Venturi vs Pinwheel which is your pick

[kschweer]

If you get one of these pumps just make sure you get the one with the correct output. The one I links is the "classic" and it has a smaller black output and the one reefermadness linked has the bigger grey output. Not sure which one you need just wanted to make sure you saw the difference.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Yeah thank you kschweer. I was making going to make sure what ever pump I go with I will have the right output.

 

[cparka23]

Ah, the picture helps me understand what was originally being asked. Didn't realize that you were looking to replace a pump on an existing skimmer. Sorry for the misdirecting answer.

With this particular skimmer, it appears the venturi is built into the design of the plumbing. Elos skimmers are designed like this too. If you're looking for a direct replacement, you can use any return pump/powerhead with similar output and it'll work.

That said, you might want to experiment with this plumbing setup. With a skimmer pump, the bubbles will have to travel through the union and through yet another venturi (which you could plug) before entering the skimmer. It's an odd path to take, so you might not see as much fine bubbles as you would find directly from the pump's output. On the other hand, you could always leave the skimmer venturi submerged (essentially closed), then open the venturi right before the skimmer. Not sure if is economical to buy a skimmer pump only to plug its air inlet, though.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Yeah I see what you are saying cPark I never though about that I may just have to see how it goes with a new pump. That or cut out the old venturi and plumb in skimmer pump. The measurements of the old pump are 6" long x 4.5" tall x 4" wide.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

The Venturi is actually just a friction fit it will be an easy convention.

 

[mcarroll]

OTP2000 is that size, so that should be a direct replacement - no plumbing changes needed. It's rated as a 500 gph pump.

-Matt

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Thanks Matt I was hoping to go to the equivalent Bubble Blaster (I think the closest it the HY-5000) What are your thoughts on that idea?

 

[mcarroll]

All depends what you want and if you were happy with the skimmer's performance in the first place.

If you're not itching for change just for change's sake and the skimmer worked well before, I don't see the point in making a change in the pump now that you seem to have located the OEM pump. Might be worth pointing out that that skimmer was designed to work how it's set up now. Other setups are by definition experimental, so it's hard to predict performance...could be the same or worse.

On the other hand, if change is good and the uncertainty of the results isn't a problem and you don't mind the potential headaches of plumbing changes....well, I might still just try the OTP needle-wheel rather than the Bubble Blaster.

When a replacement skimmer is a very inexpensive option to consider, I personally don't see trying to graft a high-doller bubble pump onto this skimmer as a great value, especially when the bother and uncertainty are factored in.

For less than the price of a bubble blaster you can, just for example, get a perfectly decent used skimmer ($225, shipped) that would probably even be a size/performance upgrade, or....

Also you could consider a brand new ASM G3, Reef Octopus NWB 200, etc.... Consider that even a Tunze 9410 (cadillac, IMO) is only $338.



Again it depends what you want and how happy you were with the SWC all along. If it was me and I were happy with it, I'd just get a direct replacement of the old pump.

How big and how stocked is your system BTW?

-Matt

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Thanks for the help Matt. The skimmer wasn't putting on a very good showing when it was up and running. But that could be due to the pump starting to dye on me. I had to take my tank down and sell off the livestock so I have 0 bio load right now lol. I am not planing to have a huge load once I get things set up but I do want to get the best out of the skimmer as I can.

I think this is what I am planing to do. I am going to buy the OTP with a needle wheel. That way if I am not seeing much of a change I could just swap out the needle wheel for the old pumps impeller and we are back to where we were before.

 

[mcarroll]

Sounds like a good hedge!

FWIW, the impeller is probably the most common part to wear out in a pump (at least IME) so unless you know for sure that something else is wrong with your old pump, maybe even consider just getting a replacement impeller. A weak impeller magnet would definitely have affected the amount of pressure the pump could build...killing air intake and not doing water flow any favors either. Might be worth a call to Coral Vue to see if these impellers are still available.

-Matt

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

I could try that to thanks guys for all your help

 

[backpack]

honestly the dc pumps fit up and are adjustable I would just spring for one of those. The idea of being able to turn it down after vinegar baths or chemiclean treatments or even heavy feeding sounds awesome.