my diy needle wheel dart pump

[jnarowe]

Zero noise from the Alita. The only noise I can hear is the air escaping from my ghetto rigged adapters (hose clamps over threaded adapters).

Keep in mind that my system is in a tank room and there are a variety of other noises. The noisiest thing are the coolin fans. When they shut off I'll listen for the Alita again and if it is noisy, I'll let you know.

 

[windgod]

dart info from sequence

dart info from sequence

been really curious about this post would like to have a large needlewheel pump but do not have access to a CNC machine so I called the folks at sequence and asked them if they were going to manufacture and market the dart needlewheel, I talked to a gal there that works with "curt" she said that they are testing the impellar and the tests should be completed in late may that will determine if they are going to manufacture this pump but she thought "yes" just wanted to spread the news

Rick

 

[Bill Wann]

Well , Ive been making the bottom plate fro the skimmer , It will be kinda like a bubble king with the holes around the outside and a bubble palte in th emiddle . There are 15 2ich return hols on the plate .
Its amde of 3/4 inch acrylic . The cone should be here on firday and it should be done within a week.

 

[smjtkj]

Bill,
Are you gonna use the darts or the pumps from the RK2 in the
pic?
Mike

 

[jnarowe]

How that's a MONSTER Bill!!!

My wife is already referring to the reef as my girlfriend.

 

[zapata41]

well if your cooling fans are louder than the alita then i am sold on one, just have to figure out which one to get, the 60 or the 40, also on ebay there is a dual linear piston gast pump on there, 7psi at 120lpm on 20 bucks right now.

Tim

 

[jnarowe]

Damn, I could have used that Gast! I missed out on one last week and I couldn't wait for another. I checked the Alita with the fans off and it is a little noisy but really not too bad. Maybe about as noisy as a Sequence pump. Just kind of a hum really.

This looks like a good one on eBay. Same seller as before though and his feedback stinks.

I would definitely go for the 60 if you can afford it. I got my 100 for $355 including shipping from Septic Solutions:

Address: Septic Solutions, Inc.
314 W Center Street
Dieterich, IL 62424
United States
Phone: 217-925-5992
Email: jodi@septicsolutions.net

 

[landragon]

I have checked this thread every week or so for progress, and I must say in the last two I found it. Well done on it guys. Looking forward to the future of this even more now.

 

[melev]

Jonathan - your skimmer looks Grrreat!

Bill - looking forward to seeing how your skimmer progresses.

 

[mhurley]

Bill,

I may have to journey up to visit you to see this skimmer some day soon.

 

[DerekW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7071553#post7071553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
When I get back from vacation I'll pull it apart and checked the stones.

You just set up a monster DIY skimmer, and now you're leaving for vacation? That scares me.
I have some stuff I want to do, but I'm leaving in 2 weeks for r&r and I'm afraid to change anything.

 

[jnarowe]

DerekW Let's put it this way: My wife said, and I quote, "I do not want your fish tank to ruin our vacation." Since we haven't had a vacation together in years because of our store, and since she is running it and therefore supplying the cash flow, I think I'll take the risk. I don't want anyone to think I don't wear the pants in the family, but fair is fair. And much of the increase in net this year has gone into my tank...

I have a buddy close to my house who has enough knowledge to run it and I will have Aqua Notes email his wireless handheld if any parameters get out of safe zones. besides, I haven't put in any fish yet!

Thanks Marc!

I have been asked for a full size shot:

 

[melev]

Can that skimmer drain out completely, and if so can the sump hold that volume? HUGE!

 

[jnarowe]

Marc,

The sump cannot hold that water. And this does complicate water changes a bit, but supposedly with the Hartford loop it should not be able to drain at all. I will be testing that today. The real problem is with the air pump. If there is a power loss, the skimmer will force water back into the air pump so I need to resolve that as well.

I have contemplated putting the skimmer in its own dry sump but I would rather not if I can avoid it. As far as water changes go, I think that if I just evacuate water while replacing it, I shouldn't have any problem. It's just getting the timing/volume right and with my mental condition, I get easily distracted and could forget to watch it.

 

[melev]

Either put check valves on the airline tubing to protect the pump, or move the air pump higher than the water level.

You need a bigger sump.

 

[gobygoby]

Thats the wimpy'est skimmer i have ever seen.







j/k
NIce work, looks like a monster!

 

[jnarowe]

In hind site I should have used much bigger sumps but I had these and they fit well. At some pont I may switch to 150g units. The check valve would have to be some kind of special high flow valve and I am not sure how to find that.

 

[RGibson]

Jonathan marc has the best way put the air pump high up to keep the water out,chech valve is not a good idea it will stop working when you need it the most.

 

[jnarowe]

Good point RG. I tested the Hartford loop and it does work. So the skimmer will hold its water if there is some kind of failure or when I need to make water changes. Now that's a relief!

As far as mounting the air pump up high two things come to mind. One is right now I have it mounted at the inflow side of one of the blowers so that it gets air circulation and I am not sure that mounting it up high will keep the pressure from forcing the water through anyway. I was thinking I could make a loop up high though. Maybe that would work?

 

[AcroSteve]

This thread has been hijacked.

It was about a DIY needle wheel, and is now about a airstone powered skimmer.