DIY Geomorph Model
#1 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 06 December 2009 - 12:51 PM
So, this is my knock off... Total cost was about $250, about $100 of that was the substrate and I'm using a $60 pump which probably isn't necessary, I just had it already. I do like the extra pressure it gives me tho, because the system is really responsive when I cut it back on at the ball valve.
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This is the whole kit n kaboodle, sump and plumbing.
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My good old friend Quickcrete play sand.
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CarribSea Cichlid Mix to give different colors and densities... This is where the $$ came in for the substrate cost, but it's totally worth it.
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We have lots of glacial drift in this area, so I used different sizes of pea gravel to simulate granitic cobbles.
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You can see point bars forming of the black and white, followed by the more dense quartz sand, and it all sorting away from the gravel.
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Here you can see it migrating downstream.
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And here's what happened after I "mined" some gravel.
Still working some bugs out. I'm going to try it with different sized feeder pipes and going to get some caps so I can cut back on the "spring-like" attributes, although it's pretty cool to watch the sand percolate up, just like you'd see in a stream where there's heavy glacial drift.
I can get into more specifics if people are interested. I plan to write this up for AC.
Todd
#2 Guest_jim graham_*
Posted 06 December 2009 - 01:09 PM
#3 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 06 December 2009 - 01:40 PM
#4 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 06 December 2009 - 03:47 PM
#5 Guest_catfish_hunter_*
Posted 07 December 2009 - 04:55 AM
#6 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 07 December 2009 - 11:41 AM
Bruce, yeap, high schoolers are my target audience for this thing, although I think adults have some things to learn from it as well. I wish it was long enough to get another s-curve out of it so I could really show headward erosion and wetland draining, but I think they'll get the idea. I'm going to play with some different types of injectors too, see if I can create 2 headwater streams that converge, for example.
I also like Matt's idea for rain. I'd really like to see what you did with that Matt.
CH, thanks! I got the cichlid sand at the local fish store. If your local shop doesn't carry it, they can probably get it in or you can buy it online. It ain't cheap tho, I'll warn you. But it really does a nice job of sorting, since it's a completely different density than the quartz sand. A local building supply brought us sand once that had lots of little granitic pebbles too. You might look for something like that. When I move my gardens (where we have it), I make steal some of the sand and incorporate it. The more you mix in, the cooler it gets.
Todd
#7 Guest_gerald_*
Posted 07 December 2009 - 02:29 PM
#8 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 07 December 2009 - 02:57 PM
Todd
#9 Guest_sschluet_*
Posted 18 January 2010 - 09:43 PM
Oh oh oh that might make some really nice "boulders"! Thanks for suggesting it Gerald, I have a half bag in the garage that I kept for a rainy day
Todd
Good stuff Todd! I actually got a quote for the EM2 we saw in Nashville. The quote is at work but I think it was in the $4-5K range. As far as teaching opportunities, your model will do the same. Great work.
#10 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 18 January 2010 - 10:55 PM
Todd
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