Aerofoamer redesigned!!!

[larrybird]

Well die to the fact that I hated always cleaning the beckett on my Aerofoamer skimmer I decided to convert it to a recirculating skimmer. I bought a Sequence Orca pump and with a few mods to the skimmer It is in business!!! It foams like a rabid dig now. ..:

 

[razzmatazz]

Glad you figured out what the problem was. That is some light scum compared to what I am used to though.

 

[larrybird]

I took the picture 3 mins after I started it give it time it needs to break in. I already have soem dark scuz in the collection up

 

[fordguy1992]

looks real good

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

does the Beckett still get gunk caught in it?
can you explain what you did?

your foam production is fantastic- I can't believe you fit that beast in your aquarium stand!

 

[drbronx]

That Orca pump is a beast. There are nuclear reactors with less power. Do run that at full power or do you dial it back some. Glad to see everything up and running and algae free.

 

[larrybird]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12354268#post12354268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
does the Beckett still get gunk caught in it?
can you explain what you did?

your foam production is fantastic- I can't believe you fit that beast in your aquarium stand!

I was always removing pids and other critters from the beckett. I had to clean it almost every day . as for explaing what I did i just drilled a hole for a 1.5" uniseal in the side of the main body. drilled a 1" hole in the main body for the feed pump. I removed the 1 " bulkhead that the beckett ran to and enlarged it to fit a 2" bulkhead for the Pump intake. I then just connected the pump to the skimmer ran a fill line and plugged it in.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

so I understand correctly the Beckett injector is totally removed?

 

[larrybird]

Thats correct Gary The beckett is gone. I replaced it with a Sequence Reeflo Orca pump .
Foam after 1 day :

Scum collected in 1 day:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

what's creating the air/water mixture- a standard venturi

 

[larrybird]

When you purchase the Orca pump it comes witha 2" wide venturi. it kicks butt.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

a-HA!
thanks for edumacating me!


suggestion/food for thought:

does anyone think you could fabricate a DIY skimmer by hooking an Orca/w venturi up to a 5 gallon plastic water jug (like used on an office water cooler dispenser)?

 

[larrybird]

Sure I think it can be done.... But the neck needs to be widened to get the proper bubble movement but that can be accomadated by cutting off the throat of the bottle and putting a dome on .
http://www.cleardomes.com/domes.htm
A few bulkheads , a 4" unuin and a uniseal and your just about there.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

hey

hey

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1348



Sequence Orca Specifications:

- Ports are 1.5" FNPT suction and 1.5" FNPT discharge.
- Units are pre-wired with an 8' cord and molded 115V plug.
- Motor: AO Smith
- Silicon Carbide faced seal
- Venturi fitting: included

- Watt Draw:
Venturi Only: 120-170 watts
w/ Alita 40 Air Pump: 135 watts

- Standard Cubic Feet/Hr Liters of air per hour:
Venturi Only: 90 scfh, 2250 LPH
w/ Alita 40 Air Pump: 120 scfh, 3400 LPH

- Max Skimmer height (water head pressure):
Venturi Only: 36"
w/ Alita 40 Air Pump: 84"

- Recommended Skimmer Diameter:
Venturi Only: 12-18”+
w/ Alita 40 Air Pump: 18”+

- Will service tanks up to:
Venturi Only: 1,200 gal
w/ Alita 40 Air Pump: 2,500 gal
holy smokes

:eek1:

your Aerofoamer "only" has an 8" diameter body, right? :lol:

 

[larrybird]

yes but it kicks some serious .... and is working fine....

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

do you have the Orca throttled back or is it wide open?

 

[larrybird]

I have it running full throttle. I am fonly feeding the skimmer 300 GPH though... I have the water level abut 1/2" below the top flang of the skimmer body

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

sorry I had to run yesterday.
If you're able to keep the water level 1/2" below the top body flange that's impressive but you've confused me again- if you're feeding the skimmer 300GPH does that mean you're diverting some of the pumps output to somewhere else?
Where is that venturi tube sucking air from?

 

[larrybird]

I am feeding the skimmer off of my main return line. The venturi hose is just sucking air from the atmosphere, the end of the hose is just out of the picture up above... Are you considering a change Gary?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm just trying to understand your new mod.

so let me see if I understand this correctly: the two (original) in/outs at the bottom right of the skimmer base are where the water to get skimmed goes in and out, right?

The Orca is simply pumping an air/water mixture into the reaction chamber?