crabbychris
Member
I have been looking at protein skimmers and I am wondering which type is more effective. Venturi or Turbo type skimmers? I am also thinking of maybe doing a DIY so I can make a really big one. Opinions and suggestions please.
Venturi or Needle wheel/turbo protein skimmer
- Thread starter crabbychris
- Start date
stanlalee
Active Member
define what you mean by venturi skimmer. Traditionally "real" venturi skimmers pull air in after the pump. examples would be all beckett nozzle skimmers, Top fathom, Bermuda Aquatics, ELOS natural venturi skimmers
there are a ton of "aspirating skimmers" which include needle wheels that are called "venturi" skimmers because they have a cheesy attachment on the front end of the pump but all these pull in air in front of the pump propeller/wheel and arent technically venturi skimmers.
In general the venturi skimmers can be made to handle larger capacities and aspirating (needlewheels included) skimmers are more efficient.
its not hard to see why "theoretically". a needlewheel has to draw air and pump water. as it draws in more air less water is pumped. at some size point you are asking alot of a pump to fill a large body with air AND pump water adequately thru it. this doesn't really seem to be an issue with hobby size skimmers and you dont need a powerful pump to draw alot of air and a little water (pulling air actually lightens the load on the pump). whatever the case turnover (amount of tank water processed) suffers when the pump(s) is also asked to draw air. with venturi skimmers (and down draft and aquaC nozzle) the pump is only directly asked to pump water. everything else happens down stream from there. they require high pressure pumps to push water and air past the nozzle used to mix and chop the air/water and pull air in downstream thru the venturi(the part that makes the "venturi" significant and the actual need to work well. needlewheels rely on the needle wheel design to draw air well. venturi skimmers actually rely on a good venturi to draw air and some form of nozzle afterwards to mix/chop). the need for large pumps to work well (even on smaller ones) make them inefficient (not in operation but in power consumption) but they are processing alot of water and building larger ones dont have to take into consideration balancing good air pull with enough water pressure to pump thru the large skimmer. bigger skimmer just requires bigger pump and perhaps bigger or more nozzles/venturis.
notice I said theorically. how big is "really big" and what size tank?
there are a ton of "aspirating skimmers" which include needle wheels that are called "venturi" skimmers because they have a cheesy attachment on the front end of the pump but all these pull in air in front of the pump propeller/wheel and arent technically venturi skimmers.
In general the venturi skimmers can be made to handle larger capacities and aspirating (needlewheels included) skimmers are more efficient.
its not hard to see why "theoretically". a needlewheel has to draw air and pump water. as it draws in more air less water is pumped. at some size point you are asking alot of a pump to fill a large body with air AND pump water adequately thru it. this doesn't really seem to be an issue with hobby size skimmers and you dont need a powerful pump to draw alot of air and a little water (pulling air actually lightens the load on the pump). whatever the case turnover (amount of tank water processed) suffers when the pump(s) is also asked to draw air. with venturi skimmers (and down draft and aquaC nozzle) the pump is only directly asked to pump water. everything else happens down stream from there. they require high pressure pumps to push water and air past the nozzle used to mix and chop the air/water and pull air in downstream thru the venturi(the part that makes the "venturi" significant and the actual need to work well. needlewheels rely on the needle wheel design to draw air well. venturi skimmers actually rely on a good venturi to draw air and some form of nozzle afterwards to mix/chop). the need for large pumps to work well (even on smaller ones) make them inefficient (not in operation but in power consumption) but they are processing alot of water and building larger ones dont have to take into consideration balancing good air pull with enough water pressure to pump thru the large skimmer. bigger skimmer just requires bigger pump and perhaps bigger or more nozzles/venturis.
notice I said theorically. how big is "really big" and what size tank?
crabbychris
Member
I pretty much knew the differences but I am trying to get maximum skimming for under 200 dollars. I am upgrading in about 6 months from a 90g to a 125g in wall tank. I am probably going to use the 90 gallon tank as a sump/refugium for the 125 and a 29 gallon tank for top off water. I want to buy a skimmer now that will work on that setup. I know that my current seaclone100 isn't going to cut it, I wouldn't recommend one of these for a tank larger than 40 gallons. I can get an octopus pretty cheap on an "online auction site" or even an asm. Maybe the best skimmer would be a cross between venturi and a turbo. I may use the seaclone plus a second skimmer!
Please nobody recommend the coralife super skimmer! The worst piece of junk i have ever used.
Please nobody recommend the coralife super skimmer! The worst piece of junk i have ever used.
stanlalee
Active Member
I'm not sure I know what you mean by "turbo" skimmer. thats just sales jargon like "super sonic". seaclone is not a real venturi skimmer, just another aspirating skimmer like a needle wheel but with the stock maxi-jet paddle wheel and it aint worth running in tandem with another skimmer (the best use I've seen for it was to take out the center tube, use two 3" diameter filter media cut outs with phosphate media in between for a nice sump phospate reactor). anywho for $200 all you can get is an aspirating skimmer. Octopus NW200 is the biggest best bang for the buck you can get for $200 new. For $5 you can meshmod the pump wheel with Enkamat PF4 and with a dremel and $5 more you can do the 1/4" air intake mod. You'd have to buy a ASM G4 to get a like size and performing ASM skimmer (if you can find a used G4 for $200 or less that will work too. anything smaller your better off with the NW200). For a 125g display dont even bother doing the mods, just get the latest "funnel neck" and run it as it comes.
crabbychris
Member
turbo and needle wheels are the same thing. could i replace the paddle wheel with a needle wheel? If so where can I get one?