ASM Skimmer Club!

[Fishbulb2]

So I assume this a typical needle wheel with the pins initially. Do you need to dremel any more holes through the disc once you've cut all the pins off or do you just leave it as is and zip tie the gutter gaurd through the holes.
FB

 

[mfinn]

It was my stock nw impeller. It already had 4 holes in it that I ran the zip ties through. There are some earlier pictures and instructions,,, a page or two back that I went from.

 

[mfinn]

Well, I see no difference in the amount of l/m. It still bounces, just like before.
Anyone have some tips on what is wrong?

 

[RichConley]

what size airline does your venturi have?

 

[mfinn]

It is the stock asm venturi that is on the sedra 9000. Without taking the pump from the sump and measuring it, I would guess at 1/8". The flexable air line has a dia. of 3/16".

 

[ridetheducati]

What are your before and after numbers?

The only thing I would do differently is put the buckles behind the disk not in front.

The meter will bounce, heck my H&S A250 jumps 1-2 lpm.

 

[mfinn]

I redid the mesh mod and added a 4th layer and put the buckles in back this time.
I got the higher numbers, but the noise was unacceptable.
Made the pump very loud.

I got impatient waiting for the flow meter and made the mod before I got a measurement with the stock needlewheel impeller.
I am curious about what those numbers are so I ordered a new venturi and stock needlewheel impeller.

I took a picture of the meter with the mesh mod on it.
I don't think I could have lived with the noise, even if the sump was in the next room

 

[ridetheducati]

Is it sound from the pump itself or sound from the air being drawn in?

There are DIY silencers for the airlines, but I think you are driving the pump a little too hard. I say that because you are pulling 22 lph, which is impressive, but it is taxing the pump.

Shoot for 15 lpm.

 

[mfinn]

The pump is what was making the noise.
I think it maybe from the buckles being on the back side.
When I did the first mod, I used 3 layers of gutter guard and had the wire tie buckles on the from, kind of buried into the mesh.
I really didn't get any increase in airflow and the flow was erratic. The ball bounced like crazy.
I've got to figure out a easier way to change the impellers out. It is a major job getting both ends of the skimmer plugged back in, inside my sump. It's very tight and fustrating.
I bought my skimmer with the recirc holes already drilled in the body from a popular online site. The holes were badly out of line. I agreed to fix it, but even so, I missed by just a tiny bit and it is hard to get them both in.

I have some of that scrub pad material. The 3M synthetic steel wool, coarse, maybe I'll give that one a try.
I wish there was some way to calm the little ball down. If a more even flow of air were going in, the skimmer should be more effective.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

(FYI) My sedra 9000 -g4x was pulling 7 before adding my airpump. Now it is 14-15 l/m (same meter)

Since air pump was running less that it could put out-----another mod I have tried recently is adding a air stone. Man--- that really increased and changed the bubbles-- to a very very fine foam---I will have too change my gate valve mod now, because-- I can't lower the water level enought now---to get anything but a very wet skimate. (I like it wet- but this is very light tea colored)

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8798987#post8798987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charlie Davidson
(FYI) My sedra 9000 -g4x was pulling 7 before adding my airpump. Now it is 14-15 l/m (same meter)

Now, is that a steady 7 and a steady 14-15 l/m?

 

[IndyMatt]

I just did the mesh wheel mod using a heayy duty scrub pad material from Lowes. The scrub pad is made by Quickie I think? I don't have a meter but the bubbles are a lot finer.

Here is a link:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=126041-1738-207GM-12&lpage=none

 

[mfinn]

IndyMatt, got a pictures of your mod and the product?

 

[IndyMatt]

I don't have pictures but I might have time to take some.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8788879#post8788879 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ridetheducati
Is it sound from the pump itself or sound from the air being drawn in?

There are DIY silencers for the airlines, but I think you are driving the pump a little too hard. I say that because you are pulling 22 lph, which is impressive, but it is taxing the pump.

Shoot for 15 lpm.

Actually, more air is less taxing on the pump. Air is easier to move than water.

 

[IndyMatt]

Is there a reason why you can't epoxy or super glue the pad material to the impellar. That way you don't have to deal with the zip ties making the pump chatter. I had the female ends of the zip ties on the back of the impellar and the pump was chattering like crazy. I moved them to the front and it is better but it is still chattering.

 

[mfinn]

I would think the only thing stopping you from using glue, would be the high likelyhood that the glue will fail.

The first mesh mod I did, I put the zip tie buckles on the front, kind of buried into the mesh. I was happy that the noise wasn't anymore than the standard impeller, but I didn't get much higher air flow.
I added another layer of mesh, but this time I put the zip tie buckles on the back. I more than doubled the air flow, but the noise was terrible.

 

[mavgi]

you can see on this link the good mesh modify it's perform better foam then the GG mod .

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=966407&perpage=25&pagenumber=27

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8800174#post8800174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mavgi
you can see on this link the good mesh modify it's perform better foam then the GG mod .

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=966407&perpage=25&pagenumber=27

Is that enkamat mesh?

 

[mavgi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8800216#post8800216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
Is that enkamat mesh?

yes and this is the best one