Needlewheel skimmer

[casethekid]

I have looked through the whole forum, and haven't found the information that I need. Is it possible to mod a traditional impeller and make it perform like a needlewheel? I am going to attempt to do so and if it works I'll post some pics.

 

[spazz]

that all depends on the type of pump you are going to use. i have modded a couple of different pumps but they were both direct drive pumps and not mag drive pumps.

 

[Andrew]

Yes, it can be done. Some people use bio-balls for their "needle wheel."

 

[loc01]

I think mag pump will make a great needle wheel pump if some one could come up with a good mod for the needle wheel.

Loc

 

[RandyStacyE]

I've seen this topic come up so many times and I've seen the bio ball, but I've heard mixed opinions with it comes to the 3M bristle disk:

I've modified a 3M bristle disk to glue on an impeller, but I don't want to destroy my impeller until I find a replacement impeller first. I've taken detailed pics step by step of what has been done so far.

Has anyone else done it before? I originally found this idea on Reef Frontiers by DonW:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4861&highlight=diy+needle+wheel

 

[RandyStacyE]

I just ordered an impeller for a Gen X 2400 to get the ball rolling. It should be here in approx 5 business days.

 

[quangtam7]

Here is one Mag 12 nw

 

[RandyStacyE]

That one is the coolest NW I've ever seen.

 

[casethekid]

wow...that was great. I think that I am going to buy myself another impeller and try that out. Thanks for the link. I'll post some pics of what I come up with later.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7787032#post7787032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RandyStacyE
I've seen this topic come up so many times and I've seen the bio ball, but I've heard mixed opinions with it comes to the 3M bristle disk:

I've modified a 3M bristle disk to glue on an impeller, but I don't want to destroy my impeller until I find a replacement impeller first. I've taken detailed pics step by step of what has been done so far.

Has anyone else done it before? I originally found this idea on Reef Frontiers by DonW:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4861&highlight=diy+needle+wheel

Randy, are those metal, or plastic?

 

[Horace]

The problem I see with these is that there are far too many bristles. The needlewheel inside of my Aquabee 2000-1 has only 2 rows of pins...thats it! This one has what 5 - 10? Plus they are very densely packed, unlike the Aquabee.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7792376#post7792376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Horace
The problem I see with these is that there are far too many bristles. The needlewheel inside of my Aquabee 2000-1 has only 2 rows of pins...thats it! This one has what 5 - 10? Plus they are very densely packed, unlike the Aquabee.

But who says the aquabee is the optimum design?


You're probably right horace, but I think (If theyre plastic) it would be easy to take them off with a dremel.

The real issue I see is that I could only find them in 2 and 3 inch models, which is a REALLY BIG pump.

 

[RandyStacyE]

RichConley,
They are ‘like rubber’, a pretty tough rubber, but with an abrasive in them. They are for paint stripping and polishing I think.

Horace,
I’ve thought about them being too dense with bristles. What do you think about this?

Anything’s possible with these things.

RichConley,
Did you try NAPA? That’s where I bought mine. I would compare the fine, medium and coarse if they stock all 3. I didn’t do that when I bought the medium.

 

[ziac]

you think the abrasive material could leach out of them and polute your tank ?

 

[RandyStacyE]

I'm not worried about it. 99.9% of the abrasive is embedded/encapsulated in the rubber. I’m more worried as to whether or not the ‘rubber’ itself is ‘reef safe’, but not that worried I’m doing it anyway.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I am note sure why you would not be worried about the exposed abrasive? It is most likely (er surely) aluminum oxide. I would not want that in contact with my tank water. I suppose you could coat it with a dip into some light bodied epoxy...

 

[RandyStacyE]

I just recieved the impeller yesterday. It shouldn't take too long to finish it now.