ATB 'Small' Cone Pan/Plate Skimmer

[hahnmeister]

Re: DIY Plans?

Re: DIY Plans?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11177516#post11177516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
Hahn,

You had plans for building a tall low-turbulence counter-current skimmer with a wetneck and recirculating pump. Have your plans changed as a result of the ATB? Are you confident that your DIY skimmer will out-skim the ATB? If you are still planning to proceed with DIY skimmer plans, what design concepts will you borrow from the ATB?

A penny for your thoughts.

Thats the million dollar question. I think the cone design, and 'stacking' the bubbles like this is a possible alternative to having a tall column of water w/ bubbles flowing up as far as dwell time is concerned. Rather than having the bubbles freely rising through the water, they instead get 'stacked' in the body/neck waiting in the head longer rather than in the cylinder. Is it better? I dont know and cant say. In my case it sure is.

This skimmer is what I will use for now, as it appears to work the best with my system. In my case, I know my other half is glad to have the big ugly recirc skimmer next to the tank gone, so I dont think Ill be setting up the 5' tall skimmer other than to see how it works in comparison. I will still make the 'tall column' skimmer to compare... so I dont know what to say. I really havent come to any conclusions right now other than this thing is outperforming my 30" tall, 8" diameter 1200lph of air, overflow fed recirc skimmer by far.

What have I learned, or what may I 'borrow'? The cone shape is pretty wicked and so any time the opportunity comes up, a transition neck with a very steep angle would be better than less of an angle. It seems to disrupt the bubbles as they rise alot less. Will it change my plans for the 5' tall one? Not really, as they are different beasts all together.

 

[CruzinKim]

A local Bay Area reefer just started a ATB Club thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1252315

 

[dudedudedude]

Hahn,

What is the water level hieght in the skimmer when the QO3000 is hooked up?

Do you think the QO3000 is a good match for this style of skimmer and if so, what dimensions for the skimmer, ie base diameter, neck diameter, would be optimal for this skimmer type and the QO3000's output?

 

[hahnmeister]

I keep the water level at the same height, but the valve on the outlet is closed more.

The pump is a good match, but its not as quiet as the eheim.

 

[JCTewks]

so a GO3000 and the heavily modded eheim 150 are close in air draw? I never would have guessed that :eek1:

 

[hahnmeister]

Well, the mesh is a huge factor.

 

[JCTewks]

Yes, but I've meshmodded the QO before, and it maxes out around 20lpm. what is the QO you have on there pulling? what does the mesh 1250 pull? IIRC youi said the 1250 was pulling 750lph with mesh...is that right?

 

[mavgi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11408504#post11408504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I keep the water level at the same height, but the valve on the outlet is closed more.

The pump is a good match, but its not as quiet as the eheim.

are you run the skimmer with the QO 3000 , if yes how much air you pull with it?

 

[hahnmeister]

I did, I posted the readings in this thread earlier... dont remember off the top of my head.

 

[RGibson]

hahnmeister how come ATB is having a hard time building a external skimmer?

 

[hahnmeister]

They arent having a hard time... cant do everything at once you know. Building an external isnt so hard... building one in this case that isnt 2x as much $$$ is though. These cone bodies with bubble plates just dont convert to external all that easily.

An 'internal recirc' would be easy, but just to make the Small in external would most likely require $500 more. There is a 10" base flange, some extra height maybe, a new neck/cup connection, external plumbing, unions, etc... and the outlet would have to be redone with a standpipe of some sort.

I sent some plans for an external that would be easier to do by placing the pumps inside the base of the skimmers, simplifying the plumbing alot and silencing the pump by keeping it underwater still, but adding about 4" to the height.

There is another design which could be done similar to the HOB skimmer (Zurück hängend Abschäumer). which would be even simpler, but again, perhaps cost more in the end.

Gee... a new pump line, new skimmer dimensions to match the US specs and new pumps, a new HOB model, new needlewheel for the 1250 pump, and developing a 3'-42" tall XXL model. Thats alot to do you know. How many new products do you see other companies whipping out that fast?

 

[woz9683]

How many new products do you see other companies whipping out that fast?

Hopefully not too many. I, for one, would much rather wait for a company to R&D a product as much as possible before introducing it to market. I'm sure ATB is moving just as quickly as they can on their product development without being hasty. After all, on top of all the stuff Hahn mentioned, the American market as a whole is new territory to ATB and I'm sure they're still increasing production of their current lines to meet the new demand.

 

[dzeadow]

Hahn, I may have missed this, but did you ever try the psk2500 style venturi on the eheim? if so, did you get any better results?

 

[Jim_S]

I am hoping to get an external as soon as they are available. I built my system for a eternal unit. I also like having the skimmer outside the sump for several reasons. Of course, I would not even consider a purchase if the pumps were placed inside the skimmer body. Quite possibly the worst design I can imagine......

 

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11611911#post11611911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dzeadow
Hahn, I may have missed this, but did you ever try the psk2500 style venturi on the eheim? if so, did you get any better results?

I did try one made from PVC. The results were mixed... the pump tries to pull more air in than it can actually handle, so it pulses. The solution would be to use a meshwheel to handle the extra air, but then the skimmer cant take it anyways (my 'older' body style at least).

 

[BosseDK]

So what pump are you using now?

 

[hahnmeister]

eheim 1260 w/ a beckett injector...lol.

 

[cpeisher]

anybody got a plan to diy one of these yet?

 

[skimmy]

good luck with the cone....

 

[hahnmeister]

I have heard of some attempts... one guy in FL for instance (dont know who), but that they cant match the end results for some reason. Dont know why myself. IMO, one of the most important things with this skimmer line is the pumps themselves... you need to have a high air/water ratio or else much of the cone design is useless.