Air driven skimmer experiences?

[John Vernier Simon]

I am interested in getting rid of the chiller on my reef tank, it adds
extra maintenance and complexity to something that should be a
relatively simple affair (at least that is the idea right ;). So in
this quest I am looking at lowering overall heat input in my tank. I
have already removed almost all of my powerheads and other submersible
pumps and replaced them with a central higher output external pump
(T4). Replacing airstones is an acceptable compromise if I can get rid
of my chiller.

The last submersible in the tank is the one attached to my venturi
skimmer, I would like to replace the downdraft with maybe a good air
driven skimmer. Do these exist? Is anyone trying the same thing? What
are the other alternatives (algae scrubber, mangroves??!?!?!
anything).

[PaulB]

The Velocity pumps have a reputation for adding heat, so that may be your
problem.

Many skimmers can be powered by an external pump. I am thinking of setting
mine up that way.



"John Vernier Simon" > wrote in message
m...
> I am interested in getting rid of the chiller on my reef tank, it adds
> extra maintenance and complexity to something that should be a
> relatively simple affair (at least that is the idea right ;). So in
> this quest I am looking at lowering overall heat input in my tank. I
> have already removed almost all of my powerheads and other submersible
> pumps and replaced them with a central higher output external pump
> (T4). Replacing airstones is an acceptable compromise if I can get rid
> of my chiller.
>
> The last submersible in the tank is the one attached to my venturi
> skimmer, I would like to replace the downdraft with maybe a good air
> driven skimmer. Do these exist? Is anyone trying the same thing? What
> are the other alternatives (algae scrubber, mangroves??!?!?!
> anything).
>

[CapFusion]

"John Vernier Simon" > wrote in message
m...
> I am interested in getting rid of the chiller on my reef tank, it adds
> extra maintenance and complexity to something that should be a
> relatively simple affair (at least that is the idea right ;). So in
> this quest I am looking at lowering overall heat input in my tank. I
> have already removed almost all of my powerheads and other submersible
> pumps and replaced them with a central higher output external pump
> (T4). Replacing airstones is an acceptable compromise if I can get rid
> of my chiller.
>
> The last submersible in the tank is the one attached to my venturi
> skimmer, I would like to replace the downdraft with maybe a good air
> driven skimmer. Do these exist? Is anyone trying the same thing? What
> are the other alternatives (algae scrubber, mangroves??!?!?!
> anything).

I do not use chilller or planing to, since I can not afford it and it
maintaince that come with it.
Using external pump will not eliminate heat to your tank, just because it
outside.
There some methods to combat heating.
My method of combating this heat are to use fan like PC fan and combination
with the water pump. Try to aggegrate your water tension enough not to
splash. If you have a close lid tank type, remove it and use a egg crate or
similar. Have the fan blow across inward toward the water tension, not
directly to the water. Depending on the size of your tank, you may need more
than two. I have two, one on each end. I also have some fans on the sump to
cool thing down. This seem to work for me. My tank stay at constant 82F all
year round [including heat and cold spell].

CapFusion,...

[John Vernier Simon]

Seems to be a little misunderstanding I guess I wasn't clear, I have
already lowered the amount of heat being put into my tank by removing
most of my submersible pumps (a Mag 12 and 5 powerheads). I am not
having heat issues with my Velocity T4, quite the contrary I have
lowered my mean tank temperature by around 5 degrees. Currently I only
have 1 submersible pump in the tank (a Mag 8 ), I figure if I remove
this I should be able to drop another degree or so of mean temp (not
to mention remove some complexity).

I was wondering if anyone is using something other then a Venturi type
protein skimmer, something air driven, which would put less heat in
the tank.

"PaulB" > wrote in message >...
> The Velocity pumps have a reputation for adding heat, so that may be your
> problem.
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> The last submersible in the tank is the one attached to my venturi
> skimmer, I would like to replace the downdraft with maybe a good air
> driven skimmer. Do these exist? Is anyone trying the same thing? What
> are the other alternatives (algae scrubber, mangroves??!?!?!
> anything).

you have not provided is with a lot of info, but i think i can guess that its a medium
sized tank. and that you have a sump.

as noted the T4 isnt the greatest central pump when heat is the issue, even though its
replacing multiple pumps regardless of if its working or not there are others that will
move the same water and add less heat to the water. as an example instead of lowering the
water temp 5F you *might* have goten 7F or 8F. however as you have it, might as well use
it.

all of those above exist you can run any or all of them.

a real large air driven skimmer might well use a pump to get water into the unit. and you
possibly could draw from your T4 (remember you didnt provide info) but even if it requires
say a mag 12(depends on which skimmer and what turnover you desire) in your sump it will
not add significant heat. the air pumps required to drive a large skimmer will add NO heat
to the water to a very limited degree can remove heat from the water(dont plan for it just
be happy when it does). the issue comes down to where to get one now. you can get them
custom made or make them yourself, or buy a used or unsold one cheap there are some that
are still made but most are either really cheap or really $$$

the problem with a good ats is it will probibly add heat to your setup, you will have to
get water into the unit (this can be from the overflow) and return water to the tank (this
can be to the sump) but then you have to provide lighting to the area for algae to grow,
this will not chill the water :D you can offset that with fans to a point but eventually
that point becomes a pain.

mangroves work ok for nitrate removal, but only ok, they wont add heat as the roots dont
need to be any warmer than your water temp, the leaves are further away from the water so
you will not be adding quite as much heat, but IME they are too slow to do good as a
primary export path.

also depending on your setup you can use fans over the sump to blow off heat, low power
consumption, and the added water evap can be benifitial as kalk can be used to replace
evap water, increasing alk/ca.

--
Richard Reynolds

[Reaper]

I use a variation of the SnailMan's CC skimmer,
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/snailmandiy.htm , CC skimmers are allot
more efficient than venturi type, because of contact time, so watch your
calc, alk, strontium.....levels, the H2O is fed from my main pump, read the
skimmer 101 on this site to calculate the H2O flow, I use a Supreme
Dynamaster II dual piston air pump, if you would like to keep your wife with
one of these, I would suggest plumbing it into an unused room, garage or
closet, they are noisy but reliable and replacement parts are cheap and they
pump high pressure, also check out the air stone diy, interesting.

Hope this helps,

Reaper





"John Vernier Simon" > wrote in message
m...
> I am interested in getting rid of the chiller on my reef tank, it adds
> extra maintenance and complexity to something that should be a
> relatively simple affair (at least that is the idea right ;). So in
> this quest I am looking at lowering overall heat input in my tank. I
> have already removed almost all of my powerheads and other submersible
> pumps and replaced them with a central higher output external pump
> (T4). Replacing airstones is an acceptable compromise if I can get rid
> of my chiller.
>
> The last submersible in the tank is the one attached to my venturi
> skimmer, I would like to replace the downdraft with maybe a good air
> driven skimmer. Do these exist? Is anyone trying the same thing? What
> are the other alternatives (algae scrubber, mangroves??!?!?!
> anything).
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> CC skimmers are allot
> more efficient than venturi type, because of contact time,

that is not entirely true, contact time is a product of the design of the main skimmer not
the injection methods chosen.

--
Richard Reynolds

[John Vernier Simon]

> you have not provided is with a lot of info, but i think i can guess that its a medium
> sized tank. and that you have a sump.

Good guess, but the T4 is actually installed on my 2 gallon nano I
like cycling the entire tank 600 times an hour, its like living in a
jacuzzi ;)

>
> as noted the T4 isnt the greatest central pump when heat is the issue, even though its
> replacing multiple pumps regardless of if its working or not there are others that will
> move the same water and add less heat to the water. as an example instead of lowering the
> water temp 5F you *might* have goten 7F or 8F. however as you have it, might as well use
> it.


Hmmmm, just not seeing this mysterious heat issue people keep talking
about with the Velocity pumps, from what I can tell the story goes
both way. I have little head on it so maybe the reports of it
producing heat were with someone putting 20 feet of head on the pump
or driving their house sprinkler system with it. The tank sits a
couple degrees above ambient and that temp increase is due solely to
lighting. My rational for purchasing the pump was the level of noise
and solid construction, all you hear is water with this pump. But just
let me reiterate, I am not seeing it give off much heat and certainly
not 5-7 degrees worth.



Not sure where most of the reefers on this group are from, but here in
Texas keeping your reef cool can be a challange without a chiller.
Seeing as the average summer temp here is 100+ I usually keep my house
about 78-80 to save on AC costs. I had a chiller running on my 75 + 30
gallon sump for years, but got tired of the noise and regular
mainatance (taking the plumbing apart and cleaning, blah blah blah).
So I got rid of all my power heads and submersible pumps, my venturi
skimmer and my metal halide lighting. Went PC with lighting, got a
Velocity T4 and plumbed it up to replace the return and add a little
better circulation in lieu of the powerhead removal. This has gotten
me to withing a couple degrees of ambient (due to lighting).
Evaporative cooling will probably suffice to aliviate the 2 degrees or
so I see from the lighting. I doubt removing the T4 is going to fix my
non-existant heating problem (heck I am doubting the T4 heating issue
is much other then "I heard my brothers cousins mother-in-law" had
heating issues with that pump).

So the question is who is doing air driven skimmer or alt methods.

It would be nice if people who have actually done them could comment,
while conjecture is fun and all it doesn't really do much to resolve
the problem.