Diy air pump possible?

[mudbucket72]

I was thinking if somehow you could make like a water wheel and some how make that power a air pump of some sort. Not really useful for salt but would be great for freshwater with wet/dry or sumps. I have the ideas just don't have the knowhow to build the stuff lol

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[zemuss]

easiest way is a maxijet power head. they come with a kit to add air. What is does is suck the air from the hose and the water movement adds it to the tank.

 

[mudbucket72]

I know but I was trying to think of a way to do it without needing power this would also be great for ponds since most of them have a little waterfall

 

[heathd.hd]

There would have to be a way to use the water drains from tank 2 sump as power. Idk how much force is there or what kind of juice you could end up with. Maybe not for air but maybe to run a fuge light or moonlights? I mean we power cities with water flowing over dams. Why not in our tanks.

 

[Windy]

I was thinking if somehow you could make like a water wheel and some how make that power a air pump of some sort. Not really useful for salt but would be great for freshwater with wet/dry or sumps. I have the ideas just don't have the knowhow to build the stuff lol

If you have a water fall you might generate electricity with a water wheel. How much air and pressure do you want it to produce? Every time you change one energy source for another you lose efficiency. So if you use a pump to make a water wheel turn an air pump, it is more efficient to just power the air pump with electricity.

 

[Bad Company]

An engine is a reverse air pump. Find an old lawnmower engine or R/C car engine and use the waterwheel to turn it. Then connect to the intake or exhaust depending on the engine rotation for your air pump. A little oil occasionally to prevent rust, and of you go!

 

[mudbucket72]

Yea maybe like a turbine at the exit of the overflow pipe I'm sure it would generate enough to power a small pump. Depending on how efficient it is could possibly power a small dc return pump. I know that would put my mind at ease if there were ever a power outage

 

[mudbucket72]

If you gear it right you could power a decent amount I think

 

[Windy]

If you do the research, you will find that a generator driven by water will only be 55% efficient. If you have 20 gallons per minute falling two feet you can generate just about 4 watts or enough to run one LED. Not much for several hundred dollars for the generator.