Pressure pumps?

Skimmerking · #1 07-17-2013, 05:36 PM

Marko Becketts are power pigs. I have ran 21", 24,28,36,48,72" becketts you dont have to run that powerful pump to each beckett. When i ran my 72 " dual beckett I had a MAK 5 running it and had a crap load of head foam like 36" tall. if you can achieve about 1000GPH thro a beckett then you are golden. the trick is the pressure pumps thou. running a mag 24 will do the trick. However u will find that you will alot of head pressure due to it not being a pressure rated pump. if you want to talk more becketts are my speciality skimmers too. Like DC pumps are Sphelps fav to have knowledge about.

shoot me a PM with your number i can call you tonight if you want too.

sphelps · #2 07-17-2013, 06:17 PM

Seems to me these Beckett skimmers should come with a pressure vs flow curve so you line up the appropriate pump. To just specify a flow rate makes no sense but then again the whole concept makes little sense, kind of like driving a lifted one tonne with 30" wheels downtown to work everyday.

MarkoD · #3 07-17-2013, 08:05 PM

Lol

The skimmer is running fine right now and skimming well. (With the addition of the air pump). I was just wondering if there would be a solution that could eliminate the air pump.

I don't think buying a new skimmer would really save me any money for the same skimming capacity. How much does an energy efficient skimmer rated for 1000 gallons cost ?

I feel like running a barracuda and a 65w air pump is reasonable power consumption for a skimmer of that size. But correct me if I'm wrong

Skimmerking · #4 07-17-2013, 09:54 PM

Marko I don't know why you are using a air pump when you are ramming a beckett skimmer with a big pump. not saying you are wrong, but when you have all that water pushing through the little holes in the beckett skimmer. you are making millions and millions of bubbles when you open the air valve how much air do you have going into this beckett. can you shoot me a picture. if you are now getting a lot of air you may have the beckets in upside down. it can happen and still work.

sphelps · #5 07-17-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Lol

The skimmer is running fine right now and skimming well. (With the addition of the air pump). I was just wondering if there would be a solution that could eliminate the air pump.

I don't think buying a new skimmer would really save me any money for the same skimming capacity. How much does an energy efficient skimmer rated for 1000 gallons cost ?

I feel like running a barracuda and a 65w air pump is reasonable power consumption for a skimmer of that size. But correct me if I'm wrong

Probably around $1200 I would guess, but you're not really treating 1000 gallons of water. The bigger is better thing is over-rated, going back to my example before with the truck. There are other benefits relating to noise, compact size and better design in addition to efficiency.

300+W 24/7 is probably close to $300 per year depending on what you pay for electric and while switching to something that uses as little as 40W might not be that convincing in terms of energy savings alone, the other benefits might be. Much quieter, more compact and an over better design, which despite what some might have to say is more effective at skimming. Hence why no one really makes Beckett skimmers anymore. Also when I mentioned it might be cheaper to buy a new skimmer I was also factoring in your purchase of two pressure rated pumps which would be around $600 or so, I'm sure you can get a nice more efficient skimmer rated for your actual volume for that amount.

But anyway I'm not actually suggesting you buy a new skimmer, it was more of a joke than or anything

MarkoD · #6 07-17-2013, 10:01 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. My whole goal with this build was to go bigger on everything. I have the space and its enclosed in a seperate room from where the tank is being viewed.

The air pump I have pumps 200L/min which I have split to both becketts.

The way these becketts are designed, it doesn't allow them to be installed upside down.

MarkoD · #7 07-17-2013, 10:04 PM

Ill post detailed pictures when I get home

Skimmerking · #8 07-17-2013, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Thanks for the advice guys. My whole goal with this build was to go bigger on everything. I have the space and its enclosed in a seperate room from where the tank is being viewed.

The air pump I have pumps 200L/min which I have split to both becketts.

The way these becketts are designed, it doesn't allow them to be installed upside down.

NO what I was referring to was the black valves that water is pushed through if you take them apart some things if your not paying attention you can put the actual beckett in wrong.

and I now see what you are referring too. for the air, you have it straight coming in from the Air pump. you should have a air valve connected to that air inlet when the line goes in to. this is how you adjust the air and the amount of air because Becketts will create a vacuum and cause air to be sucked in. the more the valve is open the great amount of air is able to be sucked in.

MarkoD · #9 07-17-2013, 10:22 PM

There is a valve on the output of the air pump.

Before I had the air pump the becketts were sucking in air. But not enough for my liking. I wanted more more more muahahahahahah

But the Beckett valve only fits one way. It's bigger on one end than the other and it has gaskets one side. So they only fit in one direction.

Skimmerking · #10 07-17-2013, 10:04 PM

Marko I was looking at your set up and notice that you have the air lines connected to a hose where is that hose going too. is that being fed from outside. and if you throw more air with that its going to suck more air on your air valve. having that hoses on there will minimize more air being sucked in