a brillliant idea. Oh well …
Back to the fish
When they get too big, you can have a fish fry, and invite train buddies. Bet Frank never did that!
If you aren’t into eating pets, then put them back in the stream … Born Free!
John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com
Don’t laugh, I once tried doing that with plexiglass, in HO no less. I think I still have that, and I’ll post a picture here when I find it. Sorry you didn’t see the diagram with the original post, it took me about 10 minutes to draw and upload. I just used MS paint.[;)]
Also alot of fish pumps and power heads , can control the flow of your water they have adjustments
“Don’t laugh, I once tried doing that with plexiglass, in HO no less.”
Elliot,
No wonder they threw you out of HO. Very unprototypical! 
OK Dave, now it’s all right to laugh. I made this when I was about 15. Not too many people have seen it until now. My 11 year old son kind of thinks it’s cool.[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][sigh][swg]
Dave,
I think you can do Frank, and Elliot, one better. Build the aquarium car on a log dump chassis, then, when the fish have had a long enough ride, SPLASH, they go back into your pond.
With your imagination, you can probably come up with a way to load fish INTO the aquarium car. A motorized net, a water ramp, big funnel … sounds interesting.
John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com
John,
How bout a TMCC-crane with a fish hook and worm attached to lure them back into the aquarium car? To unload the car, you could shoot an ICBM from Lionel’s missile car at the Aquarium car and it would explode, shooting the fish back into the river.
If the fish missed the river, you could place a cat on the river bank to scoop up the fish.