Optimized Beckett

[spankey]

Bringing this back to life once more. Anyone else tried this? I have an MRC1 skimmer running off a Mag12 I am wondering if this would work?

Also I see allot of people saying that Lowes carried the becket? I assume these are in the garden section?

My buddy owns a pond supply store so maybe he has them I could get a bunch real cheap!!!!!!

Shame no one posted some before and after shots of their skimmers actually running!!!!!!

 

[One Dumm Hikk]

spankey, try the pond supply store first. I found them at Lowe's but the only way to get the 1408 was to buy it as part of a 20 dollar kit. You can get just a 1408 on ebay for 5 dollars plus shipping.

 

[spankey]

What type of kit was it? Just curious? Was it a stock item......I called my buddy and he doesn't carry them but he can order one or two for me. I seen the ebay listings and that is somewhat cheap.

 

[skriz]

From what I have seen, this doesn't work.

If you want the MR-1 to perform better, try using a pressure rated pump. The mags really don't push beckett's that well.

 

[dngspot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434890#post13434890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spankey
What type of kit was it? Just curious? Was it a stock item......I called my buddy and he doesn't carry them but he can order one or two for me. I seen the ebay listings and that is somewhat cheap.

They are a stock item. They are in the area that has the pond stuff. It should not be difficult to find, it is the only nozzle kit they have. I went by Home Depot this morning; they have a kit also that has a Beckett clone in it too.
The Lowe’s item number is 060077

 

[spankey]

Well I guess they have them in Kansas because here in PA I was at both Lowes and HD and neither of them had them. As a matter of fact both store clerks looked at me like I was a total spaz... LOL... I even told them it's a fountain nozzle kit.

Need to look again!

Thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

Home Depots that dont sell alot of pond equipment aren't going to have it. Most of your city stores arent, and unless you live in a rural area where ponds are popular... good luck. They do vary from store to store depending on what sells. For example, if you live in the inner city where there are lots of low income homes, chances are that store will not be stocking much if any skylights. On the other hand, that store is likely to carry steel security doors while the more rural ones dont at all.

Eastern Pa... not exactly 'pond country'... might have better luck on ebay.

 

[spankey]

I just made two plugs to plug two holes in my Beckett. I see a noticeable difference. Just cutting off two holes I had to open my gate valve or it would overflow with foam right way. I guess its true for non pressure pumps smaller or less air is better but for pressure rated pumps you would want the larger holes to allow more air.

These were invented for pond use and from my pond install days some of those pumps are huge.

Hahn- I think we have our fair share of ponds here in PA. I am in the country vs the city. I actually used to install them for my buddy AZPONDS and let me tell you it was very busy. LOL. At one point before the saltwater craze it was the latest fad back in the day. Everyone had to have a pond. Everyone had to have Koi. I remember having Koi in the store that were $2000 and they actually sold. I swear some people have all the funds. I wish I did......

I am still going to order a few becketts to try to mod. At least until I can arrange my stand to accept a pressure rated pump......

 

[One Dumm Hikk]

Spankey, it was a 3 nozzle fountain kit. I never did find them at Home Depot, only found them at Lowe's and even then it was a hit-miss where about 70% of the time they didn't stock that kit. They stocked a similar kit that had 2 nozzles, no 1408 clone in it though. The Ebay ones are identical to the ones I found though. And at 10 dollars, its cheaper than the kit was at Lowe's.

 

[2_zoa]

Has any body DIYed this nozzle yet and had any success? With a pressure rated pump could you just put a hole in the output line?

 

[spankey]

I plugged the original holes. Then drilled 12 holes around the becket. Seemed to work good for me running a mag 12. I don't have to open the air as much as I did before and am getting better results. Chunks of crap on the collection cup. Before I just had foam. Now the foam is darker and chunkier.

I don't think the pressure rated pumps work on this mod. I have 4 more becketts coming to do more tests. I will keep an un modded one though to throw back in when I do get a pressure pump.

 

[gary faulkner]

This works much better with pressure rated pumps.

I did the original mod with a pressure rated pump and obtained greater amounts of darker skimate. I think this was a great improvement over the factory designed larger holes.

HTH

 

[spankey]

Wow even on a pressure rated pump? Others stated it didn't work so well on a pressure pump. How many holes did you make if you can recall? Are you still running it?

Thanks

 

[gary faulkner]

I believe it was about 20-30 holes and I believe most people use pressure rated pumps. The becket does not lend itself to non press. rated. I ran it for about a year then changed out to a euroreef skimmer that a friend sold me, for almost nothing. In my opinion the beckets are one of the best skimmers that I have ever used. It is just a little rough on the electric bill.

 

[gary faulkner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8972677#post8972677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gary faulkner
Can't prove anything since I have no way to test but I moded my 30in Aerofoamer. It is 8in diameter x 10in tall main tube going into a 4in diameter x 10in tall top tube going into the collection cup. It has one beckett driven by an Iwaki MD 55 RLT. I drilled approximatly 20, 1/16th holes. I couldn't get any skimmate unless I ran the water level up to about 2 in from the top.

Now I get lots of dark skimmate running water level about 6 in from the top.

Does this make any sense?

 

[gary faulkner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8974251#post8974251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gary faulkner
Oh yea, and its 34 holes, not 20.

I just counted them again, when I cleaned the injector.

Like I said, I can't prove anything but without this mod, I got very little skimmate.

Thanks Waylander for the great Idea.

Might not work as well with a smaller or weaker pump, but with my set-up, it really rocks.

 

[gary faulkner]

double post

 

[hahnmeister]

If you can minimize the back pressure on the beckett's output (any pressure takes a chunk right out of the air intake unlike a needlewheel where its a little bit of water and air), you can use a simple eheim 1260 to make over 2000lph (done it myself with a regular beckett). Only 60 watts. Thats not bad competition for many needlewheels...

 

[RGibson]

Can you tell me how you pipe up the skimmer to make the 1260 work and tall was the skimmer?

 

[tgfrench]

I'm glad someone bumped this thread to my attention. I just finished up my DIY beckett skimmer. 9x8x6 box 6x18 body 3x6 collection tube connected to a DIY bell. I'm running a red sea berlin pump on it currently. And considering a mag 12 upgrade on the pump.

Orignally I had the beckett connected down low to the box. Once I raised it above the water line, I did notice an increase in air intake. Another benefit was that the Beckett quit spitting water out the intake during a power down. I'm currently getting around 3 1/2 cups of dark green and chuncky skimmate a week on my 90 aga with a pretty good bio-load. My (no-air) water line is just below the connector flange between the body and cup. I'll post some pics next week once I get the new beckett drilled and intalled.