azjohnny
Active member
You did not have to buy a LR skimmer to get the main benefit of them -
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Wildman help me out here. What I am looking at besides your skimmer?
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You did not have to buy a LR skimmer to get the main benefit of them -
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Based on the picture, it looks like he modified the venturi to draw from the skimmer cup since Aquamaxx skimmers don't come that way.
You did not have to buy a LR skimmer to get the main benefit of them -
So you are no longer using a needle wheel pump and you have increased contact time in your skimmer's body?
Correct me if I am wrong but don't most needle wheel pump venturi's introduce air at the intake of the pump which then get fractionated into micro bubbles with no varying size which is not considered ideal?
There is more turbulence in the skimming chamber with bubbles varying in size due to large bubbles pushing mass amounts of micro bubbles out of the way as they rush up.
From what I can see in the picture it looks like his air line is going to a venturi at the intake of the pump as well.
Also cone skimmers funnel all the bubbles straight up into the neck practically herding them to the exit... With LR (and a very few other brands) that have the flat top with a portion opening into the neck cause more turbulence and contact time as bubbles are also pushed away from the neck and forced around in the skimmer chamber longer...
So you are no longer using a needle wheel pump and you have increased contact time in your skimmer's body?
Correct me if I am wrong but don't most needle wheel pump venturi's introduce air at the intake of the pump which then get fractionated into micro bubbles with no varying size which is not considered ideal?
There is more turbulence in the skimming chamber with bubbles varying in size due to large bubbles pushing mass amounts of micro bubbles out of the way as they rush up.
From what I can see in the picture it looks like his air line is going to a venturi at the intake of the pump as well.
Also cone skimmers funnel all the bubbles straight up into the neck practically herding them to the exit... With LR (and a very few other brands) that have the flat top with a portion opening into the neck cause more turbulence and contact time as bubbles are also pushed away from the neck and forced around in the skimmer chamber longer...
On the LR Design, how can contact time be increased, when so much water is processed through the skimmer? [/B]
Because the bubbles aren't shooting straight up to the top. They are bouncing around inside the skimmer body, creating more dwell time.
This LR skims much more than any needle wheel skimmer I've owned, even high end Vertex Alphas, and without all the maintenance/adjustments.
Both things I posted that you highlighted about contact time in chamber and turbulence was related to the LR skimmer... Your cone skimmer does not implement that... also the inlet into the skimmer chamber is from the top down. Blasts into the bottom of the skimmer, deflects off the bottom then goes up. At this point most of it once again hit the top of the skimmer chamber and bounces around again and does not exit immediately since only a portion of the top is opened to the neck
I'm not trying to rip on your skimmer, I hear good things about them.
But i'm looking at this pic from their website and there's a few things...
1) the pump is inside the body. Proprietary? No, but neither is the LR design. In fact, it is space well used and not wasted.Can you use any old hobby pump?No Does size matter?No How quick can you get a replacement if it dies?Easy, it is a Sicce Syncra.
2) bubble plate... shoots the bubbles straight up - If you knew of this "bubble chamber", you would know there is massive turbulence/scrubbing of the water, BEFORE it is released straight up. What does not go straight into the neck/collection cup, swirls, or as you call it, is turbulence in the body for additional contact time or scrubbing.
3) into that wide, cone neck - ?And?, it is efficient, and provides efficient removal of docs.
4) that distance is REALLY short so not much time for contact - See #2
You may like your skimmer and that's great, but this design doesn't look nearly as efficient as the LR and making one little mod does not make it anything like the LR skimmer. They are still two completely different designs.
but it definitely is, as other users of this skimmer can attest to.
Sorry it does not "look" efficient to "you", but it definitely is, as other users of this skimmer can attest to. The one little mod is a good idea, just trying to show that. No need to get your feelings hurt about your LR skimmer being put into perspective. It is a nice skimmer, for an old design.Lighten up....