Newbie with some basic questions

Hi Everyone, I've been fascinated by these laminar water nozzles for years and I just recently began looking to find one to purchase - until I realized how expensive they were. Then I found this forum so now I'm going to make my own. My plan is to make several - of which will be "jumping" into my pool and hot tub from underneath my deck. Eventually I'd like to add LEDs for color.

In order to start, I'd like to know what types of pumps everyone is using for testing. What GPM/GPH specifically. I looked at the other thread about pump sizes but it looks like that thread was highjacked into "how to make a cutter". Also, does anyone have any specs on building the "low pass" filter? What exactly does this do?

Am I correct in assuming that the type of water has no impact on the laminar stream? For example, is there any differences to take into consideration when using pool (chlorinated) water versus tap water?

I look forward to working on this project.

Hi there and welcome to the forum

Haha, sorry if the thread was hi-jacked
But this forum is "self-moderated" and if someone have any question, they ask and usually get a answer..

About the pump, it depends on how far away you want your water stream to go.
But the most usually to use is 4000-6000 Ltr\Hours !

I have a FLOW4800 pump that work perfect for my laminar jet.
It throw the water about 1-2 meeter away, and 1 meeter up in the air.

But the size of your nozzle have much to say about the size of a pump.
If the nozzle is bigger, it takes more water, more straws, more filter, and it need more pressure to produce a longer arc of water..

I also recommend you to use a 8" big tube. (many have tried 4" and sometimes failed)


I dont think the water should matter.

ask and you will be answered

Yeah, we will try to answer your questions, and liteglow will probably be the first to answer. (I think he lives here in the forum) The answers we give are based on experience and failure (for the most part), but is in fact still an opinion.

I tried to get some results with the 4" diameter, and it worked but it isn't as good as I wanted! BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER!

So here are my 2 cents!

Liteglow is right about the pumps. The pumps need to be sized based on the amount of output you want. Each nozzle can only handle so much flow though. Thus the 4" diameter nozzles worked but once the flow got too high the stream would break up. I don't have a flowrate for the break up on the 4" nozzle, but my guess is about 6-7 gallons/minute (~25 l/m). The 8" diameter nozzle can handle a lot higher flow rate somewhere around 13 gallons/minute (50 l/m) and higher. I haven't fully tested mine to failure yet.

Water doesn't matter unless you put stuff in the water that the pump can't handle, i.e. oils, etc. Yes I tried it. It really breaks up the flow because the pump has a hard time pumping. BAD!


The filter is really simple.

It has the outlet a couple of inches above the inlet. The tube is about 40/60 water/air (that's just a guess). The water fills up and goes exits. But as the pulsing happens from the pump the air at the top acts like a spring and dampens out the pulses making the water constant. The larger the filter the more "noise" you will filter out.

In my video I show the filter briefly. With the above description you should be able to copy it. http://mad-laboratory.com/2009/04/03/laminar-nozzle-8-prototype-test-1/

Thanks for the reply. So what about the "low pass" filter that I have read about? What is it used for?

Hi, welcome in the Forum too.
The Low pass Filter is this wat John described in the Filter section, it removes the Pump jitter:


The filter is really simple.

It has the outlet a couple of inches above the inlet. The tube is about 40/60 water/air (that's just a guess). The water fills up and goes exits. But as the pulsing happens from the pump the air at the top acts like a spring and dampens out the pulses making the water constant. The larger the filter the more "noise" you will filter out.

In my video I show the filter briefly. With the above description you should be able to copy it. http://mad-laboratory.com/2009/04/03/laminar-nozzle-8-prototype-test-1/

Good luck with your Nozzle, and don't forget, post some Pictures.

Magic-Nozzle - great job, love the vid. That is exactly what I want to do. Can I ask a few questions? How did you make your top cap - the piece where the brass fitting protrudes from? n the interior of the top cap, is the fitting flush? Is the cap concave or flat? Thanks

yotaRunner4 wrote:Magic-Nozzle - great job, love the vid. That is exactly what I want to do. Can I ask a few questions? How did you make your top cap - the piece where the brass fitting protrudes from? n the interior of the top cap, is the fitting flush? Is the cap concave or flat? Thanks

I dont know if I understand everything you did ask for (sorry my English) !

But the brass-metal-ring is drilled in a V , ehm so it`s a sharp edge where the water goes out..
Not so good to explain.. so here is a picture I have made:




It`s important that the tip is FLAT

yotaRunner4 wrote:Magic-Nozzle - great job, love the vid. That is exactly what I want to do. Can I ask a few questions? How did you make your top cap - the piece where the brass fitting protrudes from? n the interior of the top cap, is the fitting flush? Is the cap concave or flat? Thanks

Hi, thank you for your nice lines. I also have problems to understand your tecnical english, Sorry ....
I think Liteglow explayened a lot. The top i use is turned on a lathe. Look here https://laminar.forumotion.com/laminar-nozzle-talk-and-pictures-f1/new-nozzle-20-with-pictures-problem-solved-t47.htm

Good luck, Mario