Needlewheels are for sissies
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43165
Printed Date: July 01 2026 at 9:54pm
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Topic: Needlewheels are for sissies
Posted By: fishoutawater
Subject: Needlewheels are for sissies
Date Posted: September 01 2010 at 11:50pm
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I got the itch to try something different for a skimmer. I worked on a few for members here, hope you are all still satisfied. And I made a couple for myself, but they were all needlewheel skimmers. At work a little while ago I started playing with a huge, dual beckett skimmer and decided to make a smaller version.
Becketts and downdrafts are awesome skimmers, the only problem is that they require large, powerful, pressure rated, expensive pumps that take up a lot of space and use a ton of electricity. This is still in the planning/r&d phase, but it looks really promising. I am using a mag7 pump to run it, 65w, not much bigger than your fist. I don't think a 65w pump on a skimmer is excessive. Tonight I put the airflow meter on it for the first time and was a little surprised.
http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/fishoutawater/skimmer%20mods/?action=view¤t=101_1694.mp4">
 The numbers are a little hard to read, most of the time it pulls between 40-45 scfh on the meter.
The body is just a 4 1/2" tube with no bottom, and a 3 1/2" neck. This thing easily pushes foam all the way out the top, so I am getting about a two foot head of foam. I wish I had an orp meter so I could see how much it affects that. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I will have it finished and have a better idea what it will do. I will leave the pump in the sump and plumb it externally, the Mrs. will love seeing another piece of fish equipment in the office. ------------- Some day, when I grow up,... |
Replies:
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: September 01 2010 at 11:57pm
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mike your crazy =) ------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: Kiltboy
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 9:38am
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Nice mike, My ASM G2 is still doin awesome! ------------- Chance Evans |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 12:37pm
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How big are the bubbles if you cut a bubble in half its there is twice as much air surface area meaning you need half as much air to do the same thing ------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 11:19pm
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have you seen the new "gridwheel" that ATI is putting in their new skimmers? They are going to be a total needlewheel killer.
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Posted By: fishoutawater
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 11:20pm
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The bubbles look big in the video, for some reason when I had the flow meter on it, the bubbles got bigger, and the head collapsed a little bit as well. Don't take the title too seriously, I am still running my other skimmer with the needlewheel and it's doing a great job.
I know bubble size is a big issue in any skimmer, I also know that becketts and downdraft skimmers process a lot more water than any other type. I have also seen them increase the oxygen level in the tanks they are on by quite a bit. My main purpose is to see if you can make one work well with a much smaller pump than is used traditionally. Most of what I have read recommends a pressure rated pump that will do at least 1000gph at about 8' of head pressure, I think the mag7 only does around 350 at that height. ------------- Some day, when I grow up,... |
Posted By: fishoutawater
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 11:30pm
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That looks really hard to diy, lol. I'd love to see the inside of that air intake on the volute. That looks radically different than the usual venturi as well. ------------- Some day, when I grow up,... |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: September 02 2010 at 11:32pm
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I don't want to take this thread too far off topic but I figured it fit. The new ATI skimmers look really sweet to me! The whole design is awesome. http://reefbuilders.com/2010/08/25/gridwheel-ati-powercone/ - http://reefbuilders.com/2010/08/25/gridwheel-ati-powercone/
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