230/3 actively takes the water in?

O

obaltus

New member
Is there a way to change how the water flows inside the skimmer to allow it to actively take the water inside instead of diffusing through it?
 
You could drill a hole in the housing directly under the pump and attach a Tunze intake screen to the bottom of the pump going though this hole and sticking out the bottom.
 
before drilling a hole in the housing, I removed the cover below the pump to see if the skimmer was performing better and indeed that's a big difference! I got the skimmate of a week in just one night. The water is also a lot a clearer. The bad point is that there are billions of bubbles comming out of the housing which I don't mind but some might find unpleasant. I think, I am going to put back the cover and drill a hole. With the cover on, I guess there will be less bubbles.
 
I am not sure I understand this mod, but is it relevant also to the 240/3? I am looking to increase its performance.
 
Yes it does also concern the 240/3, the goal is to make the skimmer more powerfull and believe me now it is!
 
That is very interesting. So the idea is that I would drill a hole in the brown plastic "dish" that the pump sits in, directly below the pump?
 
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Yes, basically you defeat the closed loop plankton safe feature and get a more agressive skimming.
 
Thanks. Do I need any special parts (you mention a Tunze "intake screen") or can I just cut a sponge pad? If so, I am going to do that mod tonight.
 
It is only a semi open loop unless you run a pipe clear through the housing to the outside. Otherwise with only a hole some water will be recirculated and a sponge will impede flow and reduce performance.
 
The strainer is 1001.79 and the connector to attach it is 1001.78. You would have to drill a 1" hole. I don't sell in Canada so you would need to ask Phil but I would think he has these.
 
Have been runing a 240 like this for a while only downside is the riser tube collects a large amount of gunk and the skimmer slowly drops performance.

Next thing I want to try is to extend the riser tube and drop the skimmer further down in the water. This should extend the total contact time:-) but the venturi may bne limited by the extra awater depth

Also I run the strainer tube with a small cut out at the top so some water is pulled back in via the normal closed loop path, does seem to limit the number of bubbles generated, but then the skimmer is in sump so not an issue
 
another option is:

Take the pump and venturi and the skimmer cup etc, get a 110 mm PVC pipe, block it at one end and then plumb in an exit pipe, add the tunze collection cup to the top, and then connect the pump venturi etc, and you have a new skimmer.

I wonder what skimmer could be built using Tunze pumps etc and a standard skimmer body along the lines of an H&S or euro reef etc

an ideal skimmer three to four 240 electronic pumps bolted to a h&s body who knows may work very well indeed.
 
We've tried it, our pumps don't have a lot of torque and don't do very well with needle wheels, eventually cavitating and stopping. We do have something on the horizon though for a very high performance large skimmer in addition to the DOC skim line which will essentially be the same as the mod you are doing in performance, just more refined looking and cheaper than even the older designs.
 
yes also played and found the pumps dont like air on the intake, but even if you just used the normal pump and venturi or even better a couple feeding into a large reaction chamber i think you may have a winner, but then again it all sounds good until one tries to put it into practice, then reality comes back and gives you a good kick.
 
240 Intake Mod

240 Intake Mod

THanks for the mod tips on the 240 - I did this today and the skimmate is darker and in greater quantity than without it.

I'v also go the micro bubbles issue - but the skimmer is in the sump so it doesnt matter.

Thanks again for the mod.
showphoto.php


showphoto.php
showphoto.php
 
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I would also rec changing the venturi to the latest it wil generate more micr bubles but seems to perform better then the two piece unit.

And I also dropped mine to the bottom of the sump and extended the foam riser using a 100mm PVC pipe by 25 cm, early days but the foam is very stable by the time it collects at the top.

And if running a 240 the one peice skimmer cup with the large diameter throat makes a big difference
 
Hi blg

thanks for the tips - your are helping me out big time:)

Do you know the part number for the new venturi please?

"And I also dropped mine to the bottom of the sump and extended the foam riser using a 100mm PVC pipe by 25 cm, early days but the foam is very stable by the time it collects at the top."

Have you got a photo please - I cant quite imagine that - thanks.

"And if running a 240 the one peice skimmer cup with the large diameter throat makes a big difference"

Atached is a photo of my riser (good for going away on holiday)and showing skimmate after 24hrs - 200ml and very dark - I 'm very pleased - are you saying that the one piece skimmer cup would produce better results? If so do you know the part number please?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=151212

I'm very pleased with the mod - Tunze skimmers are so much more stable and reliable than my Deltec - and quieter.

Many thanks

SImon
 
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