DIY Red Dragon Pumps, gathering ideas. - Page 17

Creetin · #**401** 05/06/2007, 12:08 PM

I cut the original off, Just be sure to leave the tension clasp on. It gives a good glueing surface to the new disk.
First cut away the blades to the base of the fan and then slowly cut away from the center of the fan, and as soon as you can gently! pry the fan bade off the brass should come off with it leaving the steel tension clasp. I had to cut the base of the fan in half to get it off, Nothing is holding the brass in except the housing on the fan. It will just slip off the tension clasp.
Just be carefull the shaft once its broken is useless IMO

kroe · #**402** 05/06/2007, 12:14 PM

dudedudedude: I know the 900s don't have a floating impeller, but it doesn't look like replacing the volute is a necessity (at least on the 2400).

spykes · #**403** 05/06/2007, 12:20 PM

btw here's a pic of my RD impeller to the laguna's. Which pump do you think will match the RD's. The magnet is about 1 inch shorter.

Creetin · #**404** 05/06/2007, 12:21 PM

I am not so sure we need to mod the shrouds. The 5000 is equally proportional to the 2905 so even if it does not get 100 scfh it will still be a great skimmer pump!
I was bummed i got the wrong impeller, so it will have to wait a few more days for me.
The 5000 can possably replace my 3 aquabee's plus some.

Creetin · #**405** 05/06/2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spykes
btw here's a pic of my RD impeller to the laguna's. Which pump do you think will match the RD's. The magnet is about 1 inch shorter.

That looks like the size diff with the 5000 and the 2905.
I would say its the 2150.

dudedudedude · #**406** 05/06/2007, 12:29 PM

spyzes,
they have pictures of some laguna impeller on azponds.com which may give you an idea of which pump uses your RD impeller

spykes · #**407** 05/06/2007, 12:30 PM

im thinking about modding the RD impeller. The head just slips on. Maybe i should make a new head and zip tie some PF4 haha.

dudedudedude · #**408** 05/06/2007, 12:30 PM

spykes,
I was wondering what is the distance from the magnet rotor to the bottom black part of your RD needle wheel. It seems that the RD imepller paddles/wheels sit up a little higher than the stock laguna, and I wanted to replicate this distance

spykes · #**409** 05/06/2007, 12:33 PM

it's exactly 1 CM distance. Meawhile the laguna is only 1mm spacing from the collar.

dudedudedude · #**410** 05/06/2007, 12:35 PM

I would just make a new head, IMO it would be awful to destroy that beautful piece of German engineering.

smjtkj · #**411** 05/06/2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dudedudedude
spykes,
I was wondering what is the distance from the magnet rotor to the bottom black part of your RD needle wheel. It seems that the RD imepller paddles/wheels sit up a little higher than the stock laguna, and I wanted to replicate this distance

I does sit up a little higher, but the custom volute allows for that
where the factory won't.

dudedudedude · #**412** 05/06/2007, 12:40 PM

I have the 5000 and will definatly be making a custome volute because it isnt as nice as that on some of the larger pipes, ie it it doesnt have a tangential output.

spykes · #**413** 05/06/2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dudedudedude
I would just make a new head, IMO it would be awful to destroy that beautful piece of German engineering.

comes right off. I'll just make another one to slip on hehe.

dudedudedude · #**414** 05/06/2007, 01:10 PM

spykes, one last question, what is the hieght and width of the inside of the RD impeller shroud?

hahnmeister · #**415** 05/06/2007, 02:00 PM

spykes, for the 5000 and 7000, rather than try to mod the impeller, I was ordering the impellers from the newer max-flo pumps to slip in because they look identical... just dont have the brass.

kroe, the 900 series is the same as the powerhead 110/901/5000... and although the shaft thing may not be a huge deal, the volute is much smaller than on the other pumps (5000 on up).

The 5000 with a new impeller would be my suggestion for a smaller pump rather than the 900... its almost the same wattage, but with a much larger volute. You can always just restrict the output to cut down on the air/water intake.

As for the Lagunas, creetin, have you messed around with the power factor at all on yours? I was doing some research into the tech documentation on the Laguna pumps... seems they use some sort of calibration circuitry built right into the pumps to adjust the speed/torque/ etc... to ideal operating conditions to achieve perhaps the lowest wattage in the industry it seems. Not that its 100% unique, but the power factor might be something this pump takes care of on its own.

Creetin · #**416** 05/06/2007, 02:06 PM

No i have not, I still have to get by and get the killowatt meter.

spykes · #**417** 05/06/2007, 02:14 PM

hahn, which model impeller comes without the brass? did you get your impeller yet?

Creetin · #**418** 05/06/2007, 02:19 PM

Only the maxflow series has the non brass. All the others have brass fittings in them.

Creetin · #**419** 05/06/2007, 03:32 PM

Well i just ordered a killowatt meter and it should be here the same time as my new impeller.
I ordered a new impeller and it had brass in it too, Which leads me to believe all of them have brass except the maxflow series.
Not much sense playing around any more till i get the meter as i have no way of telling its effeciency.
I'll have to order a 150 scfh meter as well.

kroe · #**420** 05/06/2007, 03:54 PM

Any chance the volute for the bigger models will bolt onto the 900? Probably not since the bigger ones don't need to support the shaft...

h20cooled · #**421** 05/06/2007, 04:02 PM

Well I just bought one of the 2400 off someone on eBay, I would like to come up with something so I can replace my 2 Sedra 5k pumps on my current DIY skimmer. I think with some tinkering I could come up with something.

Creetin · #**422** 05/06/2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by h20cooled
Well I just bought one of the 2400 off someone on eBay, I would like to come up with something so I can replace my 2 Sedra 5k pumps on my current DIY skimmer. I think with some tinkering I could come up with something.

LOL it would take over 10 sedra 5000's to compete with the 2400.

h20cooled · #**423** 05/06/2007, 04:18 PM

Yeah I can see that after doing the math.

I did the mesh mod on both of them and was able to get them to around 12 or 13 lpm (27.5 scfh) which is a LOT less then just one of the 2400, the watts on the 5k is around 50. So, yeah 2400 pump less power and a LOT more air, sounds like a win win to me.

One thing I need to change though is the Sedras are recirulating so I would have to either change the skimmer to in sump or figure out how to convert it.

Rich

hahnmeister · #**424** 05/06/2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spykes
hahn, which model impeller comes without the brass? did you get your impeller yet?

Look back through my posts... you'll find it.

hahnmeister · #**425** 05/06/2007, 07:36 PM

Lol, okay... it seems that the PT-459 and PT-461 impellers are the newer (non brass versions) for the Max-Flo line that should match up with the older 5000 and 7000 series pumps, respective.

You wont get quite the same performance... but very close. The impeller well/ volute is different (5000 and 7000 have central output, and newer have offset output), and the pumps seem to be slightly different as well (new electronics). The 5000 with the newer impeller (PT-459) might still be the 'missing link' for those not wanting something as small as a 901/110, but not as large as a the 2400.