How to build a DIY Needle Wheel impeller

[Shooter6]

I can't comment on the mesh wheels but I can say the DIY needle wheels held up well.

Awesome. I was looking at the turbine on my dcp pump, and wondered if it wouldint be simpler to just cut it up? Slice it in the middle like a bun, grind the center out to form the 2 disk, then finish as you did with the needles. That would eliminate the hole saw, and the key to lock it to the shaft.
Did you do a vid for the air intake? I couldnt find one on its design. Im looking to use 1-2 dcp pumps as recurculating pumps.

 

[AlexG]

Awesome. I was looking at the turbine on my dcp pump, and wondered if it wouldint be simpler to just cut it up? Slice it in the middle like a bun, grind the center out to form the 2 disk, then finish as you did with the needles. That would eliminate the hole saw, and the key to lock it to the shaft.
Did you do a vid for the air intake? I couldnt find one on its design. Im looking to use 1-2 dcp pumps as recurculating pumps.

I never did a video on the venturi that I built but I have a good diagram I can share. This was the final design of the venturi that was in use on the skimmer. As I am moving I have torn down the skimmer for now but I plan to re-use these needle wheels. I already have one installed on a DCP 15000 pump and I am going to upgrade my second pump to a DCP as well when the new system is being setup. When I did tear down there were hardened salt crystals forming on the venturi jets but it does not appear they were causing a significant blockage of air but I more or less let these pumps run with little maintenance. Next time I will make sure I tear apart the venturi from time to time to clear any salt crystals forming. I like the idea of modifying a stock impeller. I considered modifying the stock impeller but I decided to go with the DIY disk because I could make a larger impeller diameter but I am sure even a smaller impeller would have similar results and performance.

 

[Shooter6]

I never did a video on the venturi that I built but I have a good diagram I can share. This was the final design of the venturi that was in use on the skimmer. As I am moving I have torn down the skimmer for now but I plan to re-use these needle wheels. I already have one installed on a DCP 15000 pump and I am going to upgrade my second pump to a DCP as well when the new system is being setup. When I did tear down there were hardened salt crystals forming on the venturi jets but it does not appear they were causing a significant blockage of air but I more or less let these pumps run with little maintenance. Next time I will make sure I tear apart the venturi from time to time to clear any salt crystals forming. I like the idea of modifying a stock impeller. I considered modifying the stock impeller but I decided to go with the DIY disk because I could make a larger impeller diameter but I am sure even a smaller impeller would have similar results and performance.

Thank you. Im looking at using 1-2 18000dcp or 20000 dcp pumps for recurculating with venturi intakes, and do a downdraft mod to thehis skimmer. My system will be 2000g initially but will likely expand into a greenhouse grow out addition. Base skimmer is an asm g6.

 

[AlexG]

Thank you. Im looking at using 1-2 18000dcp or 20000 dcp pumps for recurculating with venturi intakes, and do a downdraft mod to thehis skimmer. My system will be 2000g initially but will likely expand into a greenhouse grow out addition. Base skimmer is an asm g6.

I will have to see how I ultimately setup my new system as part of it might be upgrading the skimmer pumps to 18000-20000DCPs. I plan to modify my DIY skimmer some to enhance its capabilities and improve on its gravity feed flow rate. If two recirculating pumps is not enough I might move towards adding air injection to the skimmer with a large air pump on top of the recirculating pumps.

 

[Shooter6]

I will have to see how I ultimately setup my new system as part of it might be upgrading the skimmer pumps to 18000-20000DCPs. I plan to modify my DIY skimmer some to enhance its capabilities and improve on its gravity feed flow rate. If two recirculating pumps is not enough I might move towards adding air injection to the skimmer with a large air pump on top of the recirculating pumps.

I also have considered the forced air injection. I see your venturi is open pipe. Have you seen the design that uses the reducer with a hole drilled into it and airline conneted. I guess it works like a jet, and the air feeds into it in a complete donut shape.