Volcano club

[fizhfly]

Venturi Only
Using Alita 40-type air pump

Watt Draw:
160-175 watts
135 watts

Standard Cubic Feet/Hr
Liters of air per hour:
70 scfh
1980 LPH
120 scfh
3400 LPH

Max Skimmer height (water head pressure):
20”
84”

Recommended skimmer diameter
18”+
18”+

Will service tanks up to:
1200 gallons
2500 gallons

Bubble Characteristics
very fine
fine with occasional large

 

[Volcano1]

I'm about 126-127 with out figuring in the Alita 40 air pump for watt draw. Did you figure that in to your totals?. I'm using an 1860 model.
Also, had some issues with poor preformance and increase in what draw. Got it down to a dirty venturi, cleaned it and things returned to normal. If anyone is having trouble getting air in the body,check this. I cleaned mine with a large pipe cleaner looking brust, I think used to clean overflow tubes on undergravel lift tubes. HTH.

Todd

 

[fizhfly]

those figures are from reeflo who make the pump
i have no problem with my skimmer and i run 2700 gallons an hour through it the airpump is bled slightly so that it dosent cavitate and the gate valve to the needle wheel is all the way open.
i tryed all kinds of ways when i gort the skimmer and this has worked quite well .
i have a very large bio load
the more i feed the reef the better the skimmer works.
but rember that a skimmer only helps between water changes
i feel i have mine set like the national aquariums run there skimmers mega water through put and they are quite turbulant inside the reaction chamber.
and rember dont make the riser tube real turbulant that is where you lose your organics

 

[fizhfly]

here is a photo of a bank of skimmers at a national aquarium the flow through is mega.the water level in the skimmer is at the begining of the cone.

 

[fizhfly]

i am building an airstone manimold with 6 ceramic airstones run by a pond master 40 deep water air pump producing 130 more cfm the pipe will come up through the center of the lid.
i am going to see if it inproves the skimmer or makes it worse.
i was talking to some one from schuran and they use a ince and half ventury to run there big skimmers but that would require a huge pump to power it.
i will keep you all informed of the out come.
my tank runs fine with the alita 40 but this is to satisfie the curosity i have with everyones feelings toward the skimmer of not producing enough air.
i said i would help in any way.
with being the owner of a aqua culture facility i need to know for my self.
if there any other things you guys need or help with let me know
mike

 

[ReefClownMIA]

has anyone ever heard from scott again? Does he build again?

 

[fizhfly]

not sure what scotts doin i have heard from a few that have volcanos

 

[Mikigo]

Ok. Are anyone out there still using a Volcano? Are the new technology much better now? Is it time to upgrade? I am not a DIYer and there is no longer support for Volcanos.
I am looking at SRO 7000. Good idea?

 

[dahenley]

the principle of the Volcano is still big and used by many manufactures.
MRC currently uses the same pump/skimmer style.
Reeflo did make them for a while, but they no longer do.

the evolution of the venture has evolved. it has allowed the skimmers to be used without a airpump on the smaller ones, but the larger ones still rock and work way better with a airpump.

 

[fizhfly]

volcano

volcano

i still have my volcano and it still rocks
i would never again use any other skimmer with a diffrent principle again !

 

[Marc]

Anyone got any pics to share of there skimmers in action?

Marc

 

[fizhfly]

skimmer

skimmer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrGuZy1F4K4

 

[fizhfly]

ok i am gonna post some photos ...i have modified my volcano with a hammer head needle wheel pump.
i am not saying my skimmer did not skim because it has always kept my 500 gallon system thhriving and fast sps growth .
but i do know with the new needle wheel it is producing a lot more air and smaller bubbles , it has displaced 4 more gallons of water with air or bubbles .it has not broke in yet so i will not comment on performance as of yet.
i can say there is less turbulance in the reaction chamber and there is a more stable foam layer on top with less rolling of the water .
i will post the mod details as best that i can .

 

[fizhfly]

the mod is complete and it is pulling a brown shaving cream froth !

 

[biecacka]

that thing looks like a monster

 

[dahenley]

how about the pictures of the impeller, or are you putting the dart orca wheel on a hammer head/baracuda

 

[fizhfly]

its a cnc machined needle wheel straigt from reeflo !
i didnt have to have it moded, reeflo now makes them !

 

[dahenley]

so, are you using a "Orca hammer" or just retro fitted your Hammer Head with the wheel?
just curious!

 

[fizhfly]

it has nothing to do with orca.,.reeflo is making the hammerhead needle wheel with a cnc machined needle wheel diffrent from the dart needle wheel and is or was being made just for mrc and there big commercial skimmers.

 

[dahenley]

I knew MRC uses them, but i thought they (MRC) made their own wheel!
So im guessing you just contact them (Reeflo) dirrectly??

this is exciting!