Mazzei vs. 'standard' venturi injectors

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've run a Mazzei venturi injector on my Lifereef skimmer since day one. I see a HUGE price difference between the Mazzei and 'standard' venturi injectors. Having no experience with running a regular venturi, what is the difference in performances?
Is the extra expense of a Mazzei worth it?
Also- I've noticed that the diagram in the link I'm providing below shows the air being drawn upward into the injector. I've always run my injector with the air intake on top. Does this make any difference?
http://www.mazzei.net/industrial/index.html

[dendronepthya]

I too have a mazzei on my lifereef. I think the venturi is more expensive due to its size and the little details. For example, the venturi has a ball in the air inlet that is supposed to seal the valve when there is no water pressure. Mine doesn't seal 100% like it should and maybe it is because I have my air inlet pointed up. I'm not sure.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Interesting, dendro. Is the air coming into the Mazzei injector humid air that is re-circulated from the collection cup? Jeff's older {mine is 10 years old} skimmer models did not have this feature, but the newer ones do. Dry 'room' air tends to form a crust in the injector that impedes the little ball's performance. Since modifying the injector to suck humid air from the collection cup, I've experienced absolutely no problems with my skimmer's Mazzei injector- and the mod has enhanced the skimmers performance while further silencing any noises coming from the venturi.

Does anyone know if any given pump will push the same amount of water {GPH} through similarly sized Mazzei and 'regular' venturi injectors?

[dendronepthya]

My skimmer draws air(and sometimes skimmate crud) from the top of the collection cup like your's does. When the power goes off though, the water level is above that of the venturi, so the water wants to come out of the air inlet. The stop ball greatly reduces what would be a jet of waer, but a slow trickle will still come out if I have the hose unconnected.

[WaterDogs]

I have a Lifereef HVS2-24 with the Mazzei venturi injector; it cost an additional $50.00 at time of purchase 6 months ago. Jeff said the only reason the standard venturi is used is to keep cost down and the standard wouldn't work on the larger VS3-48, 60, 72 Series Skimmers; I have never used the standard venturi but you would think the Mazzei would have better overall performance. Like you hearing from someone that has done a side by side comparison would be interesting. A MD950 is what powers mine and from pictures across the web I've looked at none of them put out the bubbles my does.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Thanks, WaterDogs. Anyone that's run a standard vs. a Mazzei injector on their skimmer care to comment on performance differences?

[rsman]

it depends on how you define standard venturi, i have a few amiracle typhoons, ive heavily modified one of them, they come with 2 of these blue plastic no name venturi's, ive replaced them a few times over, trying to get better and better results, I like the skimmer I dont like how its external plumbing is riged almost like it was an afterthought, i got best results from the method I am using now a RIO 2500 with the RVT(or RTV or whatever the RIO name is) but did try a single Mazzei injector from aquaticeco.com along with another eductor (P/N#ED1) of the three I think the Mazzei for what apeared to be better performance.

HTH though its probibly (definately) not a side by side comparison:cool:

[H20ENG]

Mazzei only builds eductors. Its their core business, and therefore puts a good amount of R &D into these things. Check out their site for all the other applications they're used for. How bout them 4"er!
They will give you a rating of how much gas or liquid will be drawn through the unit at a given flow and pressure.
Those things will lift water up 28' with a good pump! thats some vacuum!
We had a ton of them at the aquarium for ozone injection, etc. Bar none the best I've used.
I even used a small powerhead on a 1" Mazzei injector, and it foamed like mad.
You wont be sorry with these things.
Chris

[Gary Majchrzak]

I guess I got the 'right stuff' {Mazzei injector} to begin with. I eventually want to slap some eductors on my returns. Thanks for the info, Chris.

[H20ENG]

Check out their little tank eductors. I really dont see how they can work much better than a hose barb, but their specs show them as good as the larger tank eductors like emporer aquatics.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Thanks again, I will check into this.:)

[captain7359]

where did you get the mazzei. i was going to put one on my diy skimmer but wasn't sure how good they were and wanted to get a look at one in action first. you have no problem with it making air even though the water level is above the level the air is taken in at.

[WaterDogs]

The Mazzei came with my skimmer from www.lifereef.com; but Mazzei's web page may also get you hooked up at http://www.mazzei.net/

captain7359 said, "you have no problem with it making air even though the water level is above the level the air is taken in at."

I don't run mine at that water level, but according Jeff at Lifereef the Mazzei deals very well with a wide variety of pressure conditions compared to other venturis; I'm sure a much stronger pump would also help in your case; I use a Mag-Drive MD9.5 on my skimmer.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by captain7359
where did you get the mazzei. i was going to put one on my diy skimmer but wasn't sure how good they were and wanted to get a look at one in action first. you have no problem with it making air even though the water level is above the level the air is taken in at.
Welcome to Reef Central, Cap.
I got my Mazzei injector from Lifereef as well.
Depending on the water pressure the venturi 'sees' and the rating of your pump, the Mazzei injector will work great.

[captain7359]

thanks guys. wasn't sure if you had bought them from an aqua supplier or an industrial supplier.

[PaSReef1]

Do you guys have some recommendations for best PUMP size for the average skimmer (50-150) gallons including FLOW RATE AND or FEET OF HEAD (how PSI is calculated) for using these Mazzei injectors? (MI)

I just got off the phone with Richard at Mazzei and he told me to pick out the pump first determine PSI or FOH and get back with him so he can determine the proper MI for my use.

And if anyone in this thread can list pump name, size, type and flow rate of your pump along with the corespongind MI you ordered thats working for you, that would be great too!

It would be nice to get some kind of Table reference going where the pump Name type and size could be linked to the proper MI.?

I guess we could start with you guys who are currently successfully using them.

As for me I will figure out best pump for my particular tank size and skimmer design and get back with Richard.

Great thread, great IDEA looking forward to trying it in my new DIY skimmer!

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by PaSReef1
if anyone in this thread can list pump name, size, type and flow rate of your pump along with the corespongind MI you ordered thats working for you, that would be great too!

This info should help you:
I used my 1" MI on two different skimmers.
The first {24"} skimmer was powered by a Little Giant 2MDQX and the MI was subjected to 2 ft. head.
My current {46"} skimmer is powered by a Little Giant 3MDQX and the same MI "sees" 3 ft.head. {This skimmer could possibly be powered by a LG 4MDQ.}
Pump specs here:
http://reefs.org/library/pumps/
Links to two skimmer design sites that I found to be very informative:
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/skimmer101.htm
http://www.planet-reef.com/diyskim.htm
Good luck!

[PaSReef1]

how is your MI working for you? And was are the specs on your particular MI injector? Did you have it matched with your pump size PSI?

Talking to Richard tho he said the sizes given 1" and 3/4 " were the THREAD SIZES not the internal MI specs. They are all basically the same length (6") according to him, whats different is the internal structure that is determined by pump psi.

The MI should be pared up evenly with the proper pump output which your tables should help.

As far as results go, Do you have anything to compare your results to? just wondering.

Thanks for the infor and that table is sweet! jUst what I was looking for it will help me once i pick out the pump to tell Richard JUST what I want.

Do you run the pump line right into the skimmer with NO injection head? Im thinking about adding a DIY to mine.

How bout some PIX?

Thanks

[Gary Majchrzak]

My MI has always worked phenomenally. Jeff at Lifereef included the injector as standard equipment on my 24" Lifereef skimmer when I purchased it over 10 years ago.
Pix? See this thread:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=220118

Here is the same injector on my 24" skimmer:
http://home.rochester.rr.com/garysreef/sump_and_setup.htm

[PaSReef1]

Nice pic of it working right at the end! looks good, Im probably going to go this MI way, My tank is not huge and I want it to run in an under the stand sump so it will be short and stocky, Hope this wont hurt performance max Height I can go is 20"

Looking forward to trying this, any idea where I can get the PVC fittings to join a 1" PVC pipe to a round 5-6" Acrylic cylinder?

do they sell such things or do people just heat them and bend them to fit tightly?

Like to see some more pix of this MI skimmer in ACTIoN looks good so far, Thanks for the info and links!

[PaSReef1]

"adjustable height Hartford loop" to adjust foam height?

Thats from that link you sent me, what is this? is it similar to what euro reef uses to adjust foam height and output...

ER extends and has tube with foam around it.. is that what hes talking about?

[PaSReef1]

see my gallery

[H20ENG]

pasreef1,
Here is a pic of a Mysid culture system I built years ago. It has an adjustable Hartford Loop to control the height of water in the 55g broodstock tank. Basically its a siphon break. The water level is determined by wherever you set the horizontal piping level, plus any backpressure. To make it adjustable, compression repair couplings were used.
Hope this helps,
Chris
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/14095hartford_loop.jpg