I got my enkamat!

[Rogger Castells]

I finally received my enkamat, I will be re-doing the euro-reef tomorrow

 

[bckane]

Rogger Let us know how it turns out..
Im still waiting for mine to come in the mail to do my ASM

 

[jeffbrig]

Ok, I feel out of the loop. What's an enkamat?

 

[Abengochea]

I feel terrible. sorry Rogger I havent had a chance to swing by there and give u some of the enkemat. If u need any help with it, let me know

 

[Abengochea]

enkemat is a mesh that is used to modify needlewheel skimmers which help it perform way better than stock

 

[gasman059]

needlewheel mesh mod

 

[draleigh]

Does the mesh mod work better then the gutter mod?

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9322259#post9322259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by draleigh
Does the mesh mod work better then the gutter mod?

Good question, I am currently using the gutter type material, today I am going to try the enkamat, I have a feeling that it will work better just by looking at the material it is very irregular in shape and looks very thin & sturdy, I will post results.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9321379#post9321379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Abengochea
I feel terrible. sorry Rogger I havent had a chance to swing by there and give u some of the enkemat. If u need any help with it, let me know

you don't have to feel bad, I was the one whop was suppose to call you, but I have been terribly busy this month.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9321215#post9321215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Ok, I feel out of the loop. What's an enkamat?

Someone came up with this mod for needle wheel, basically you take the needle wheel out cut all the needles stubs and replace it with 2 or 3 discs made out of this mesh looking material call enkamat, this material it is way more effective at cutting the air bubbles thus makes the skimmer way more efficient.
I tried with a similar looking material and I saw the difference, i am hoping the enkamat is even better.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9321382#post9321382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Abengochea
enkemat is a mesh that is used to modify needlewheel skimmers which help it perform way better than stock

Which "stock" pumps are you comparing the meshwheel to? The old Sedras? I was following one thread recently, and didn't think the meshwheels were any better (in terms of air volume) than the SP4 or new Eheim pumps.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9323208#post9323208 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Which "stock" pumps are you comparing the meshwheel to? The old Sedras? I was following one thread recently, and didn't think the meshwheels were any better (in terms of air volume) than the SP4 or new Eheim pumps.

I agree there would be no difference in the air volume, the difference is on the increased amount of bubbles due to a smaller size.
I have been comparing the scum output and it has significantly increased, My skimmer uses one sedra 5000.

 

[jeffbrig]

I actually have a pair of Eheim needlewheels arriving Tuesday for my RC500. I'm eager to see how they compare against the SP4 (GenX) pumps I've been using for the last year and change. From what I understand, it draws 15L/min of air and chops it finer than the SP4. It would be awesome to do a side by side test of all the different pump options and see which produces the most and smallest bubbles.

 

[kroe]

I just tried the enkemat mod and the wattage draw doesn't seem right... Did I do something wrong?

I have a NW-200. The NW was the two row impeller. I broke the outer row off, cut two squares of enkemat, and zip tied them to the impeller with a small zip tie every other rung of the impeller. I then cut the enkemat to the size of the impeller and trimmed any danglers.

I plugged it in, and it didn't start right away, I needed to stick my finger over the water inlet for a fraction of a second to cut the water intake down and jump start it. When it did start it was pulling 99 watts on my kill-a-watt. I didn't get a baseling reading, but this seems too high. Did I do something wrong? The foam seems good, but the wattage draw should drop from stock, right?

 

[kroe]

I am posting this in the octopus skimmer mods thread, but wanted to add a comment here for future searchers.

The 99 watts was with the stock venturi. I just bored the stock venturi out and replaced the airline with some 1/4" PEX, and the wattage is now at 65. Still higher than I would have thought, but the bubbles are great.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Kroe, I have a feeling that there must be either part of the enkamat or the cable tie rubbing against the walls of the pump causing the extra friction thus extra juice to turn the propeller.

 

[kroe]

Rogger: What did you get for a wattage reading?

 

[Rogger Castells]

Kroe, I have never checked the wattage, I should, but I don't even have the equipment to check that kind of stuff.

 

[bawla47]

i tested mine. and with the enkamat 3 layer mod with zip ties, pulls 48 watts.

this is with a sedra 5000

 

[kroe]

Rogger - kill-a-watt meter is about $25 online - great investment. You'd be shocked at how far off some equipment is from claimed wattages. It will pay for itself by catching something that is using an atrocious amount of energy.