DIY Red Dragon Pumps, gathering ideas.

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Creetin, came across this (www.marfas.com/faq.shtmlz) during my search for SS:

"What is "18-8" stainless steel?
300 series stainless steel having approximately (not exactly) 18% chromium and 8% nickel. The term "18-8" is used interchangeably to characterize fasteners made of 302, 302HQ, 303, 304, 305, 384, XM7, and other variables of these grades with close chemical compositions. There is little overall difference in corrosion resistance among the "18-8" types, but slight differences in chemical composition do make certain grades more resistant than others against particular chemicals or atmospheres. "18-8" has superior corrosion resistance to 400 series stainless, is generally nonmagnetic, and is hardenable only by cold working."

Does this sound right? I seem to be able to find 18-8 much easier than 400 SS.
 
Its the nickle that is the factor in anti rust. Its been a long time but pretty sure the 384 is the best out of those 300 series.
Not 100% sure on that.
I used to work at a stainless mill after high school for a couple years.
I ran a mill for a short time.
400 series (440 to be exact) I believe is the best for corrosion risistance.
300 series with the higher chrome is better for polishing to a mirror surface. You have to look at carbon as well. I believe 300 series has a higher carbon count, and with the more carbon the easier it is to rust.
 
Are these right? The amount of air seems a bit on the low side for the size neck.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13302661#post13302661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miwoodar
I think we need to determine our scfh before we choose our neck diameters. I've seen Hahn recommend 50-70 lph/in^2 of neck and other trusted resources here on RC recommend 60-70. Choosing 65 lph/in^2 of neck the results are as follows:

2" --- 204.1 lph / 7.2 scfh
3" --- 459.2 lph / 16.2 scfh
4" --- 816.4 lph / 28.8 scfh
5" --- 1275.6 lph / 45.0 scfh
6" --- 1836.9 lph / 64.9 scfh
8" --- 3265.6 lph / 115.3 scfh
Click to expand...
 
I'm just going by what I've been told. They seemed a little low relative to *some* of the skimmers I've researched. I'm by no means an expert on the subject though. If anyone has input, I'm all ears. Here's how my sheet looks right now...

AirVersusNeckDiameter.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13315957#post13315957 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alpine
Just get some titanium screws and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Have you ever found titanium screws local? Maybe an RC shop?
 
As you get larger (over 6" say) you can start scaling back a bit on neck diameter due to the viscocity/surface tension of the bubbles in the neck. Think about it... in a 1/2" diameter neck for say... a nano, you can have bubbles that go across the whole neck... but as you go larger, each bubble can not cover as much of an area. You know... same concept as why you cant scale a small organism, like an insect, up to the size of an elephant because it would crush itself... not all things are 100% linear. I dont have a formula or anything, but I would say a 6" neck can go a little higher... like 2200lph, and 8" can handle more like 3800lph.
 
Yeah, thats about what I do... I start at the low end for the smaller skimmers and top out at about 90 for some of the skimmers with the 10-12" necks. 100+ is still a no-no though.

Hey, Im really glad when I can go to shows and skimmers from the once 'low end' are starting to chomp on the heels of those considered 'high end'. That does us all good, you know? The RK2's, ASM's, and several other makes were just abandoned from the looks of it. I would say Deltec, H&S, and a couple others are next. I hear Euroreef may already be toast, and AquaC is looking to 'revamp'. I would bet that the days of the eheim needlewheels are numbered (not that they are bad, they arent) because who is going to pay $120-190 for an eheim (MSRP) when you can get a Laguna that does more (and is an all around better skimmer pump) for less? I dont see much popularity in the ATI's since the MSX's came out... better design (BK-ish) for less $$$. AEtech? Becketts? Hmmm...
 
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Always there will be a new pump development by the companies... they build pumps and they see what is going on the market the learn to.... some will move slow and some fast ...

same on skimmers those that will change and create new stuff quick will keep to push product in the market those that will dream will lose the market...

Klaus from bubble king his a good example for that IMO he saw the advantage of the Con funnel and the result on modify the pump and make his changes quick , we can see it in the new skimmer even the old version made today with con funnel .... and new modification on his pump like the small RD pumps on the Mini 200 that change the performance of this skimmer...

ATI lose a lot of market because of thinking they was able to come with con skimmer before KZ was supply them.... also on the Sicce pump they was able to bring a new pump that pull ton of air compare the watt and used on controller , because of delay they lost imo the market .


i told before 8 month (even more ) to Jeff from ER to change his skimmer funnel (he can confirm that ) it's funny when i saw that today on the WM skimmer they wasn't exist then .... (the company yes but WM didn't import them yet...) i think if was doing that then today his skimmers was more popular....


bottom line some ppl that make living from this product will make the change or will not exist , those that do it quick always keep up and more interesting.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13301424#post13301424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miwoodar
mgranato - do you have a target scfh yet for your 5" neck? With a target of 65lph/in^2 of neck that comes to 1275 lph (45 scfh).

I'm planning a skimmer based on the PJ5000 (1640gph). I've set my target scfh at ~70 through a 6" neck. Mind you, I haven't modded any of these pumps yet but from reading this thread it seems like 70 scfh is a reasonable expectation without pushing the pump too hard. I would like to hear the guru's thoughts on this and whether you and I might be better off going with the 5" or the 6".

A new PJ5000 just went through e-bay the other day without any bidders. Someone could have won it for $1 and paid $20 to ship. Of course, the Max Flow 1500 would be preferred because then you wouldn't have to contend with the brass bushing but I haven't found any of these for less than $185.
Click to expand...

when you pull 70 Scfh on 6" neck it's not just the diamter of the neck on a small skimmer body after feeding and when the skimmer will process break in again , the gurgle that the pump will create till it will break in for steady skimming will flood the cup very quick and you will need to adjust it everytime you feeding or cleaning the skimmer cup , also in this air volume the break in time change a lot on 15LPM it's can take about 30 minute when you feed mixing food with oil and vitamin and on 36LPM it will take about 2 hour till the skimmer will start to break in and some time it's take more time to...

as far as the 5000 IMO it's strong pump and i realy don't believe that the little brass that cover very well will harm something , the truth is that i don't have coral in my system but on my system i have never have problem with that IMO it's also depend on the tank water volume to.


as far as long neck IMO it's always better since i test it on 17" neck length and it was easy to tune and push more air also the skimmer have strong turbulence but all this never effect on that size of neck.


and i never use tool to check the GPH i moved but alwayse when i move more air (and this have limit to...) and feed the skimmer with more water 5X then my tank size i got more skimmate in my collection cup .

Right now on the skimmer that i work i have 6.5" neck and it's 10" length also the skimmer is big to and i plan to test on that different air quantity to i also will test it with the Bubble Diffuser and without to see what will perform the best the only thing that i worry even with my heavy stock and heavy feeding is this toy to big for my tank size .
 
1500 volute

1500 volute

Here's the volute I came up with for 1500. After it was done, I couldn't resist giving it a name, LOL. My Dwyer should be here on Tuesday, so I won't have any numbers until then.
104411IMG_0371.jpg

104411IMG_0384.jpg

104411IMG_0387.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13392822#post13392822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
YF,
"My, what big knockers you have." LOL, I love that movie!
Click to expand...
I happen to think is one of the funniest movies, well also plains trains and automobiles :D
 
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