Skimmer Makeover
 

Went from my Venturi...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/MVC-047F.jpg

To my DIY Beckett

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/MVC-005B.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/MVC-009B.jpg

now thats dry foam . :biggrin:

Looks good. What made you decide to switch?

Yup, and more importantly, did you notice a difference yet?

dont take this the wrong way, as I hope your skimmer works great for you, but a venturi skimmer setup properly is the most effectient, most effective style of skimmer you can have, all of the large wholesale operations and fish farms use them as they are far superior to any other style of foam fractioning.....

in a hobby sized skimmer such as yours, its not really a big deal to waste a few extra watts on such small scale pumps to power our tiny skimmers

ventura vs beckett
 

Hey Quinn,
Could you please add a few details about the two set ups...ie ventura size, internal plumbing, pump and performance observations for both?
I was making my skimmer a beckett and recently decided to change to a 1.5in ventura......am I misguided?
Thanks
PS Whats the valve on the top of the skimmer box for?

Both injector methods were running on a MAG 18...the original Venturi is a Kent, and the new Beckett is a Canadian Tire knock off Wetlands Foam Jet. The options I was weighing was changing the Kent to a Mazzei, or for less money I could have ordered a pre made Beckett online...or less yet, try it myself! I went with the 3ird option...The foam is much drier, and alot darker, and the flow through the skimmer is much more significant.

UnderWorldAquatics - The total cost was about $40 for the upgrade so I think it was worth a try either way, but I am happy with it so far so that’s all that counts! And with a few twists I could change it back.

IslandReefer – The valve on the mixing box was supposed to be for the calcium reactor to drip into...I decided not to go that direction, and just drip it into the sump via a collection cup.

reply
 

Although I have a becket skimmer I tend to agree with this after seeing my friend's Euro reef in action. The pump difference is 1200 gph vs. 600 gph, thats a lot of wasted energy IMO. I've often contemplated changing mine to a ventury with a needle wheel pump but I'm not sure if it would work out.

like I said I was using the MAG 18 for both...so either way I am using the same power...the foam difference made it worth it in my opinion...unless if I had a better Venturi from the start...maybe I wouldn't have changed it.

reply
 

Sounds like an economical upgrade. Do you think an Needle wheel pump would work on these types of skimmers. IE: ocean runner series?