CodeMonkey
08-06-02, 20:18
Okay
If you're reeading this then you probably have a Prizm skimmer and are probably sick of the noisy things.
You've searched the net done all the mods ie new 18 blade impeller (yeah as if that helps) etc and it is still noisey.
Well this is my mod - a bit drastic but it works.
The noise comes from the venturi and thus the only way to stop the noise is to kill the venturi - so that is that I did.
To me the prizm was ideal - the spec for it was for a tank that was twice my size and the thinness made it ideal to go at the back of my without it being in the tank - but the venturi is noisy so I decided to turn my prizm skimmer into an air driven skimmer.
1) I drilled a hole in the top lid to take a rigid airline (first time I used my dremel since getting it for xmas) dead centre.
2) I attached the rigid airline to a wooden airblock and sunk it to the chamber where the water comes in.
3) I then attached the collection chamber making sure the airline went through the centre and then replace the lid and threaded the airline through the hole in the lid I made.
4) attached the rigid airline to an airpump using a fliexible air hose (I also placed a clamp on this flexible line - mre on this later)
5) attached the venturi inlet to its prime position (I) and left it there.
6) turned on the prizm pump and then turned on the airpump.
voila - a bit of tweaking with the input flow in the skimmer and the clamp on the air line to stop wet skimming - the whole process was done in under 30 mins and I now have a happy wife (and therefore a happy me)
the air still flows through the skimmer as it did before so you still get that counter current effect in the middle chamber.
I'll probably go for a smaller airpump and maybe a quieter one (I am currently using one I use for mixing my RO and salt - big, cheap and noisy - but no way near as noisy as the venturi)
I hope this helps someone - maybe someone will do a similar mod on those new larger prizms (god they must be noisy beasts).
Also if you only make a very small hole (like I did) then if you don't like it then it can be easily plugged with a bit of sealant.
If you're reeading this then you probably have a Prizm skimmer and are probably sick of the noisy things.
You've searched the net done all the mods ie new 18 blade impeller (yeah as if that helps) etc and it is still noisey.
Well this is my mod - a bit drastic but it works.
The noise comes from the venturi and thus the only way to stop the noise is to kill the venturi - so that is that I did.
To me the prizm was ideal - the spec for it was for a tank that was twice my size and the thinness made it ideal to go at the back of my without it being in the tank - but the venturi is noisy so I decided to turn my prizm skimmer into an air driven skimmer.
1) I drilled a hole in the top lid to take a rigid airline (first time I used my dremel since getting it for xmas) dead centre.
2) I attached the rigid airline to a wooden airblock and sunk it to the chamber where the water comes in.
3) I then attached the collection chamber making sure the airline went through the centre and then replace the lid and threaded the airline through the hole in the lid I made.
4) attached the rigid airline to an airpump using a fliexible air hose (I also placed a clamp on this flexible line - mre on this later)
5) attached the venturi inlet to its prime position (I) and left it there.
6) turned on the prizm pump and then turned on the airpump.
voila - a bit of tweaking with the input flow in the skimmer and the clamp on the air line to stop wet skimming - the whole process was done in under 30 mins and I now have a happy wife (and therefore a happy me)
the air still flows through the skimmer as it did before so you still get that counter current effect in the middle chamber.
I'll probably go for a smaller airpump and maybe a quieter one (I am currently using one I use for mixing my RO and salt - big, cheap and noisy - but no way near as noisy as the venturi)
I hope this helps someone - maybe someone will do a similar mod on those new larger prizms (god they must be noisy beasts).
Also if you only make a very small hole (like I did) then if you don't like it then it can be easily plugged with a bit of sealant.