Need an air pump reccomendation (multi-air driven skimmer setup)

[1DeR9_3Hy]

What are my options? I see Danner/Supreme make some large air pumps for ponds, but their must be something that will work for certain.

I was recently given a 72x18x24 tank that i am setting up in my basement (so appearance wise, just about anything is 'a go')...and i have 4 - 39" tall, 5" diameter air driven skimmers here. I was thinking of using all four in the sump, next to the tank.

Im pretty new when it comes to air driven skimmers, what should i be looking at to drive these?

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

up to the top

 

[addicted2reefin]

alita makes a good airpump but they are up there in price

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Yeah....their about as much as the supreme air pumps with the same flow.

Maybe im trying to over do it here, could i use regular air pumps on these?

 

[Mike31154]

I just use a Stellar W60 on my air driven unit, but it only has two air stones and might be a little smaller than the units you have. I've been looking for something bigger in the way of air pumps, but they seem to get to a certain plateau, aka the diaphragm cheapies and then jump in size and price to the pond size jobs with nothing in between.

Anyhow, the Stellar drives two stones just fine. If you're looking to drive more than that in very tall skimmer something larger will likely be required. I have a small manifold to attach the two air stones. I suppose one could always run separate air lines for each air stone and run them on multiple small air pumps.

There's a DIY link on the RC home page and one of them gets you to the Snailman's DIY stuff, which includes some good info on air driven skimmers. Not much on air pumps I think but some useful info on air stones etc. Even a project to build your own monster wooden air stone.

Snailman's DIY

Awesome Air Diffuser

 

[Mike31154]

BTW, two of those skimmers will likely be sufficient for the tank.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15582775#post15582775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike31154
I just use a Stellar W60 on my air driven unit, but it only has two air stones and might be a little smaller than the units you have. I've been looking for something bigger in the way of air pumps, but they seem to get to a certain plateau, aka the diaphragm cheapies and then jump in size and price to the pond size jobs with nothing in between.

Anyhow, the Stellar drives two stones just fine. If you're looking to drive more than that in very tall skimmer something larger will likely be required. I have a small manifold to attach the two air stones. I suppose one could always run separate air lines for each air stone and run them on multiple small air pumps.

There's a DIY link on the RC home page and one of them gets you to the Snailman's DIY stuff, which includes some good info on air driven skimmers. Not much on air pumps I think but some useful info on air stones etc. Even a project to build your own monster wooden air stone.

Snailman's DIY

Awesome Air Diffuser

Thank you much buddy!

I was eye balling the diy diffuser, but i decided to chop up a bunch of wood instead

I noticed the same thing with the air pumps, their is NO middle ground here.

 

[Mike31154]

Apparently Tetra Lufts may be had in a good size, but I've been unable to source them in my area, will likely need to use the net or take a drive to the big city. Good luck with the project, I'm quite content with the performance of my old school skimmer, it uses minimal power, is very quiet and I prefer to run it fairly dry so my drain bottle rarely needs to be emptied. I clean out the collection cup every week or so and there's plenty of dry gunk to be scraped off the sides of the tube & collection cup.

 

[MSX-Jeff]

The great thing about the Alita pumps is that they are virtually indestructible. There are folks that have had the same alita in use for 10-15 yrs. That's what you really want to look for, that and wattage used. IIRC the AL-100 only uses ~120w for 120lpm (256 SCFH!) You aren't going to get that anywhere else

PM jnarowe and ask about his Alita...He had a huge airstone skimmer that was run by an Alita .