From skimmer to skimmer back in the day.

[atoll]

Around 40years ago my first skimmer was an air driven Sander model using a limewood diffuser and Hoffman airpump, both German. I subsequently converted it to a venturi power skimmer using a Hagen 200 pump with air injection. This was a big improvement over using the airpump and wood diffuser.

A friend of mine had a small LFS in Liverpool and often sold Tunze equipment to order. I was offered a new Tunze power driver venturi skimmer complete with it's powerful 4002 air cooled motor. You could service the motor at home, all the parts being readily available. I got the skimmer at a good discount price.

I wonder how many on here remember those skimmers and it's small brother with the 2002 air cooled motor? Were they even availble in the US back then?
I also had a 2002 and a 4002 motor for circulation on my 6'6" 130 gallon sumped reef tank. Both pumps were clamped to the side glass with a tube into the water and a enclosed waterwheel which pushed the water and very powerful they were. I think you can still buy these pumps or you could up until recently.

 

[Peace River]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing - somehow I had missed this approach in my fairly extensive exposure to skimmers.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Sanders air driven skimmers were certainly available back in the day. I sold them I think in late 80's or early 90's. I don't remember seeing the pump driven version though. The ones I remember were updraft. The rising air bubbles moved the water. I kept a fish bowl full of limewood air stones on the counter. Sold a bunch of those. A later improvement was a counter-current model, but it was still air driven.