Best DIY Venturi

[Randy]

I just found this excellent DIY Venturi! “Don W” from Reef Frontiers originally posted his made from acrylic rod. I couldn’t find acrylic rod so I made mine out of PVC filled with a 2-part material from www.sanitred.com called Quick Patch. I simply mixed it, poured it into a piece of ¾” PVC and it cured solid in less than 2 min. Popped it into a lathe and drilled it with a tapered drill bit from both sides.

The coolest thing is that you can make a venturi out of any inlet fitting that comes with your pump; like a barbed fitting or even a worthless venturi.

This is the very best venturi I have ever used. It certainly beats any venturi that comes with a pump. These things are so easy to make you can make smaller or bigger ones and it only takes about 10 min to make.

Here are my pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2129613013

Don W from Reef Frontiers:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/...hlight=venturi

[Randy]

If the album index does not come up; here are the individual photo URLs

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=1
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=2
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=3
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=4
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=5

Venturi For Via Aqua Pump:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=6
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=7
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...29613013&idx=8

[scubadude]

Hey Randy

I get just a pic of a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe, while that does excite me some (yeah ok im sick i know) I would like to see the detail of the venturi. Im sure there is more to it than what I am seeing. I believe its because of this statement I also see:

You Must Sign In to View This Album

And I have my reasons for not wanting to sign in to this site, so just a thought....Why not post the pics directly here on RL? I can help you if you need help?

[Horace]

Forgive my Noobness but I have some questions. I am interested in making my own skimmer as I am fairly handy but I am still learning the ropes with all the terms and types of skimmers out there. It seems to me that the different between the "Venturi" skimmers and the "Beckett" and the "Needle Wheel" Skimmers are based on how they create the "Foam". Does the venturi type simply suck in air via this unit that you created and then just result in the dirty foam exiting the top of the skimmer cylinder? So I guess simply put, on the Needle Wheel and the Venturi type skimmers is the Beckett injector replaced by the pump and thats the only difference?? The pumps for the Venturi and the Needle Wheel seem to be what create the Air/Water mix and in the case of the Beckett, it relies upon the use of the injector.

Please tell me if my thinking is correct on this. I greatly appreciate all your help.

[scubadude]

It seems to me that the different between the "Venturi" skimmers and the "Beckett" and the "Needle Wheel" Skimmers are based on how they create the "Foam".

Yes basically each type creates/mixes the air/water differently

Does the venturi type simply suck in air via this unit that you created and then just result in the dirty foam exiting the top of the skimmer cylinder?

Yes that is the basic dynamics of the venturi....Unless Randy has something different that he has designed.

So I guess simply put, on the Needle Wheel and the Venturi type skimmers is the Beckett injector replaced by the pump and thats the only difference??

I think I understand what you said here
You still need a pump with a beckett injector ....did that answer yer ques?

The pumps for the Venturi and the Needle Wheel seem to be what create the Air/Water mix and in the case of the Beckett, it relies upon the use of the injector.

Yes in essence...but the beckett also relies upon the pump as well.

[Horace]

Ok to further define this :P All three require pumps.. that is a given. All three also have similar design as far as what the actual skimmer looks like (Right???). So let me break this down as I understand it :P

Beckett
--------
-Regular circulation pump
-Beckett injector (creates air/water mix)

Needle Wheel
-------------
-Pump with Needle Wheel impeller (creates air/water mix)

Venturi
-------
-Pump with built in venturi (creates air/water mix)

[Randy]

I feel like such a schmuck...my stupid photo host is not allowing you to see these pics. Some are able to view these and most are not.

I'm in the process of having these pics hosted elsewhere so that they can be shown. I'm also trying to make a basic web page for this purpose as well.

I didn't know that others had to sign up in order to view the pics; that's just stupid - and I put a lot of time into uploading them.


My appologies to all but the pics will be up ASAP. Have 4 month old twins so time is limited.

[Randy]

www.randystacye.com

Sorry ... the links I previously posted do not work. Click the link above; I posted the pics within my website. I hope you like them.

[Horace]

Are you useing this venturi to draw in air to be cut up by a needle wheel pump??

[Randy]

Are you useing this venturi to draw in air to be cut up by a needle wheel pump??

That's the plan

[scubadude]

www.randystacye.com

Sorry ... the links I previously posted do not work. Click the link above; I posted the pics within my website. I hope you like them.

Dont sweat it bro! Excellent work....Just out of curiousity why did you go with the Via Aqua pump?....Im curious cuz everyones still analyzing the Needlewheel pumps and the most effecient venturi/needlewheel/pump and there appears to be alot of pumps now on the market that can retro needlewheels on them.

[Randy]

The Via Aqua was like $19.00 and I'm installing this one on a smaller Skimmer. I have a DP-560 and a Euro Reef Impeller that drops right in for a different skimmer in the works. The venturi that came with the Via Aqua is really lousy. I just saw Don W's original post showing how to make a high quality ventur but I had no idea where to obtain acrylic rod; the idea just popped into my head to make my own solid rod by filling a piece of PVC and at the same time making the crappy venturi into a high quality one.

[Horace]

The Via Aqua was like $19.00 and I'm installing this one on a smaller Skimmer. I have a DP-560 and a Euro Reef Impeller that drops right in for a different skimmer in the works. The venturi that came with the Via Aqua is really lousy. I just saw Don W's original post showing how to make a high quality ventur but I had no idea where to obtain acrylic rod; the idea just popped into my head to make my own solid rod by filling a piece of PVC and at the same time making the crappy venturi into a high quality one.

How can you get ahold of a euro-reef impeller???

[Randy]

How can you get ahold of a euro-reef impeller???

You can buy them through Custom Aquatics and they are the most reasonable. I don't like their price tag either, but I'll be making them before too long if all goes well.

[Horace]

You can buy them through Custom Aquatics and they are the most reasonable. I don't like their price tag either, but I'll be making them before too long if all goes well.

Ok I guess here is the question then. You can buy them there with this link http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...keyresult5.asp (scroll to the bottom) for $32 from the looks of things. However, is it REALLY worth spending $32 on that impeller when other pumps can be purchased for under $100 that already have an Needle Wheel in them??? Heck they have a Sedra 5000 with the needle wheel already in it for $90. It seems it would be more economical to just buy a pump with one already in it to me...Unless there is something I am not considering here???

[Randy]

Ok I guess here is the question then. You can buy them there with this link http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...keyresult5.asp (scroll to the bottom) for $32 from the looks of things. However, is it REALLY worth spending $32 on that impeller when other pumps can be purchased for under $100 that already have an Needle Wheel in them??? Heck they have a Sedra 5000 with the needle wheel already in it for $90. It seems it would be more economical to just buy a pump with one already in it to me...Unless there is something I am not considering here???

The thing is that you can spend over 100 bucks for a pump with a needle impeller or you can purchase the needle impeller for like 25-30 bucks and drop it into the same type of pump for less. You see, Euro Reef will sell you a Dolphin/Sedra pump for more than you can find one elsewhere. There are many people private labeling the identical pump and selling it for less.

Apparently this pump can take a Euro Reef needle wheel. I dont know if it includes a venturi or not. http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../8787/cid/2142

And here's the needle wheel that will fit into it. I know there are other suppliers.
http://www.fishsupply.com/cgi-bin/f...CZZ/SSCSP-05000

[Horace]

And here's the needle wheel that will fit into it. I know there are other suppliers.
http://www.fishsupply.com/cgi-bin/f...CZZ/SSCSP-05000[/QUOTE]

Link is broken... I will look around there and see if I can find it though.

[Randy]

http://www.fishsupply.com/cgi-bin/f2...ZZ/SSCSP-05000

[Horace]

http://www.fishsupply.com/cgi-bin/f2...ZZ/SSCSP-05000

Wow, that does look oddly familiar to the 3M wheel...

[Horace]

How much did you pay for that Quick Patch stuff??? Seems to me it cost about $25 and then the bit to drill that thing cost another $31 at Lowes! . Im definatly not spending $60 to build a venturi :P. I may have to come up with a more economical solution to the problem but hopefully end up with a similar product in the end. Would there be anything wrong with useing regular epoxy instead of this quick patch stuff??????