Skimmer Plans for Critique

[digitalreefer]

As I consider my upgrade, I'm thinking about building a skimmer to handle it, so I can test it on my current tank. After doing some research, I've modified some plans for a venturi skimmer and would love to hear some opinions. This plan allows me to create a dual injection addition later if I need to. Here's the plan, let me know what you think.

 

[fritz]

I"d make the reaction chamber larger. More bubbles making contact with water for a longer amount of time = good.

 

[jackson6745]

Should work fine, I think What pump r u going to use?

 

[digitalreefer]

Not sure what pump just yet... any suggestions?
What size would you make the reaction chamber? Longer or wider?

 

[House of Laughter]

I believe fritz is thinking diameter = larger

like a 6" chamber and not 4"

House

 

[masterswimmer]

I'd definitely need to know what size tank you're intending to use this on. The size you've shown wouldn't handle much, IMO. I see it being about the same size as my CSS 65 (hang on tank and rated for 65 gallons).

swimmer

 

[digitalreefer]

It would be for a 33 right now and I'm planning on upgrading to a 75 which I'd like to use it on. What would you suggest to enhance it? Dual injection, wider reaction chamber? Taller?

 

[masterswimmer]

I agree with Frank and Jim. A wider reaction chamber would make it much more productive and efficient.

BTW, my CSS 65 although rated for 65g, I would not recommend it for anything more than about 30 gallons.

swimmer

 

[cali_reef]

3" dia tube inside a 4" dia will not give you much room for water flow. Your design is basically a taller seaclown:lol2:

Why do you need a bypass for the venturi?

 

[digitalreefer]

Ok, so the general concensus seems to be a wider chamber.

Cali... I don't need the bypass on the venturi, but it will allow me to fine tune the pressure differential and allow full control over the water/air intake. If I put the venturi on the mainline I'm limited to the venturi's differential.

 

[cali_reef]

Cali... I don't need the bypass on the venturi, but it will allow me to fine tune the pressure differential and allow full control over the water/air intake. If I put the venturi on the mainline I'm limited to the venturi's differential.

Why would you want less air in the skimmer? every skimmer design trys to get the maximum air intake.

 

[digitalreefer]

A venturi works by creating a pressure differential between it's 2 sides and creates a suction which draws in air. The valve would allow me to fine tune the differential to get the most out of the differential, thus drawing more air than if it were on the main line.

 

[cali_reef]

By bypassing pressure before the injector, all you achieve will be less than what the pump is design to do, waste of electricity. The differential pressure is produced within the venturi injector body, not by the fluctuation of the pressure into the injector.

Go ahead and experiment a little on it if you don't believe my experience with Bernoulli's Principle. Here is a good graphic illustration of the theory http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aerojava/pic3-2.htm

Here are some formulas you can use to calculate your theory if you are good with math: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli's_principle