DIY Collection cup washdown system?

[eshook]

I really think teflon coated walls will help in this goal. If you set the wash system to rinse for 1 minute every 4-5 hours I don't think it will give the scum enough time to stick to the teflon walls. Its just an idea, maybe I will explore it with my diy skimmer ...

Sorry to take over the thread, back to spray nozzles. I agree multiple nozzles will be needed to clean the walls of a cup that large. Perhaps you could have 2 sets. One set that sprays in the left direction and then another set that sprays in the right direction. Then alternate them. Sorry for using an analogy but when spraying dishes with the kitchen sprayer I find that random back and forth motion cleans best. So always going in one direction will not be as efficient as different directions. This will obviously add a lot of complexity that might not be necessary.

What do you guys think?

 

[H20ENG]

I have used the large RK2 skimmers with the washdown systems. Bottom line is they just didnt work. The skimmate was just too sticky to be simply sprayed off. You need the auto brush like the Deltec.

How about a wet neck and a WET CUP? Use your RO waste to trickle down the side of your collection cup. This will not allow any skimmate to stick to the walls.
I'd bet, though, that this will take more water than the RO puts out, depending on collection cup size. You also better make darn sure the skimmate cup drain works good!
Hmmm, maybe I shouldnt have let this one out of the bag!
Chris

 

[kentrob11]

heh- yeah the "wetcup" sounds like a neat idea How often did the RK2 spray the cup down? I wondering if doing it 3-4 times a day would be better. If I had it connected to a faucet timer, I could do it once every couple of hours....think that would keep things from building up?

 

[H20ENG]

Maybe. Also, the more pressure the better. I DIYed a spray head for a large skimmer (simply a 1/2" cap drilled like a shower head) that went off maybe 6 times a day, and it wasnt enough.
Maybe a rotating single stream sprinkler hooked to line pressure...

 

[kentrob11]

I was going to have 3 (most likely 4) of those spray nozzles connected to the faucet that feeds my water heater so there should definately be enough pressure to get a good blast effect from those 4 heads in the cup. the drain is going to be 3/4" so it shouldn't clog....

 

[H20ENG]

Go for it!
The RK2 was on a 500g predator tank and skimmed some serious nasty scum. The tank had 24"+ lingcod and rockfish.
BTW, Pacific Giant Octopus tank skimmate is THE nastiest skimate you will ever find!!:eek1:

 

[eshook]

Why not line the walls with a trash bag liner or something? Then every 1-2 weeks just replace it? It wouldn't need to be waterproof or very tidy. It would just be used to keep most the crud off the walls. It seems this would be the simplist solution.

Sorry all my ideas are ghetto I was raised by a duck that had its wing taped ....

 

[kentrob11]

LOL- nasty! Well, I'll put it together after I get the skimmer done and we'll see how it works. I'll post lots of pics