I agree with Marc on why its spitting water. I had to increase the injector housing height on both my 32in. and 36in. becketts. Put them up near the collection cup or above operating water level.

I disagree on the Mag 18 for such a large skimmer. Like Brad, my 32in. never ran up to its potential on a Mak4. I like the Iwaki 70 idea. Plus the main tube would then run a higher foam head and lower water level, depending on the consistancy of foam desired.

The beggining of my injection chamber is level with the top of the reaction chamber. The only thing i see wrong is i cant get the bubbles to go from the injection tube(2.5") to the reaction chamber(6"). So if i shorten the reaction tube down to 3 feet you think and then shorted the injection toube to maybe 4 feet this should work better? Also it would seem my injection housing is filling with water quite quikly is this normal?

Oh, I went back and looked again. Is the beckett where the coke can is pictured? If so, that should be plenty high.

Brad, you could be right...i was under the impression a mag 18 was a pressure rated pump...?
lol, yes it was a 1/2 horse spa pump, but i also used it on a 50" Quad injected skimmer.

I hadnt seen the pic of his skimmer, but if i just take a beckett on its own, it doesnt need anymore than a mag 18.....but the skimmer design would play a large role in the correct pressure to run it. ( such as is in Tarolisol`s case)

I have never used one for that application, but I know jamie uses a mag 18 on a beckett skimmer that i had built ,and he is using...it stands at 43" high and is dual becketts....while i would say it is a bit under powered, it is working just fine at litterally half the flow...but by the same token it is being run like a normal beckett skimmer, And Tarolisol cant with that design.

Sorry Tarolisol, i hadnt looked at the pic, i just did...

With a normal beckett skimmer the water height would be at the base of the reaction tube.

The problem in yours i believe, is that the reaction column is too high for for that pump, when the column is partially filled with water ( wich it would need to be in your case being that tall of a chamber to get foam to the cup) it is creating WAY more back pressure on that pump, than if the water were at the base of the column.


You can check if this is the problem, just let the water flow out of the skimmer reaction tube until its at the base of the column...then look at the beckett...it should be operating normally, less spitting (a little is normal)...and better flow and bubbles down the injection tower.

So yes, you do need a bigger pump, Or you need to cut that one down...if it is contact time you are worried about, then atleast leave the injector tower as is, and cut the other.

And yes, its normal for the beckett housing to fill with water, as a beckett itself is not watertight.
But the reason for it filling real fast, is because of the "spitting" and the back pressure...this will be corrected with the changes made.

Marc.

bigger pump
 

tarolisol
fyi i have a 48" tall skimmer with the same size tubing for the chamber. the difference between mine and yours is I didn't use the bigger acrylic tubing for the injector - i used 1" schedule 40 tubing.
I had use the following pump configurations with the results from:
Not good/ good/ better/ best:

mag 18 and mak 4 to dual injectors - best
mag 18 to single injector - not good
mak 4 to single injector - good
iwaki70 to dual injectors - better
iwaki70 to single injector - best

The spa pump mentioned here ... what model is it ... who retails it ? ... any and all relevant info appreciated

I have a mak 4 running my Beckett right now ( upgrade in performance from my old Mag 18 for sure ) ... however I do have it setup so that I can run dual Becketts if necessary and pump model/price was always a concern.

OK so ive removed my skimmer and am going to cut down the tubing. Given the the injector tubing is 2.5" and the other tubing is 6" what does everyone suggest i cut the hight of each down to. Maybe 4 feet high with the 6" and 4.5 feet with the 2.5". Now is that hight from floor level or the hight of the tubing siting on the little little box below it. Also does the skimmer need to be above the water level in the sump to work or can it sit on the floor floor level.

I would cut it so you would have a 32 " beckett that is the total height and and maybe add a second beckett injector to it . and run a mak 5 on it. oh ya


mike

Well if i was going to run a mak 5 i dont think i would have to shorten it.

Steve ... down boy. :razz: :lol:

You can use a hottub pump on aquariums. Generally they retail second-hand for $100 or so.

The problem is ... well take a look at the power usage of any pump you find. You'll end up paying for that pump again and again every 2 months or so ...