Air driven over the tank filter.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
CoryWM

CoryWM

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 13, 2008
368
11
48
Everett, Washington
www.tankgeek.com
I'm wondering how high can we pump water above a water line using air. so basically take a sponge filter, upscale it, and could I pump water 6 inches above the water line into a filter that then returns to the tank.

{_____} <-- media chamber
||
~ ||~~~~~~ <-- Water Line
||
||
[ ]
[ ] <-- Sponge
[ ]

Inject air to the bottom of the sponge, the uplift, should carry water up the tube, much like most sponge filters already do. However can I think have it lift up outa the water, into a overflow with media, and it would drain back into the tank.

Anyone out there tried it? if not looks like I have a project to try.
 
Air lifts have a very limited head height - I did some experimenting with 3/4" and 1" PVC lift tubes and I found that they only lifted water to around 2-3" before the flow quickly tapered off to nothing.

It may be possible to somehow lift water 6" with air, but I don't think it would be terribly efficient. Do a little experimentation and let us know. :popcorn:
 
fg4608;4167075; said:
Check out this guys "airlifts".
Go to the <Mega Tank> section & scroll down the page...

http://www.freshwaterstingray.nl/Frames%20Engels/English.html

In industrial pumping, air is sometimes injected to the stream to raise the lift capacity and it seems like he has capitalized on that idea. He is using only air to drive the water.
Click to expand...

Great link!

That is a mega-sized air-powered filter for sure. :eek: I did notice that the outlets are only .4" above the water level. Airlifts can move a lot of water, but not against head.
 
Yes I did notice that as well., I was not sure about the head issue. Didn't know if his outside-in air injection would increase the capacity any or not...
Maybe if the riser was tapered to a smaller diameter at the top? Then again, that would decrease the volume capacity in itself i guess...
 
ANYTHING is possible. But why not just use a powerhead or a small mag drive? Either way-you pay for the electric. I'm curious as to why you would be stuck with the "air only" idea?
 
air driven pumps should be made to pull the water rather than push it. what I mean is figure out a way that the airstone is at the return of the filter rather than the entry.

why?

air driven pumps work with water density difference rather than positive water pressure. Water with lots of air bubbles is much less dense than plain water, thus as the air bubbles rise, water from the other end will flow in to equalize the density difference.
 
I should add that this will create a rather small amount of waterflow no mater how much air you are pumping, however you are definitely aerating the water this way and can have this setup as the only aeration system, thus eliminating the need for another appliance using electricity, I have had a similar DIY system running in one of my tiny fry tanks for a while now. It works.
 
m1ste2tea;4222228; said:
It works.
Click to expand...

Until it doesn't, at which point having a single source of oxygen (or rather, lack of it) is a quick and easy way to kill off a tank.

I'm all for effeciency and minimising operating costs, but not to the point that this becomes a higher priority than those they serve.
 
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