Venturi vs. air stones observation.

[CarlosG13]

My background is in saltwater aquariums and coral farming. Oxygenation of the water is also crucial and we generally look for more oxygen exchange with movement of the water at the surface. A protein skimmer works by creating intense micro bubbles in a chamber that floats waste up and out. This is done with a water pump with a Venturi (air injection into pump impeller) but waste removal only works in saltwater because of the increased surface tension. A MaxiJet powerhead with a Venturi is about $25, but can be found used for next to nothing in used aquarium equipment CL. This little MaxiJet mamma jamma would eliminate the need to change air stones and would move much more water at the surface. The 1200 is meant to pump 1200gph while immersed in water like an aquarium and this is one of the smallest and cheapest. Even with the air injection you’re still probably moving 600gph of water and air all around your chamber eliminating more dead spots. Also the Venturi would be much quieter than an air pump. Could this be useful or may already be common knowledge in Hydro? I grow Cannabis outdoors and will have to wait to try my aquarium brain ideas on hydroponics.

 

[Airwalker16]

My background is in saltwater aquariums and coral farming. Oxygenation of the water is also crucial and we generally look for more oxygen exchange with movement of the water at the surface. A protein skimmer works by creating intense micro bubbles in a chamber that floats waste up and out. This is done with a water pump with a Venturi (air injection into pump impeller) but waste removal only works in saltwater because of the increased surface tension. A MaxiJet powerhead with a Venturi is about $25, but can be found used for next to nothing in used aquarium equipment CL. This little MaxiJet mamma jamma would eliminate the need to change air stones and would move much more water at the surface. The 1200 is meant to pump 1200gph while immersed in water like an aquarium and this is one of the smallest and cheapest. Even with the air injection you’re still probably moving 600gph of water and air all around your chamber eliminating more dead spots. Also the Venturi would be much quieter than an air pump. Could this be useful or may already be common knowledge in Hydro? I grow Cannabis outdoors and will have to wait to try my aquarium brain ideas on hydroponics.

Us here just build 3/4 manifolds from a reservoir that goes to each bucket/container with 1/2" for a waterfall in each one, which is then returned by 2-3" abs gravity fed return lines. Does a bang up job.