power head rotator

[chrismunn]

if any of you frequent the reefcentral DIY forum then you have probably seen this thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1483439

i basically hi-jacked the idea and made my own version that would fit into my biocube 14. there was exactly 11/16" inbetween the top of the rear divide wall and the light cover inside the hood of the bc14, and i used all of it! as a matter of fact i wasnt able to fit a lid on it because its such a tight fit!

the whole project was built using 1/8" acrylic sheet, and 3/8" dia. acrylic rod. other parts are a skateboard bearing, a microwave turntable motor, a power cord, a suspension tie rod from an rc car and some really small bolts. both steel and nylon. i forget the exact size of the bolts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06885.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06884.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06882.jpg

[chrismunn]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06881.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06880.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/DSC06883.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/th_MOV06955.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v231/chrismunn/?action=view&current=MOV06955.flv)

the whole thing is very simple. it rotates a power head back and forth at about a 75 degree sweep, 3 times per minute. it also has a swivel to point the powerhead up or down...

[Submariner]

Wow that is simply too cool. You should sell them.

[chrismunn]

ide be more than happy to build them for people given they pay for or provide the materials and kick down a frag or two ;)

nobody has asked though. i guess its because they're so easy to build.

i actually thought about patenting and mass producing at one point but its such an involved and costly proccess that i decided to pass.

i really thought it was such a cool idea when i first saw it that i just had to make myself one! im really happy with the outcome and will deffinatly use them on any tank i set up.