Skimmer Issues - Check Mine Out

I have built a DIY venturi skimmer but having trouble getting it to produce anything like a dry foam. Check out the following link for pics, video and questions (theres heaps of questions!!!!!!!)

www.ecospec.net/skimmer


For more info on the diy venturi design go the website below:

http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/ventu...-aeration.shtml

I would love some feedback on this design.... Looking foward to your responses

 

I assume you've tried adjusting the ball valve and you can't get any luck with that, eh? It is just that you can maintain a constant water level in the skimmer?

Have you tried raising the entire skimmer and pump closer to the water line in your sump?

 

Water Level

Hey Matt

I was cooking some eggs for lunch and chucked the empty shells in the sump (knowing that egg is full of protein). The skimmer definately worked using that so perhaps the lack of protien in the SW stopped it from working (check the following pics).

Im still interested to know what sort of flow rate and pump wattage people are using to power the skimmers on tanks greater than 50 gal (mines around 90g I think).

 

i wou recommend modding the mipeller with mesh if you need some or have questions check out reef central diy and i would also make a venturi that draws air and chops it up then puts it into the skimmer chamber much better results.

 

I dont understand

powdertang05 - Ive done a bit of reading on RC but still not quite sur how this works. The pump pushes the water through the venturi which suck in the air. It then directs this to the bottom of the skimmer body where it bubbles up to the surface. As far as I can see the mesh on the impeller is meant to cut up bubbles but on my system it would be situated before the venturi and thus would not ever recieve bubbles into the mesh?????? Also, do you know what sort of flow and wattages people are generally running on their DIY skimmers?? Mine (100watt 3500 l/hr) seems a little big and also seems to warm the water in the test sump, hopefully this will not occur in the bigger system. Your help much appreciated

Peet

 

Wait a minute

Wait a minute I think Ive worked this out. Are all these mesh skimmer recirculating skimmers. If so can you let me know a couple of things. How does fresh water enter the skimmer (is this simply head from the tank overflow driving water through the skimmer). Is the venturi before or after the mesh wheel? If its after, is it simply the bubbles that are in the skimer body that are sucked into the mesh and chopped up and then more air is added via the venturi?? I purchased my pumps through an internet wholesaler and they are a chinese copy of ehiem sump pumps, but these have only one pipe and thats on the outlet of the pump. The inlet is simply a screened plate protecting the impellers. Is there another name for this type of pump with pipes on both inet and outlet? Sorry for the newbie type question. I have just put my tank into the living room wall and keen to make sure the whole thing works (and justify the expenses to my wife) so want most from my skimmer. Thanks again - Peet