my diy needle wheel dart pump - Page 18

jnarowe · 03/25/2006, 08:49 AM

LOL...couldn't keep him out of the car eh? I have a buddy with a mint Delorian he won't drive, or let anyone inside...he'll drive his Jag in a hailstorm, but the Delorian stays in the garage!

He looks good in the tube too. Like a cat that just ate a canary.

Roland Jacques · 03/25/2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spazz

the dart cant push the bubbles down that long of a pipe with out the bubbles breaking and combining into bigger bubbles.

That's to bad. do you think thiers no way around that? mayby a little back pressure would hold the bubbles together better, like on the end of the 2"pipe have a 1 1/4" opening. maybe a smaller dia pipe to keep the bubbles moving faster? just a thought. i just really like the simplesty of less equpiment.

thiers some Rk2 12' skimmers down here that need your dart NW bad. it sad when i look at them 32" dia and you can almost see though them.

Roland

Lunchbucket · 03/25/2006, 10:47 AM

HOLY CRAP!! now that is some bubbly water!!

can't wait to see this thing

Lunchbucket

Snarkys · 03/25/2006, 10:59 AM

wow !

honey · 03/28/2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spazz
well im sure there are alot here that have been keeping track of the thread about the needle wheels that sequence is having designed. the engineers are working with one of the 1000 series pumps to creat a masive needle wheel pump. the big flaw there is that the pump draws 398 watts! i think they need to use the dart pump for a needle wheel. so i created my own version of it.

Any update on their NW? did they actually go any further with it, or is the whole thing on stand-by? We are waiting for updates from their side since november 2005, and then they also dropped their forum here on RC.
Did they finally make you part of the NW developing team, or at least sent you one of theirs for you to test and give them your input?

Since you have done such a great advance on yours in this time period, I'm wondering what is happening at their end, if anyone knows?

Would you say your NW design is ready to be used or do you still have to put much more work on it? Or from now, it's more on the skimmer design than on the NW itself?

thanks a lot, and again, a big applause

Hon

gobygoby · 03/28/2006, 12:08 PM

HEY!!! Did you sneak into my garage and sit in MY ferrari?

Very nice.

can you leak some specs on the needle wheel?

diameter of the disk.
dia. of the needles
hight of disk and needles?

Thanks again! and great job. Seems to me that a single dart skimmer would kick the ^&*)# out of a large recirc skimmer such as an ER 1000 or a BK!

ctenophore · 03/28/2006, 12:57 PM

I'll give a quick update on the needlewheel we are working on for MDM/Sequence. As spazz mentioned, we are working on needlewheels for two different pumps, the 1000 series as well as the 750/dart. We have functioning needlewheels for the dart, but we are redesigning our current version to make it cheaper & easier to produce.

As spazz mentioned, building the prototypes is very labor intensive. We use a laser table to make ours; a cnc would work too. The needlewheel really needs to be molded, but that is pricey to commit to until the design is perfected.

gobygoby · 03/28/2006, 01:01 PM

Well hurry up and start producing them!!

because I want one

.......did I hear you say Beta Testers??.....

j/k

hahnmeister · 03/28/2006, 02:01 PM

Yeah, Ill BETA test on my 72" tall, 18" diameter monster I am building...

roni · 03/28/2006, 04:17 PM

i'm happy to beta test anything you guys put out

asnatlas · 03/28/2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Wann
Thats a great thread , lots of info . would it be possibe to dend a picture of what the air intake looks like ,mainly how it enters to tube and what it looks liek inside . What is red tube from the pump housing to the motor for ? Pressure equalization maybe ?
Thansk again for the help .

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis
I will let asnatlas be responsible for the air intake pic as his is not up and running yet. The red tube is called the "anti-calcium bypass". It works by constantly lubricating the impeller area with water to prevent calcium deposits due to the heat friction.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m not sure how I missed these replies... I was going back over the thread and found them... I will try to get some pics tonite for you guys...

jnarowe · 03/29/2006, 06:02 PM

My skimmer is built!

This is what an Alita 100 can do through 8 wood 3" stones.

The only major issue is that I am gravity feeding so there is some air being drawn in and sometimes very large bubbles as a result. At least I can run wet while I cure and think about a NW mod.

onetrickpony · 03/29/2006, 07:41 PM

cool skimmer
could you put a -T- fitting with a tall riser before it runs into the skimmer
that way it could bleed off any extra air
ken

jnarowe · 03/29/2006, 08:28 PM

Actually I shut the other return lines down to the point that the water level in the overflow was above the inlet screen and it did not change the bubbles in the skimmer. I built it this way so that I could tune the intake as well as the output.

I think what may have happened is that one of the stones blew off when I started it up because I am getting some large bubbles coming up from deep within the skimmer. I am not going to mess with it now since it is really smoking and the tank has already cleared up quite a bit in the first hour of operation. When I get back from vacation I'll pull it apart and checked the stones.

Those pictures are from right when I turned the skimmer air pump on. It started making foam within about 30 seconds. Gotta love that Alita air pump!!! Right now the skimmer is drawing 120W. That's it! And I am getting great flow.

zapata41 · 03/29/2006, 08:32 PM

how do you like the noise from the alita. i have a medo that is way loud, also pulses, i think, which sucks. looking at a alita60

Tim

jnarowe · 03/29/2006, 08:40 PM

Zero noise from the Alita. The only noise I can hear is the air escaping from my ghetto rigged adapters (hose clamps over threaded adapters).

Keep in mind that my system is in a tank room and there are a variety of other noises. The noisiest thing are the coolin fans. When they shut off I'll listen for the Alita again and if it is noisy, I'll let you know.

windgod · 03/29/2006, 08:50 PM

been really curious about this post would like to have a large needlewheel pump but do not have access to a CNC machine so I called the folks at sequence and asked them if they were going to manufacture and market the dart needlewheel, I talked to a gal there that works with "curt" she said that they are testing the impellar and the tests should be completed in late may that will determine if they are going to manufacture this pump but she thought "yes" just wanted to spread the news

Rick

Bill Wann · 03/29/2006, 09:23 PM

Well , Ive been making the bottom plate fro the skimmer , It will be kinda like a bubble king with the holes around the outside and a bubble palte in th emiddle . There are 15 2ich return hols on the plate .
Its amde of 3/4 inch acrylic . The cone should be here on firday and it should be done within a week.

smjtkj · 03/29/2006, 09:27 PM

Bill,
Are you gonna use the darts or the pumps from the RK2 in the
pic?
Mike

jnarowe · 03/29/2006, 09:58 PM

How that's a MONSTER Bill!!!

My wife is already referring to the reef as my girlfriend.

zapata41 · 03/29/2006, 11:10 PM

well if your cooling fans are louder than the alita then i am sold on one, just have to figure out which one to get, the 60 or the 40, also on ebay there is a dual linear piston gast pump on there, 7psi at 120lpm on 20 bucks right now.

Tim

jnarowe · 03/29/2006, 11:46 PM

Damn, I could have used that Gast! I missed out on one last week and I couldn't wait for another. I checked the Alita with the fans off and it is a little noisy but really not too bad. Maybe about as noisy as a Sequence pump. Just kind of a hum really.

This looks like a good one on eBay. Same seller as before though and his feedback stinks.

I would definitely go for the 60 if you can afford it. I got my 100 for $355 including shipping from Septic Solutions:

Address: Septic Solutions, Inc.
314 W Center Street
Dieterich, IL 62424
United States
Phone: 217-925-5992
Email: jodi@septicsolutions.net

landragon · 03/30/2006, 07:10 AM

I have checked this thread every week or so for progress, and I must say in the last two I found it. Well done on it guys. Looking forward to the future of this even more now.

melev · 03/30/2006, 12:46 PM

Jonathan - your skimmer looks Grrreat!

Bill - looking forward to seeing how your skimmer progresses.

mhurley · 03/30/2006, 12:49 PM

Bill,

I may have to journey up to visit you to see this skimmer some day soon.

03/25/2006, 08:49 AM	#426
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	LOL...couldn't keep him out of the car eh? I have a buddy with a mint Delorian he won't drive, or let anyone inside...he'll drive his Jag in a hailstorm, but the Delorian stays in the garage! He looks good in the tube too. Like a cat that just ate a canary. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/25/2006, 10:47 AM	#428
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	HOLY CRAP!! now that is some bubbly water!! can't wait to see this thing Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

03/25/2006, 10:59 AM	#429
Snarkys RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 3,516	wow ! __________________ Ryan B BRSTV & 52 Weeks of Reefing

03/28/2006, 12:08 PM	#431
gobygoby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis - Indiana Posts: 1,340	HEY!!! Did you sneak into my garage and sit in MY ferrari? Very nice. can you leak some specs on the needle wheel? diameter of the disk. dia. of the needles hight of disk and needles? Thanks again! and great job. Seems to me that a single dart skimmer would kick the ^&*)# out of a large recirc skimmer such as an ER 1000 or a BK! __________________ Goby Current Tank Info: 1/8 gal. super-mega nano

03/28/2006, 01:01 PM	#433
gobygoby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis - Indiana Posts: 1,340	Well hurry up and start producing them!! because I want one .......did I hear you say Beta Testers??..... j/k __________________ Goby Current Tank Info: 1/8 gal. super-mega nano

03/28/2006, 12:57 PM	#432
ctenophore RC Sponsor Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 707	I'll give a quick update on the needlewheel we are working on for MDM/Sequence. As spazz mentioned, we are working on needlewheels for two different pumps, the 1000 series as well as the 750/dart. We have functioning needlewheels for the dart, but we are redesigning our current version to make it cheaper & easier to produce. As spazz mentioned, building the prototypes is very labor intensive. We use a laser table to make ours; a cnc would work too. The needlewheel really needs to be molded, but that is pricey to commit to until the design is perfected.

03/28/2006, 02:01 PM	#434
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Yeah, Ill BETA test on my 72" tall, 18" diameter monster I am building...

03/28/2006, 04:17 PM	#435
roni Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: stafford, va Posts: 513	i'm happy to beta test anything you guys put out

03/29/2006, 06:02 PM	#437
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	My skimmer is built! This is what an Alita 100 can do through 8 wood 3" stones. The only major issue is that I am gravity feeding so there is some air being drawn in and sometimes very large bubbles as a result. At least I can run wet while I cure and think about a NW mod. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/29/2006, 07:41 PM	#438
onetrickpony Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TX Posts: 502	cool skimmer could you put a -T- fitting with a tall riser before it runs into the skimmer that way it could bleed off any extra air ken

03/29/2006, 08:28 PM	#439
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Actually I shut the other return lines down to the point that the water level in the overflow was above the inlet screen and it did not change the bubbles in the skimmer. I built it this way so that I could tune the intake as well as the output. I think what may have happened is that one of the stones blew off when I started it up because I am getting some large bubbles coming up from deep within the skimmer. I am not going to mess with it now since it is really smoking and the tank has already cleared up quite a bit in the first hour of operation. When I get back from vacation I'll pull it apart and checked the stones. Those pictures are from right when I turned the skimmer air pump on. It started making foam within about 30 seconds. Gotta love that Alita air pump!!! Right now the skimmer is drawing 120W. That's it! And I am getting great flow. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/29/2006, 08:32 PM	#440
zapata41 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 2,024	how do you like the noise from the alita. i have a medo that is way loud, also pulses, i think, which sucks. looking at a alita60 Tim

03/29/2006, 08:40 PM	#441
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Zero noise from the Alita. The only noise I can hear is the air escaping from my ghetto rigged adapters (hose clamps over threaded adapters). Keep in mind that my system is in a tank room and there are a variety of other noises. The noisiest thing are the coolin fans. When they shut off I'll listen for the Alita again and if it is noisy, I'll let you know. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/29/2006, 08:50 PM	#442
windgod Moved On Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fairmont Minnesota Posts: 318	dart info from sequence been really curious about this post would like to have a large needlewheel pump but do not have access to a CNC machine so I called the folks at sequence and asked them if they were going to manufacture and market the dart needlewheel, I talked to a gal there that works with "curt" she said that they are testing the impellar and the tests should be completed in late may that will determine if they are going to manufacture this pump but she thought "yes" just wanted to spread the news Rick

03/29/2006, 09:23 PM	#443
Bill Wann Moved On Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: wadsworth,il Posts: 562	Well , Ive been making the bottom plate fro the skimmer , It will be kinda like a bubble king with the holes around the outside and a bubble palte in th emiddle . There are 15 2ich return hols on the plate . Its amde of 3/4 inch acrylic . The cone should be here on firday and it should be done within a week.

03/29/2006, 09:27 PM	#444
smjtkj Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 862	Bill, Are you gonna use the darts or the pumps from the RK2 in the pic? Mike

03/29/2006, 09:58 PM	#445
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	How that's a MONSTER Bill!!! My wife is already referring to the reef as my girlfriend. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/29/2006, 11:10 PM	#446
zapata41 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 2,024	well if your cooling fans are louder than the alita then i am sold on one, just have to figure out which one to get, the 60 or the 40, also on ebay there is a dual linear piston gast pump on there, 7psi at 120lpm on 20 bucks right now. Tim

03/29/2006, 11:46 PM	#447
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Damn, I could have used that Gast! I missed out on one last week and I couldn't wait for another. I checked the Alita with the fans off and it is a little noisy but really not too bad. Maybe about as noisy as a Sequence pump. Just kind of a hum really. This looks like a good one on eBay. Same seller as before though and his feedback stinks. I would definitely go for the 60 if you can afford it. I got my 100 for $355 including shipping from Septic Solutions: Address: Septic Solutions, Inc. 314 W Center Street Dieterich, IL 62424 United States Phone: 217-925-5992 Email: jodi@septicsolutions.net __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

03/30/2006, 07:10 AM	#448
landragon Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 892	I have checked this thread every week or so for progress, and I must say in the last two I found it. Well done on it guys. Looking forward to the future of this even more now. __________________ "Experience is the only tool we aren't born with." Unknown

03/30/2006, 12:46 PM	#449
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Jonathan - your skimmer looks Grrreat! Bill - looking forward to seeing how your skimmer progresses.

03/30/2006, 12:49 PM	#450
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	Bill, I may have to journey up to visit you to see this skimmer some day soon. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube