5' Skimmer Build in Progress

[areze]

how fast does a powerhead spin?

dont most pumps operate at only 1800rpms? its a specific pump to do 3600rpm, I guess the dart and red dragon would do 3600rpm?

 

[areze]

actually I have an idea. gonna try a 1.25" circle of thin lexan, with a peice of ridgid wall air tubing through the center, then spin it on a maxijet...

mostly cause I have the parts to do it onhand, no waste. just to experiment and see if a larger version is worth while.

Ill let you know.

 

[tinygiants]

This is a pic of the larger pipe I installed in the tank overflow drain. The pipe system on the top is the bubble siphon. The 1/2 system is at the top of the pipe that is larger diameter, so bubbles will rise (next time I'll make it larger still). The pipe creates a siphon sucking out the bubbles.

This is a fine pore stone horizontal. I also stood them verticle. Thje pic did not come out. I will be standing mine verticle.

The above photos are intended to show the bubble quality. The item in the pic is a pippette from a test kit. The drip nozzle on the end is every bit as small as a sewing pin.

Based on my quick little test, I will be adding the 3rd stone. I saw a difference in teh bubble quality as the volume increased. At the worst end I just had more of the larger bubbles, and I believe even they are as good as a NW's give. At best it was a large quantity of the microbubbles. The stones verticle produced bubbles from all surfaces.

Dale

 

[BeanAnimal]

So from your observations, veritcal stones perform better than horizontal stones?

.... back to the drawing board.

 

[tinygiants]

no verticle do not perform better. They perform equal. I can fit all 3 stones in if they are verticle. I believe they are better when running a lower volume of air. I can run about 15 cfh per stone if i run 3 of them.

Dale

 

[BeanAnimal]

So you don't feel that the orientation has any effect on bubble size or output?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Also, i would think you could fit more than 3 stones in a 6" skimmer body.... am I missing something?

 

[tinygiants]

The fittings take up to much room. It will take cutting the fittings down to get 3 in there. A 6" body is only 5.75" diameter. Try playing with 1/2 pvc fittings, suddenly that body gets small. My stones are fed by 1/2" threaded fittings. I will have to cut down the sockets of my fittings in order to get 3 outlets to work. I suppose you could fabricate a acrylic box and tap it for the stones, but a 1/2 tap is 18 bucks local, and I am not ordering 1. I have the 3 stones, so they are what I am going to work with.

 

[tinygiants]

Physicaly 4 stones would fit if you could plumb them.

 

[jnarowe]

Hey! Don't forget what I showed you at my house! Tap a bulkhead with your feed for a stone. You could use a 1-1/2" BH for each stone and make them individually servicable, almost like changing a spark plug.

 

[tinygiants]

Then I start loosing bubble rise height as I start installing stones further up the body. At present I am inclined to use my bottom installed manifold.

 

[jnarowe]

Well, mine will be in the bottom. You could maybe build a box or install them around the bottom of your tube like spokes? I know what you are saying, and of course, my way costs more money, but heck, you guys are spending $20 on an air stone!

I couldn't believe the prices on some of those larger stones. Anyway, just a suggestion.

BTW, I meant to post a couple of days ago that you guys are serious REEF GEEKS!!!

 

[tinygiants]

$8 ea. for mine. They are good though.
The cross sectional area is not large enough to do the spoke thing.
Dale

 

[jnarowe]

I figured not but thought I would tease you about it anyway. I figure your time is worth about $35/hr and with the time spent on your calculator and posting in this thread, you could have bought a Bubble King. Just a joke Dale, just a joke! LOL...

I can't wait to see yours in operation. It almost makes me think I should have not spent the money on acrylic sheet, but I would definitely need 2 or 3 - 12" diameter units like yours to serve my tank. I am still pondering our discussions and info. from this thread and others regarding final construction of mine.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I like the idea of the square body skimmer. The cost of a 10' section of 6" pvs is close to $40. Add the TEE, Ferncos and Base, your lookin at close to $100. A sheet of acrylic costs about the same.

Just a thought.

Bean

 

[goby1]

So what's the verdict? Is it skimming well? The last bubble pic you posted... that's the steady-state output? Looks good.... You said before that the majority of the air comes as the larger bubbles, but I don't see them in the pics... I thought that you only got purely small bubbles right after the pump was turned off.... Is the actual quantity of fine bubbles enough? Good job...

G1

 

[tinygiants]

I am adding a third stone and testing bubble quality versus quantity with my gage. I will post more later. It will skim great when I tune it. Even my larger bubbles are as good as any other skimmer design (beckett, NW, stone). I am trying to maximize the smaller ones. It seems that at the lower feed rate they were more predominate.

Dale

 

[BeanAnimal]

So severely underdriving the stones seems to be the way to go (i think we already kinda figured as much). I would think this may prolong stone life, but could be wrong. It is possible that they may clog from the outside in due to sediment, particulate matter.

 

[tinygiants]

Here is the base piece for the manifold. Think of a corner of a cube.

Here it is after I cut it down, added cut down 45's, and epoxied pipe to the outside corner.

Here is the 2 stone manifold.

Here the new manifold is during testing.

Here it is installed.

Dale

 

[jnarowe]

Nice work Dale. really nice work. You might be able to sell those!