DIY maxijet venturi. This thing works!

[originalozzyo]

Hey everyone, i've been lurking on here for quite a while and since i finally got a camera i thought i would share a really easy way to make a venturi pump that can be used for an cpr overflow or for a small skimmer.

What you need, any size maxijet, drill & weld on cement or expoxy. Look in the maxijet box for the little black air line connectors. There should be two in one box. You need one of these.


http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7935/p60100111tt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is what you start with and you're going to drill a hole in the side of the housing. Drill the hole at a 45% angle right at the corner.
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3019/p60100121wh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You should end up with this.

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9038/p60100134ye.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Insert the black air line connector with the longer end in the hole you just made.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7079/p60100144le.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Grind down the inside of lower pump housing, i used a dremel. You have to do this otherwise the blades on the pump will hit this and it makes a horrible noise.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1359/p60100155zt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You have this afterwards, doesnt have to be perfect just as long as the impellar wheel clears it.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8804/p60100186nd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Get your weld on cement or expoxy and cover the outside part. I used alot just to make sure that it wont fall out.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/1561/p60100176ff.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Let the glue dry and your done. I use these on my cpr overflow box and they work great.

[mikeadams1985]

picture of it in action?

[ChemE]

Yeah, I want to see the quantity and size of bubbles. A close up of the milk with a needle taped to the side to show scale works very well.

[originalozzyo]

Alright, everyone hold tight untill tonight and when i get home from the office i will post a pic of this thing working. The stronger the pump you buy the more air this thing will pull. I only use mj1200's now.

[tptp279]

wouldn't this be the same concept as the original though because it just sucks in air the same way?

[guido_kp]

no, not the same as the original. the stock "venturi" doesnt use the impeller to mix the bubbles. it draws the air thru the pump outlet with a pressure differential. this is drawing the air before. still not a venturi, though. looking forward to pix. neat idea!

[impur]

Add a bioball and your really gonna get some nice bubble.

[Carl_in_Florida]

I'm gonna tag along to see the milk

carl

[coralnut99]

I tried essentially the same thing 3 or 4 years ago (pre-RC for me). I pierced the side of the strainer fitting instead, of the point where it meets the impeller cover, with some rigid air line tubing. It actually did a pretty good job of feeding a small, air-driven americle skimmer. The only problem I had with it was finding the exact/optimal depth to place the MJ. But after cutting up a couple feet of vynil tubing it was a heck of a lot more efficient than the old limewood airstone in there.

[coralnut99]

PS, several years and upgrades later I think the bubbles could've been finer with some mods to the impeller blades, but it did skim and served the pupose well at the time. It remember it actually worked better than the old Berlin skimmer I had at the time.

[ejmeier]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7482480#post7482480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChemE
Yeah, I want to see the quantity and size of bubbles. A close up of the milk with a needle taped to the side to show scale works very well.
The bubbles should be very small. I've tried this too, and it makes very small bubbles.

The only downside is that it is very sensitive to backpressure. The air injected drops off very quickly if you submerge it too deep. Adding an airpump to the line solves this issue. :)

I use this method on an Aquaclear 70 and it makes some nice bubbles. It does well on a two gallon jug for an interim skimmer until I get enough time to make a real one. :D

[leaffish75]

my venturi adaptor attaches to the out side of the impeller. the air is draw thru the impeller. so the venturi adaptor you can buy is the same thing.

[impur]

But you can do this one with just stuff laying around the house :D

[Spiffyguy]

wow that is very nice. THe reverse venturi you buy from premium aquatics takes up some room this can free up an inch or so which would be great for people making skimmers for nano cubes and the like.

Thanks for the idea

[originalozzyo]

Well here are the pics you guys are asking for
http://quick.imgfree.net/images/57646.jpg (http://www.imgfree.net)
http://quick.imgfree.net/images/57647.jpg (http://www.imgfree.net)
http://quick.imgfree.net/images/57648.jpg (http://www.imgfree.net)
http://quick.imgfree.net/images/57650.jpg (http://www.imgfree.net)

[ChemE]

Sweet, thanks for the pics. Those are nice fine bubbles.

[dalbrecht]

I assume you are using the pump to maintain siphon in an overflow? If not I'd love to see some pics of the skimmer.

[originalozzyo]

Yes, i came up with this idea after i repeatedly kept losing the vacuum in the overflow. So with these the overflow works great now and i never have to worry about the tank overflowing anymore. I am running one of these on my seaclone but its kinda hard to take a pic since its right at the corner of the sump and i cant get the camera in at that angle. Ill try and come up with something.