Venturi upflow scrubber.

[atoll]

Just wondered if anybody (perhaps Santa Monica) has considered using a small pump/powerhead with a venturi providing both feed water and a vast amount of fine bubbles of air? Something along the HOG but with an external pump with venturi. Is it feasible if not why not? Just a thought.

[SantaMonica]

You could do that but you don't need that much water flow. And you'd have to deal with a water pump. But it would work.

[atoll]

You could do that but you don't need that much water flow. And you'd have to deal with a water pump. But it would work.

Thanks for that SM.
I was thinking there would perhaps be a couple of advantages to using a powerhead.
1/ a small powerhead would be cheaper than an airpump.
2/ the bubbles produced would be finer and should be more evenly distributed over the screen.
3/ no noisy airpump so it should be quieter.

However there could be a couple of downsides.
1/ It would make the scrubber bulkier and harder to accommodate.
2/ The algae might find it more difficult to get a hold on the screen due to the extra water movement.

[SantaMonica]

Actually larger air bubbles work better.

Once attached, nothing will blow the hair algae off the screen, unless it is freshwater which grows very thin.