Volcano club

[just dave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13427782#post13427782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCTewks
THe head pressure is determined by where the PUMP is at.

Isn't head pressure effected by anything that causes a resistance to the pumps output flow?

Isn't water pressure greater the deeper you go?

If the output of the pump ( regardless of where the pump is situated) is higher up in the water column would there not be less water pressure working against it and in effect increase the pumps out put?

 

[yeniraki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13425434#post13425434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saleencobra
does anyone have a theory on why my new bubble will not make any foam when the volcano is running? I shut the volcano off yesterday a let the bk go and it started working but when I put the vol back on line today it kills it. Does the volcano work better than I thought?

JR, I posted a pic maybe 10 pages back of my needle wheel,it is custom.

That is what Energy and I was trying to say. Every one agrees that BK is the best performing skimmer, right? When you put a BK and a Volcano side by side and compare, Volcano will beat, as it would beat any skimmer on the market today (side by side comparison on the same system) due to its volume advantage.
Just test it if you dont believe.
Just connect the alita and spend some time for the fine tuning.

 

[tom obrecht]

I must disagree. I still have my volcano running WITH an Alita 40 forcing air into and I just added two BK sm250's and both BK's are pulling tea colored skimmate even though the volcano is processing 100% of the overflow water. Not to be misunderstood, the volcano is producing skimmate...just not getting everything out of the water that there is.

 

[yeniraki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13431247#post13431247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tom obrecht
I must disagree. I still have my volcano running WITH an Alita 40 forcing air into and I just added two BK sm250's and both BK's are pulling tea colored skimmate even though the volcano is processing 100% of the overflow water. Not to be misunderstood, the volcano is producing skimmate...just not getting everything out of the water that there is.

Feed the BKs directly from overflows and feed the volcano with water coming through out BKs. Just try it please and see what happens. You will not be seeing major difference. Volcano will still skim more as most of the surfactans will accumlate inside volcanos body, not leaving much for the BKs to skim.

 

[saleencobra]

Yes I think the volcano is hampering the BK. The BK did start to produce a little head today. If anyone turned the gate valve on the vol I would have to cut off their hand because it is not an easy spot to find but it is working the best it has so far. I still think it could be better though. The flow to the dart (nw)is cut down quite a bit so I am thinking there is a limit to how much water the dart can handle. One of the other things I haven't messed with is the water coming into the skimmer. It is fed with a dart but I need to do some plumbing before I can turn it up. While I have everyone's ears is there more biaload(skimmate) produced from FOWLR or with a reef?

 

[saleencobra]

Has anyone thought of putting a becket on the vol to get more air in it or would that defeat the whole purpose of a needlewheel skimmer?

 

[skearse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13427895#post13427895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by just dave
Isn't head pressure effected by anything that causes a resistance to the pumps output flow?

Isn't water pressure greater the deeper you go?

If the output of the pump ( regardless of where the pump is situated) is higher up in the water column would there not be less water pressure working against it and in effect increase the pumps out put?

The static head (standing head) of the pump is determined by the difference between the top of the column of water (whether it be the top of the liquid in the skimmer body or the top of the outlet pipe, whichever is higher will govern) and the height of the pump discharge.

 

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13427824#post13427824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mavgi
:thumbsup: Exactly what i said before a long narrow column like the Ati or the BK style will let this pump perform better instead of cutting the skimmer

You think so? I dont know mavgi... not to mention, you are talking an 8" to 12" diameter pipe around that plate... thats not cheap, and you arent removing any back pressure since the skimmer is still tall and the pump is mounted low... so you are still at square one with the force feeding. It leaves something like 3/4 of the skimmer as useless space to collect gunk. I see where you are coming from though... not a bad idea. The thing is, you are adding height below the waterline, not above like with a neck extension, so that results in that 'rocket effect' that Klaus mentioned... those bubbles are going to crash into the top I think.

 

[Nanook]

Has the Hammerhead with a NW been tried yet?

 

[hahnmeister]

No, I mentioned it, but I dont think anyone has bothered. You are right on though... it would be something to consider. I think the connections would be simple. It would mean the neck could use a little more diameter though... or you would set the waterline so bubbles would build up under that reducer.

It is a pretty sloped reducer... it may not be that bad. Something tells me that those guys with an alita-60/80 on these do this anyways.

 

[Nanook]

Does the Hammerhead pump come with a NW? I am currently using a Dart NW with 3-layers of mesh mod and alternating between the Alita 40 and 80, but the turbulence is too much. Geo has been helping me but we are still messing with it trying to get a more consistent, drier skimmate.

 

[Nanook]

 

[Herpervet]

So what does the hammerhead bring to the table? i.e. is it a high speed pump?

I have an extra one that I can pull off of a closed loop. Could I run it with a pinwheel or meshwheel from the dart?

The Deltec guys say that their monster 17 Thousand dollar commercial skimmer runs with a manta ray pump with a venturi. No needle wheel at all. The skimmer is around 8 feet tall and 18 inch diameter.

I couldn't find out the neck diameter however. Anyway this combo is close to what some of us have in the 1860 model.

Also, I am still wondering if a high speed sequence pump might help alot.

Twice the rpm's can't hurt. I have read that the mesh wheel might not handle such high rpms however.

Btw, who was it you mentioned that can do a custom volute for the laguna Hahn?

Reefoctopus or someone else?

 

[Paulairduck]

Hammerhead/Needlewheel

Hammerhead/Needlewheel

I think I read about the guys @ Euro Reef, using the Hammerhead with a needlewheel, it was on there own forum. I dont think they were happy with the results.

I am going to look for that thread later tonight.

 

[yeniraki]

Stronger pump would certainly help. When I used smaller pump (Resun 18000LPH/250watts)with my DIY skimmer I had to force feed. When I started using the pump below, 700watts, moded with 8 layers of enkamat, without force feeding or a special venturi I am having pure white skimmer body with very fine bubbles. Skimmer height is almost 6',diameter is 12''.

 

[yeniraki]

I am using this pump, as it is the smallest I can find that would work with salt water without liming or other problems. We do not have darts here in my country. It is about 8 months since I have been using this one pump with no servicing. I disarded 4 resun pumps previously as they stopped working in a week or so due to liming. Although after servicing they worked but eventually they all gave up.
I am not happy using 700watts for a skimmer however; that is why I am suggesting a smaller pump with force feed, as volcanos were designed to be used.

 

[amehel0]

why can you just raise where the pump is? raise it to the neck
that will mean the only head pressur is inbetween the top of the water and the pump.

 

[yeniraki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434833#post13434833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amehel0
why can you just raise where the pump is? raise it to the neck
that will mean the only head pressur is inbetween the top of the water and the pump.

The headpressure will be the same if you will not change,raise the input, output holes on the skimmer together with the pump.

 

[amehel0]

i dont believe that to be the case. water in a can wants to get out. if you put a hole at the bottom all the water will drain. put a pump on that and the pump has to deal with back pressure. if u have the hole on the bottom and have the pump up top then the only 'hole'/exit point is where the pump is. here is what i mean.

in having said that though i do not know if this applies to a recirc skimmer. maybe running the skimmer with the dart feeding it?

 

[amehel0]

i dont see head prsuure being the issue myself for 1 reason. its a recirc pump. it would be just like using a submersible pump 4' under water. it still acheives the same lph.