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A New Beckett
A New Beckett
I have been working with a beckett skimmer with a Iwaki MD55RLT pump for some time to increase the output .The idea was to used only one beckett and have a pump no bigger than the MD55RLT.I have run tests and found it will do as good as a bubble king 200 external.The box for the beckett is 5 1/2 in high and 10 in by 10 in.The beckett is feed at the side of the box and the beckett is down low as it will go.In side the box one 45 ell turn off to the side with a 1 in pipe 2 in long.I want to thank Tom for the used of his BK skimmer for the test.The test was run for 3 weeks and only one skimmer was used at a time for 3 days.The cleaning system was turn off for the test.
A New Beckett
I have been working with a beckett skimmer with a Iwaki MD55RLT pump for some time to increase the output .The idea was to used only one beckett and have a pump no bigger than the MD55RLT.I have run tests and found it will do as good as a bubble king 200 external.The box for the beckett is 5 1/2 in high and 10 in by 10 in.The beckett is feed at the side of the box and the beckett is down low as it will go.In side the box one 45 ell turn off to the side with a 1 in pipe 2 in long.I want to thank Tom for the used of his BK skimmer for the test.The test was run for 3 weeks and only one skimmer was used at a time for 3 days.The cleaning system was turn off for the test.
sherm71tank
Premium Member
I just finished work on a recirc beckett skimmer and it works great. It also seems the foam head is more stable running it this way.
Benny Z
In Memoriam
just started a new system with an mrc mr-2. i have the second beckett for it, but i've read here that they tend to work better with just one beckett using the pcx-55 pump.
this is a brand new system, so there's not really much to pull out, but you get an idea of the bubbles.
this is just running on the sump for now while i cure a bunch of rock. let me know your thoughts on the plumbing. i have the 1.5" return going through a bulkhead at the water level, then going into a 3" adapter to help reduce bubbles. ...however i'm still getting a ton of microbubbles in the sump. just saw the "U" tube mod...might have to try that.
this is a brand new system, so there's not really much to pull out, but you get an idea of the bubbles.
this is just running on the sump for now while i cure a bunch of rock. let me know your thoughts on the plumbing. i have the 1.5" return going through a bulkhead at the water level, then going into a 3" adapter to help reduce bubbles. ...however i'm still getting a ton of microbubbles in the sump. just saw the "U" tube mod...might have to try that.
jjmatti
Premium Member
Need Help Troubleshooting
Need Help Troubleshooting
Last night I disconnected my mr-2 to switch it over to my new tank. Going from one 180Long to 180RR..
I am not getting the same fine bubbles and foam as I did before I switched it from the old tank to the new. The only thing I did differently that I know of for sure was the spaflex that went from the pump output to the beckett was 1/2". This time I set it up I used 1" Spaflex. I figured this would be better??
- Some things I checked already..
- The skimmer is draining right into sump(1/2" above water level) so there is no backpressure
- Also I have fiddled with the air intake and water levels and could not get it dialed in ..
Any suggestions would help.
Need Help Troubleshooting
Last night I disconnected my mr-2 to switch it over to my new tank. Going from one 180Long to 180RR..
I am not getting the same fine bubbles and foam as I did before I switched it from the old tank to the new. The only thing I did differently that I know of for sure was the spaflex that went from the pump output to the beckett was 1/2". This time I set it up I used 1" Spaflex. I figured this would be better??
- Some things I checked already..
- The skimmer is draining right into sump(1/2" above water level) so there is no backpressure
- Also I have fiddled with the air intake and water levels and could not get it dialed in ..
Any suggestions would help.
jjmatti
Premium Member
Just had a thought??
Could it be the new Spaflex I am using?? I used brand-new spaflex, and am thinking it might have had some oils or something inside of it that would inhibit the foam production, ??
Maybe I need to let it run for longer then a day to see if it washes it away...
Could it be the new Spaflex I am using?? I used brand-new spaflex, and am thinking it might have had some oils or something inside of it that would inhibit the foam production, ??
Maybe I need to let it run for longer then a day to see if it washes it away...
u tube mod on MR-1
u tube mod on MR-1
i tried the u tube mod on my MR-1 and wanted to share my experience. it's a much smaller box than the MR-2, and presented some problems. it's being driven by a PCX-40.
the bulkhead for the becket is the same size as the larger units, so 1 1/2" fittings are still what you need. it's obviously located the same distance from the wall of the chamber since the fitting holds on by itself once you get it over the bulkhead.
due to the location of the drain fittings, there is not enough room in the chamber to accomodate two slip x slip 1 1/2" 90's. if you use a street elbow off the bulkhead, you can just make it all fit, but the output is not centered in the skimming tower. this creates a lot of turbulence in the foam head. i also tried using a 45 fitting in place of the 90 to direct the becket output into the tower, this creates a different type of turbulence which appears to be a little more controllable. both configurations pretty much eliminate the microbubbles from the drain.
once the u tube is in place, you can only open the air valve a short way, maybe 1/2 turn max, before overflowing the skimmer. right now i'm running it with the 90 street elbow + 90 elbow, only about 1/4 turn of air, with the water level in the tower just at the bottom of the injector . it's giving a good dry foam, but i don't really have a lot of control with only 1/4 turn being the difference between dry skimming and overflowing.
if anyone has any suggestions about what to try next, i'd love to hear them. should i raise the becket, to get the effect of lowering the water level relative to the becket but still have enough water in the tower to get skimmate? should i get an extension for the tower, so i can jam more foam up there? or maybe just restrict the air intake so i have more control over the low range that it requires now?
u tube mod on MR-1
i tried the u tube mod on my MR-1 and wanted to share my experience. it's a much smaller box than the MR-2, and presented some problems. it's being driven by a PCX-40.
the bulkhead for the becket is the same size as the larger units, so 1 1/2" fittings are still what you need. it's obviously located the same distance from the wall of the chamber since the fitting holds on by itself once you get it over the bulkhead.
due to the location of the drain fittings, there is not enough room in the chamber to accomodate two slip x slip 1 1/2" 90's. if you use a street elbow off the bulkhead, you can just make it all fit, but the output is not centered in the skimming tower. this creates a lot of turbulence in the foam head. i also tried using a 45 fitting in place of the 90 to direct the becket output into the tower, this creates a different type of turbulence which appears to be a little more controllable. both configurations pretty much eliminate the microbubbles from the drain.
once the u tube is in place, you can only open the air valve a short way, maybe 1/2 turn max, before overflowing the skimmer. right now i'm running it with the 90 street elbow + 90 elbow, only about 1/4 turn of air, with the water level in the tower just at the bottom of the injector . it's giving a good dry foam, but i don't really have a lot of control with only 1/4 turn being the difference between dry skimming and overflowing.
if anyone has any suggestions about what to try next, i'd love to hear them. should i raise the becket, to get the effect of lowering the water level relative to the becket but still have enough water in the tower to get skimmate? should i get an extension for the tower, so i can jam more foam up there? or maybe just restrict the air intake so i have more control over the low range that it requires now?
maro1
New member
jjmatti said: Just had a thought??
Could it be the new Spaflex I am using?? I used brand-new spaflex, and am thinking it might have had some oils or something inside of it that would inhibit the foam production, ??
Maybe I need to let it run for longer then a day to see if it washes it away...
Sure could be the spaflex. Need to give it a few days to breakdown any residual oils.
Mar
Could it be the new Spaflex I am using?? I used brand-new spaflex, and am thinking it might have had some oils or something inside of it that would inhibit the foam production, ??
Maybe I need to let it run for longer then a day to see if it washes it away...
Sure could be the spaflex. Need to give it a few days to breakdown any residual oils.
Mar
cweder
Member
RGibson or anyone?? You mentioned a 45 degree el worked well
in comparison to a BK. Can I take this to mean this is the optimum setup for performance, without regard to microbubbles entering down stream. Seems like most are setting the tube back up the skimmer at 180 degrees to minimize microbubble. So what is optimal for performance? I would think 45 or 90 in my dual-beckett MR4 would enhance skimming. Thanks
in comparison to a BK. Can I take this to mean this is the optimum setup for performance, without regard to microbubbles entering down stream. Seems like most are setting the tube back up the skimmer at 180 degrees to minimize microbubble. So what is optimal for performance? I would think 45 or 90 in my dual-beckett MR4 would enhance skimming. Thanks
jjmatti
Premium Member
Help?
I am pretty sure the new Spaflex was part of the problem because now I am getting smaller bubbles and better froth, but the water level in the box is still very unstable, it goes up and down every few miniutes. I will dial the skimmer in and then 10 min later the water level is completely down or it has risen so high it overflows and fill up my waste collector causing the whole system to shut down..
Any idea of what can cause that??
I am pretty sure the new Spaflex was part of the problem because now I am getting smaller bubbles and better froth, but the water level in the box is still very unstable, it goes up and down every few miniutes. I will dial the skimmer in and then 10 min later the water level is completely down or it has risen so high it overflows and fill up my waste collector causing the whole system to shut down..
Any idea of what can cause that??
jj-
if i remember right, you went from 1/2" to 1" on your input pipe. you may just be seeing new skimmer behavior with the increased flow. i need to dial in mine in slow increments in order to avoid exactly the scenario you're describing. only mine drains into a bucket not a collector, so i don't shut down just end up doing an unpremeditated water change.
if i remember right, you went from 1/2" to 1" on your input pipe. you may just be seeing new skimmer behavior with the increased flow. i need to dial in mine in slow increments in order to avoid exactly the scenario you're describing. only mine drains into a bucket not a collector, so i don't shut down just end up doing an unpremeditated water change.
RGibson, thanks for the advice on using the 45, i'll switch back to that.
do you have any other suggestions for tuning a small skimmer? i'm pretty happy with the skimmate after the U tube modification, it's much darker than i was ever able to get before. but it's really hard to adjust right now, every small change in the air flow == a huge change in the foam production.
i've read this entire thread (!) no small feat and you seem to be pretty smart about your beckets.
do you have any other suggestions for tuning a small skimmer? i'm pretty happy with the skimmate after the U tube modification, it's much darker than i was ever able to get before. but it's really hard to adjust right now, every small change in the air flow == a huge change in the foam production.
i've read this entire thread (!) no small feat and you seem to be pretty smart about your beckets.
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