Venturi or Beckett

[falcondob]

I have one of Pete's venturi-style skimmers using Dual-Beckett devices to produce bubbles. The skimmer is almost 6 feet tall. The first cylinder chamber is about 4 feet long and, when running, that column is solid white with bubbles, 99% of which are what I would term "micro bubbles".

I am driving it with a Panworld 200PS. This is a pressure rated pump. For we that are just learning, that means it can handle more head pressure. Head pressure being the back pressure from the water column on the output side. If I got it wrong, somebody correct me.

I am VERY happy with the skimmer. I could see "gunk"coming out of the water and into the bubbles within 3-4 minutes of firing up the first time. (Might also be an indication of my water quality, ouch!) After asking Pete about how to dial it in, it has been producing great skimate.

The only issues I have so far are:

(1) I have had a difficult time dialing it in and getting it to stay there. I assume that this is my lack of expertise and nothing to do with the skimmer. The more I work with it, the darker the skimate becomes. I am also told that it takes some time for a skimmer to break in.

(2) The Panworld is not a self-priming pump. The way I have it set up it is cumbersome and it will stop pumping for reasons I am not yet sure of.

(3) The pump is expensive, I am not sure how the dollar/ounce of skimate compares to airstone or other design types.

(4) The pump is big. I am not sure how the watt/ounce of skimate compares to airstone or other design types.

They are monsters for pulling out skimate. Like I said, I am happy with it.

Just my 1.235 cents,
John

[pilot_bell777]

Ya...I've asked ~Pete~ for a price twice on a skimmer and haven't heard back. I heard he was the man on skimmers so I contacted him. Guess if I don't hear something soon I will just have to buy a ready made one. :cry

I ran a vent one on my last tank and was thinking about trying the beckett this time, not sure yet though sense I will also have a refugium and a clam to filter water.

Undecided at this point.......

[alton]

I know spray injection wasn't one of the selections but if I can, I would like to write in my vote for Aqua C Urchin Pro. Plug it in and forget about it except for dumping of the waste container which is twice a week for my 200g and once a week for my 155g. My boss has had his in his sump for I think around 3 years with no problems. Personally I think it's quieter than other skimmers I have used.

[Reef69]

I have to go with Venturi. I have an AquaMedic Turboflotor T1000 and it works great. It is powered by an Oceanrunner 2500...2 Thumbs up!

[::pete::]

The spray is the first skimmer I made when out of town and it is quieter, but again just a device to introduce air into the water column. Venturi, beckett or spray ... they all do the same thing!

[LoneStar]

this is a very good timing thread because i'm in the market for a new skimmer (which will probably end up being a beckett from ~pete~)

[matt]

[quote="pilot_bell777"]

This is what I was reading to spark this question because based on this they are different types of skimmers and Beckett is not a "Brand Name" but a different type of Downdraft/Spray Injection type skimmer that uses a spray head instead of a force of water.

Beckett IS a brand name, but not of a skimmer company. The quote you included in your post says this:

"they use a special nozzle, called a “Beckett” after the pond company that makes a similar nozzle for pond aeration.

The only innacuracy in this quote is that it says "similar" nozzle; in fact, we use the actual pond fountain nozzle made by the beckett company. Now, you're right in that the term "Beckett" is commonly used to describe a type of skimmer that uses this nozzle, but that's where the word came from. BTW, downdraft skimmers are different; you don't see too many of them any more, but a few years ago they were the rage. They too have a venturi of sorts, to let air in the downdraft tube, which then mixes with water as the stream crashes over a stack of bioballs. As you might expect, those bioballs got pretty dirty!

For your tank, (approx 100-120gall if I remember) any one of the decent quality beckett or spray induction (aquaC) skimmers will work well, provided you use the right pump. If you're planning on heavily stocking your tank, don't be afraid to get a skimmer "rated" for a much larger tank. Manufacturer "ratings" for X gallons are little more than marketing techniques; there's certainly no objective criteria. You might send Gator a PM; he's selling a nice beckett skimmer that would do the job well.

[::pete::]

Im curious why the balls would get so dirty as they would be getting pounded with water constantly!

I have rubble in my sump to break up the overflow and those rocks are super clean. I see this as a close comparison even though there might be more surface area on the balls.

[pilot_bell777]

Ouch Matt...didn't mean to offend...just was posting the way that I took the article that I read. When I think "Brand Name" I thinke Red Sea, Auca C, etc.... it just read to me like the down draft was one type and then any skimmer that uses the "Nozzle" is classed as a Beckett. Just the way I read it.

[matt]

No offense taken; part of my post got put in the quote section for some reason. Anyhow, beckett is a brand name, of the company that makes the fountain nozzles.

I think the undersides of the bioballs would collect debris or whatever, but apparently constantly emptying and cleaning the bioball chamber was part of using one of these skimmers. Since i never owned one, I can't say for sure, but that's what I read.