------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Venturi Protein Skimmer ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It would appear that as time has gone by more and more hobbyists are starting to use Venturi skimmers as opposed to columnar types. The expanation seems two fold: venturi skimmers tend to be smaller, and if real good venturi valves are used they seem to be much more efficient. These skimmers, therefore, appeal to hobbyists who run more modern systems, e.g. live sand and berlin types or combinations of both (hybrid sytems). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Venturi Skimmers vs Columnar Skimmers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whereas traditional skimmers, or columnar one have been around for years and are still used extensively in the hobby, especially on smaller tanks, hobbyists, especially those moving to more sophisticated systems with less and less outside equipment, venturi skimmers are becoming the number one choice. They are smaller, fit underneath the aquarium cabinet and are often less expensive. It is also a fact that columnar models that achieve the same degreee of efficiency as venturi ones are often very large and not that easy to hide. The ability to hide a skimmer may not have anything to do with its efficiency, but it certainly plays a role in the aesthetics of the set up. Real strong pumps are necessary, and air stone maintenance, and replacement, is not all that simple. It is my experience that the less the hobbyist has to do in terms of maintenance, the better the equipment used really is. Changing airstones on large skimmers can be a real chore and can take quite some time. Cleaning a venturi valve, even one equipped with a check valve, is easy and does not take nearly as much time as cleaning any other type. Warm water and a pipe cleaner cotton swab or a Q-tip or similar device is often all that is necessary. The amount of time spent keeping your venturi skimmer running properly is thus greatly reduced. I do not wish to imply that columnar skimmers cannot be made as efficient as venturi ones. The problem is that to gain that degree of efficiency they become bulky and large and harder to service, while at the same time their price goes up considerably. One of the top rated columnar skimmers cost around $ 800.00 whereas one of the top-rated venturi ones sells for $ 300.00 (both models' price is without pump). Quite a difference in price, especially if you consider that one is a venturi and the other not. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What is Venturi Valve? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A venturi valve is a special type of device that has an entry for air and two an entry and an exit for water. The internal part of the valve is built in such manner that as water flows through it forcefully, air is drawn into the valve. The higher the pressure of the ingoing water, the more air is drawn into the venturi valve. The more is drawn in, the more bubbles are formed and the smaller they are. This is obviously very desirable as it allows for far better skimming. Venturi Valves have been around for quite some time but have not been used to a great extent in the hobby except for the last few years. It is critical when using a venturi valve to size it properly and to ensure that the pump that pushes water into it is powerful enough or you will not get adequate and acceptable results. Very often when a venturi valve does not receive strong enough water input in terms of pounds per square inch, the amount of air that is drawn in will not be high enough and the venturi will not operate properly, making you believe that the venturi itself is faulty or worn out. This is not the case. Just increase the strength of the water inflow and you will get the kind of performance you are looking for. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Should you Switch? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The decision to switch from a columnar skimmer to a venturi one often depends on what you are trying to achieve in your tank. If your are now contstantly battling corals that do not fully open, algae outbreaks, diatoms, red algae, slime algae that appear on live rock, low dissolved oxygen levels, low redox potential levels and all such type of negative water quality parameters then I would indeed strongly suggest a switch. With the prices of good venturi skimmers now at an all time low, nothing should really make it difficult for you to make the switch. The installation is easy. It does not require a lot of time, either. If your tank is not doing well, by all means go for a venturi skimmer. Do not even think about it twice. You will be so pleasantly surprised you did that you will not regret it a second. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Replacing your present set up with a modern venturi skimmer will only improve conditions in your tank and will make all animals look a lot better. You will increase the dissolved oxygen levels and you will attain natural high redox potential levels. Overall the tank will look so much better. The addition of a venturi skimmer can make the difference in a tank that looks so so and a tank that looks really alive. The choice is yours, the benefits though are practically guaranteed if you set the skimmer up with a strong enough pump. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Return to the Library ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------