Dart threadwheel skimmer build

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smjtkj

Premium Member
I decided to sell the Tiny might skimmer after someone wanted to buy it and build another skimmer. The first skimmer was beyond my expectations, and now I am hoping that this will be even better! This skimmer has a 14" od chamber and is a total of 43 inches tall. I did my signature dome again and it has a bubble diffuser mounted all the way at the bottom of the box to preserve reaction chamber. With the dome there is 30 inches of reaction chamber. I am going for a more short and fat skimmer this time. I built a venturi for the dart today just to see if it would work. If it doesn't produce like I hoped I will redo the plumbing and feed it with an alita again. Here are some pics! Let me know what you think!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ket.com/albums/v255/smjtkj/DSCN2056.jpg[/IMG]
 
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I love watching your skimmer builds. I am along for the ride agian.

Where did you buy your threadwheel mesh? Is is the same as BM?

Is that the skimmer's little brother next to it? What pump will you put on the little one?

Either your camera is intoxicated or I am.
 
I think I answered one of my own questions.

PF4 at AquaticEco is 0.02" thick nylon strands which is exactly the same at 0.5mm that ATI says they use.
 
Very nice, lowering the diffusser like that was a very good idea. The venturi seems like it might take a lot of trial and error to find the best ID. I say try the air pump first just to no where to set your goal with the venturi. I think that thing is going to rock. how much does that 14" tube cost? Man that really looks good.
 
Thanks Rishma! Yes that is the stuff from aquatic eco. The little brother skimmer is a 10 inch od 18 inch main chamber and 32 inches tall overall when finished. That will have 2 gen x 2400 threadwheels. It will also be fed from the sump with a Gen x 1500 NW. Should be a kick butt little skimmer too!
Mike
 
Roland Thanks Buddy! PM me for the pricing on the tube. I did not want to waste an inch of chamber with the cost of the tubing. So I figured I would just drop the diffuser to take advantage of the space on the box. The problem has been plumbing it. Alot easier the way I did the tiny might skimmer.
 
Thanks Hahn! Yeah it is pretty exciting to be getting this going. All the hype over the BM has me even more amped! I have been itching to try this ever since I asked around in the tiny might thread about the thread material. I went to the drawing board immediately.
 
Awesome Mike! Have you thoughts about going with a pair of 4100's instead of the 2400's on that smaller skimmre? Judging by the size ofthe reaction chamber, I think it could benefit from that...Can't wait to see how your skimmer turns out :-)
 
One thing that looks close is the proximity of the diffusser plate to the exiting water, looks like 1-2" will you have any kind riser on top of the diffusser? that may keep bubble form collecting in the box area.
 
I agree with kentrob11. The little brother skimmer is a fatty and could handle bigger pumps, I think.

Mike - I think I remember you using a stainless bowl for the tinymight skimmer dome. This one is a bigger diameter. So what did you use? it looks perfect. An how did you make the ABS flange? Maybe consider a similar flange at the bottom on the tube to allow the inevitable design improvement. (if it is already glued, just ignore me....).

The things that always scare me away from making a big skimmer is the transition cone, flanges, twist locks.....I guess that is the whole thing except the pump mods. I am just in awe.

Dropping the diffuser is a great improvement.
 
Just an opinion, but I think one of the main reasons for the short/fat skimmer trend is the ability to pull lotts of air with low power pumps. The same pumps can be used on tall skimmers if assissted by an air pump, which just combines the best of both worlds ---low power & longer contact time. I am sure there is much more to consider and I am over simplifying (and I bet everyone will tell me about it).

Roland has the right idea. Find the max air by using an air pump and see how close you can with a venturi. I'll bet that you can get a higher air volume/power ratio with an air pump assist, but that is just a WAG.
 
Creetin Thanks! It was cot on a table saw then sanded.

46BFIN Thanks!

Kent, Thanks Buddy! Yeah I am still undecided on the 4100's. I know it could handle it, but the guy I am building it for only paid me a certain amount to build it, sooo....
 
Roland I am finishing up the box plumbing today. There id a seperator wall in front of the skimmer output. That should keep the bunbble in check!
 
Rishma, I short cutted on the dome this time. I ordered it from a fab company called global plastics. The flange is actually black acrylic The good thing about the shorter skimmer is that I can reach down in there by taking the dome off.
 
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