DIY Red Dragon Pumps, gathering ideas.

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9859495#post9859495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
Well i tried some 3/4 hose, That was too big because it cavitated the pump. I am off to the hardware store to get some half inch hose. What was promising is that when i finaggled the 3/4 hose around while the pump was running i was able to pull the air meter to full till at 100 scfh! It pulled it like it was nothing.
It was not more than a second or 2 because i had to hold one end to the air meter and hold on to the hose to the pump.
It may have been the combo of blocking off the right amt of water and having the hose big enough to not restrict it.
Gives me something to shoot for and know what i can expect.
I still won't know if i can get close to klaus's numbers as i only can read up to 100 scfh or almost 2900 lph

I am telling you from experience that it will! I saw the improvment in every pump I have done this with. That is why I mentioned using an adjustable gate valve and 1/2 inch hose. The
volute is not big enough to be able to process as much air as a 3/4 inch hose can deliver. But I think it can handle 100 scfm. I honestly don't think that a skimmer will need more than 100 scfh unless you are playing with 24 in tube. I have the dart on a 14 in tube and it was pulling about 110 scfm. When I cut the air down to 95-100 scfm the skimmate got much much better (Darker). I even saw the same improvment on a 4100 and ocean runner. I have 1/2 inch hose running on both of those skimmers. The guys that bought these skimmers are amazed at the amount of air being injected into the bodies. I am hoping that the maxflo 2400 will be anle to handle the extra air. The volute is bigger and it only draws 100 watts, really effecient. And the output is 1 1/2 inch, so all the pieces are there! I am thinking I will get 100 scfm for under 100 watts! I haven't seen that effeciency since the days of the Tiny might with air pump. And that was still under 100 scfm at 96 watts. Anyway, have fun! Thanks for the updates. Keep them coming, that is what has kept me going while waiting for my pump. It's torture I tell you!

Mike

 

[Creetin]

Well i am still playing around, I can't seem to get the right way to put on the barb fitting just right. I cut one at a 45 and one at a 90, and got up to 90 scfh, and that was without reducing the flow any. The barb fitting may have reduced the flow somewhat creating some friction. The 90 degree angle cut onto the barb seemed best.
Oh and the 100 scfh meter i have goes past the 100 scfh mark, but it has no increments. If at full tilt it looks to be 120 scfh.
I think you will do a better job at tinkering around with the air imput than I, and get better results. I would like to see a pic of what you do.
A 5000 i think will deliver a good amt of air and more calmer flow.
This pump is a beast, I think you will be impressed with them as they are very quiet!! This 2905 will eventually just be a closed loop for my 180. The 5000 is what i really wanted to push for skimming, Maybe even a 7000 would be better suited than this 2905. This pump may just knock off the orca darts for huge skimmers.

Did you mean 100 scfh or 100 scfm?

 

[dudedudedude]

So guys, I am involved in this experiement because i am going to be getting a large tank in the future. However, this pump mesh modded seems like it will run smoother than any other pump but is way to much power consumption and air for my current tank. I wonder if any of you guys that are expercined with electronics, if a smaller mesh wheel that can porduce 1000 LPH air was placed in the 5000, could you decrease the voltage input to a degree and still run the pump while drawing less watts?

 

[smjtkj]

The wattage will drop with the adddition of the air, but I don't know if it will be enough to get you where you need to be. I am not sure about the voltage drop and pump performance.
Mike

 

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9860195#post9860195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
Well i am still playing around, I can't seem to get the right way to put on the barb fitting just right. I cut one at a 45 and one at a 90, and got up to 90 scfh, and that was without reducing the flow any. The barb fitting may have reduced the flow somewhat creating some friction. The 90 degree angle cut onto the barb seemed best.
Oh and the 100 scfh meter i have goes past the 100 scfh mark, but it has no increments. If at full tilt it looks to be 120 scfh.
I think you will do a better job at tinkering around with the air imput than I, and get better results. I would like to see a pic of what you do.
A 5000 i think will deliver a good amt of air and more calmer flow.
This pump is a beast, I think you will be impressed with them as they are very quiet!! This 2905 will eventually just be a closed loop for my 180. The 5000 is what i really wanted to push for skimming, Maybe even a 7000 would be better suited than this 2905. This pump may just knock off the orca darts for huge skimmers.

Did you mean 100 scfh or 100 scfm?

Yeah I defenitely meant SCFH! Boy that would be sick at 100 scfm! You want the 90 with the open side towards the impeller. Did you put a gate valve on there? You can get really good control with the valve. You can control it for the best setting for wattage and air.
Mike

 

[onetrickpony]

Would this materal work
http://tinyurl.com/2mmjk7
http://tinyurl.com/3xrvvw

 

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9860350#post9860350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onetrickpony
Would this materal work
http://tinyurl.com/2mmjk7
http://tinyurl.com/3xrvvw

It looks promising depending what it is made of.

 

[onetrickpony]

Stainless Steel wire - Alloy 304

 

[RandyStacyE]

Here's some more ... they are in France though:
http://www.jacquesdubois.com/en/produits_specifiques.php?onglet=4&liste=4&sousliste=0

 

[Creetin]

I don't have a gat valve that small, But i used a ballvalve. I cannot seem to get this pump to run with any more restriction on it. As soon as i close it off just a little it cavitates. I am going to clear my head for a bit, I am flustered. I tried everything.
Its probably just staring me in the face as to why its happening, But i am just getting wet and flustered. I have to get some yard work done now, I will play around with it tonight.
Smjkj I think you have the right idea, I just can't seem to make it work.
Thanks for the help. Heres a pic of the meter with it pulling 90 scfh. I'll take a vid tonight.

 

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9860511#post9860511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
I don't have a gat valve that small, But i used a ballvalve. I cannot seem to get this pump to run with any more restriction on it. As soon as i close it off just a little it cavitates. I am going to clear my head for a bit, I am flustered. I tried everything.
Its probably just staring me in the face as to why its happening, But i am just getting wet and flustered. I have to get some yard work done now, I will play around with it tonight.
Smjkj I think you have the right idea, I just can't seem to make it work.
Thanks for the help. Heres a pic of the meter with it pulling 90 scfh. I'll take a vid tonight.

I am talking about a gate valve on the intake of the pump right before the barb fitting. That wat it is adjusting the restriction before the air input. By the way that is a really good result at
90 scfh!

 

[dudedudedude]

Is this metal mesh available for purchase to the lay person?

 

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9860511#post9860511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
I don't have a gat valve that small, But i used a ballvalve. I cannot seem to get this pump to run with any more restriction on it. As soon as i close it off just a little it cavitates. I am going to clear my head for a bit, I am flustered. I tried everything.
Its probably just staring me in the face as to why its happening, But i am just getting wet and flustered. I have to get some yard work done now, I will play around with it tonight.
Smjkj I think you have the right idea, I just can't seem to make it work.
Thanks for the help. Heres a pic of the meter with it pulling 90 scfh. I'll take a vid tonight.

I am talking about a gate valve on the intake of the pump right before the barb fitting. That wat it is adjusting the restriction before the air input. By the way that is a really good result at
90 scfh!

 

[onetrickpony]

Matala Rigid Filter Media sample 5$ + shipping

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9816422#post9816422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onetrickpony
This material looks very close to the BK mat
http://tinyurl.com/yufler

This looks like an exact match
http://tinyurl.com/24g8a4
http://tinyurl.com/2gmry8

 

[Inflames]

I still think titanium mesh would work perfectly for this.

 

[spykes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9860511#post9860511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
I don't have a gat valve that small, But i used a ballvalve. I cannot seem to get this pump to run with any more restriction on it. As soon as i close it off just a little it cavitates. I am going to clear my head for a bit, I am flustered. I tried everything.
Its probably just staring me in the face as to why its happening, But i am just getting wet and flustered. I have to get some yard work done now, I will play around with it tonight.
Smjkj I think you have the right idea, I just can't seem to make it work.
Thanks for the help. Heres a pic of the meter with it pulling 90 scfh. I'll take a vid tonight.

very nice results dood. Is the pump quiet? I hear some werid noises on the video. Almost sounded like the mesh was hitting the volute.

 

[smjtkj]

Sorry Double post

 

[Creetin]

No its very quiet, What you hear is the air and it gasping. If the airflow meter was not on the silicone hose would swing like a elephant trunk. LOL Its true.

 

[hahnmeister]

I think someone (creetin) mentioned that this may not be anywhere what a Red Dragon can do... well, I have news for you... Im taking a guess that the 100watt pump will end up at about 65watts as a meshwheel, and FWIW, 90scfh is actually more than a Red Dragon can do... The BK400EXT uses 68watts, produces about 87scfh. It seems as though we have hit that w/o the custom volutes even. The 120scfh is enough to compete with a needlwheel dart... and for a fraction of the wattage.

 

[smjtkj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9862084#post9862084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I think someone (creetin) mentioned that this may not be anywhere what a Red Dragon can do... well, I have news for you... Im taking a guess that the 100watt pump will end up at about 65watts as a meshwheel, and FWIW, 90scfh is actually more than a Red Dragon can do... The BK400EXT uses 68watts, produces about 87scfh. It seems as though we have hit that w/o the custom volutes even. The 120scfh is enough to compete with a needlwheel dart... and for a fraction of the wattage.

Actually, it is more than a orca can do. The Dart Orca without the air pump can only pull 80 or so scfh depending on head height and use a minimum of 140-145 watts. I am over 100 scfh, but that is with mesh and a shorter body. The reaction chamber on my skimmer is only 24 inches and the overall height is 42 inches.