suphew Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I don't think it is quite as simple as that, needlewheel skimmers are popular in NZ, but this isn't true in every country, and I don't think it is safe to say "generally regarded as doing a better job". If you use the deltec config as a model, a skimmer that size would need maybe 4 pumps, even if it only needed 2, they cost $500-$600 each for an ehiem needle wheel pump (correct me if I'm wrong here, have never actually purchased one). You could get a large lauguna or iwaki pump to drive a venturi for half that. And regards power 1260 x 2 x 40w (?) = 80w Laguna 7 = 100w. Maybe my numbers for power are wrong, even if the venturi skimmer uses 100w more power, a tank that needs a skimmer this big is surely going to be using at least 1000w of light plus all the other power hungry stuff, does an extra 100w really make any difference?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 There's a company here in Napier called Classique Plastics with various sizes of acrylic pipe. I built my filter using 200 x 6mm pipe years ago. They have many sizes from 3mm upwards. They also make tanks, underwater viewing tubes (like Kelly Tarltons) and commercial skimmers. On a recent visit I stood inside a 2.4m diameter 6.5m tall skimmer for a 3.5 million litre aquarium in China. They've been a great resource for parts and advice over the years. The owners keep marines too, hence the help and support... They aren't too bad for price, - I made my filter housing for under $200 which included 1m 200mm tube, 1000 x 500 x 10mm acrylic sheet, 1m 50mm tube, 1m 25mm tube and 1 tube of acryfix glue. They also annealed all the bits for free once cut out and before gluing, - a critical step that stops everything cracking as the glue sets... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 steeve.. what kind of plastic is it?it might do,but i need the wall thickness to enable the base and top to be taped into to afix a plate to the bottom and the business end to the top,so might not be thick enough, but ill let you kno if i do,thanks for the offer anth.. yes probly somewhere around there,depending on pump cost. It is clear acrylic. Doesn't sound to good a design if you are planning on holding it together with tape. Even if you meant ‘tapped’ then I think you should get a circular slot milled in a solid base plate then glue the tube into the slot with the appropriate glue-filler product. The tube is certainly thick enough to hold the pressure. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtman Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Doesn't sound to good a design if you are planning on holding it together with tape. no not tape!!,i ment as in the "creating threaded holes" tapping. yea for the base i was planing on routing a groove into something for it to sit in. i am unfamillar with the names of typs of skimmers,but i was planing on putting the intake for the air through a small stand pipe which will be attached to the intake of each pump that is making the bubbles. so as in using about two pumps setup in a closedloop fassion,with air being drawn in by the intake of each,and churned up realy fine. for the water going into the skimmer i will have it fed by a pump in the sump,or 1 attched somewhere outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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