ASM Skimmer Owners - Venturi Mod?

M

ms71171

I have a ASM G3 skimmer with the gate valve mod and have had ok results, but have always had a nagging problem with microbubbles.

A while back, on my other tank, I had a Turbofloter skimmer that I had tried a venturi mod on and had good results. More skimmate, better control, and was able to open the skimmer up all the way without microbubbles.

Just tried the same venturi mod on my ASM by placing a 1/2" piece of tubing into the inlet of my Sedra pump. I then added a small plastic gate valve at the end of the tube to control the incoming air and to cut down on noise.

Now, the skimmer is producing much more foam, better foam, and I have almost no microbubbles. I think the reason the bubbles are down is because there is much less flow through the skimmer due to the increased air going into the pump. The skimmer in 1 hour has already pulled foam from water that was not producing foam.

It's easy to try. You just move the tubing in or out of the Sedra pump inlet to control the amount of bubbles.

Your results may vary :lol:
 
I knew someone would ask that. :lol:

I can't really take pictures of the mod in the sump and don't want to take it out.

Not really much to it. Once you guide the tube towards the inlet of your pump, it will pull it in. I have nothing holding mine - the pump will keep in there. The other end of the tube with the valve is just tie-wrapped loosely so I can adjust the tube in and out.
 
If its to much flow through the skimmer you could try the recirc mod as well. My g3 skims like crazy, but I see very few microbubbles leave it. I have a mj 1200 feeding it.
 
have you mesh modded the impeller...that will create more microbubles and suppose to draw more air in too
 
For scrub pad use enkamat (sp)

Tools and materials required:

1 x 3M blue scrub pad (for some reason the green pad did not hold up well) from Home Depot. The scrub pad is roughly 5/16 inch thick.
Utility knife with new blade
Small zip ties from Home Depot or Lowes
Scissors
Pencil

1. Remove the impeller from pump.
2. While using the utility knife, cut each pin at the base of the impeller. Try to cut it flush with the disk.
Remove all pins.
3. Cut a square piece from the blue scrub pad. The square needs to be larger than the disk.
4. Stick the pencil directly in the center of the pad, use the pencil to create a hole that will allow the bearing to peek through the pad. Test fit the pad on the disk. The bearing should easily fit through the hole on pad.
5. With the pad on the disk, insert a zip tie from the back of the disk, thru the pad and back down thru the pad and finally thru the disk. There are 4 holes on the disk. You wil be using two zip ties to secure the pad to the disk. Make sure the male and female ends of the zip tie are behind the disk. When looking at the pad on the disk you should only see two zipties secured to the disk. The zip tie connection is behind the disk. This is important because if you make the connections in front of the disk on top of the pad, it will produce drag and less performance.
6. Make sure zip ties are tight.
7. Remove excessive zip tie material.
8. Trim pad to the same diameter as the disk.
9. Put impeller back into pump.

Total time to conduct mod... 10 minutes
 
Thanks for the tip! After a week of use on my G2, I can say this is a great mod. I was able to open up my gate valve, and the water/foam level in my skimmer has been very consistent thoughtout the week. Mesh wheel is next on my list.
 
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