DIY Skimmer Critique

I plan on using straight white PVC for the 6" section. But if you plan on using the acrylic...... you are going to (from my understanding) sleeve every joint with 6" PVC in order to make it fit. On the cone section this might actually work out better for you b/c you will have a thicker surface to glue the cone to.
 
The OD of 3" pvc is 3 1/2". They're 1/4" thick.

I'm upset that I wasted a good 3" union and 3 1/2" acrylic tube already attached. (I used weld on #16 when I initially built the skimmer) Especially now that I'm seeing the progress with the mesh mods. Now I have to order another 3" union (I have another piece of 3 1/2" acrylic tube) to work on a new skimmer project. Go with the 3 1/2. I don't think its too big at all. No where near the problem of 2" being too small. (for instance, I had it working well on a 7.5 gal bucket with only three maxi-jet 1200's with fishing line threaded impellers, so if it can go with that little air, you're golden). I think it's the next natural progression in DIY meshmod skimming since they draw in so much air. Besides, it's too perfect that it fits precisely. It's like it was meant to be. :) Keep in mind, the ID of the tube is 3 1/4, so it isn't like it's that much bigger than the 3" clear pvc. I think it's cheaper too. :)

Now hurry up and finish! :D I need some ideas to borrow.

Ok, I'll be quiet and go back to watching. :) I hope I gave you something to think about though. Good luck, I'll be anxiously awaiting it's completion.

BTW, Randy....love you're DIY skimmer. :)
 
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News on the 6" --> 3" reducer coupling.... According to my man at the local plumbing supply house.... there is no such thing. I can couple reduce to 4" and then neck down to three. The total cost of these two parts is going to be roughly $20 so that's not too bad. I'll probably be going that route.

I'm still looking for something to use for my collection cup. I'm going to Sams Club this weekend to see if I can come up with anything. The pretzel thing looks like it will work, I just don't really have that much extra room under my stand. Oh well, I'm sure I'll come up with something.....

I've actually considered a 4" PVC end cap. I could cut a 1 or 2 inch strip out of one side of it and glue some acrylic to the inside of the cut for a 'viewing window' into the cup. Unless I can come up with something at sams that's prolly what I'll do.

Anybody else have any el-cheapo collection cup designs or ideas?
 
Rustybucket,

You can get tupperware type containers in all shapes and sizes. Check for those at your local grocery store.
 
yeah, but I was hoping to get something thick enough to drill and tap an overflow line into so the skimmer would automatically drain and so I could incorporate a 'wet neck'.
 
I personally avoid using a drain. A skimmer's neck should be cleaned out once a week anyway. The wetneck only cleans the outside, not the inside of the neck.

Also, and more importantly, I had skimmer go crazy and overflow their collection cups on many occassions for various problems. With the skimmer setting in the sump, it just overflow and the water runs back into the sump. With it draining out to a bucket It can gallons of water out of your system and maybe damage something or flood the floor.

A simple neck and collection cup that is easy to get off and clean is best in my opinion.
 
The skimmer will be outside the sump. The overflow collection jug will be outside the house. I would rather it go crazy and overflow outside rather than on my floor.

I do clean my cup/neck once a week and I will continue doing this with the new skimmer. I just find that (summertime especially) that the skimmer goo in the cup really starts getting funky after a day or two in my sunroom. This is the reason I want to go for the wet neck, so I can flush the cup on an almost daily basis and hopefully keep the smell down a little in my sunroom.
 
News on the 6" --> 3" reducer coupling.... According to my man at the local plumbing supply house.... there is no such thing. I can couple reduce to 4" and then neck down to three. The total cost of these two parts is going to be roughly $20 so that's not too bad. I'll probably be going that route.
Click to expand...

I went to Lowes this weekend and ran across another idea. Instead of using a reducer coupling I ran across a 6"->4" flush bushing and then a 4"->3" flush bushing, instead of sitting on top of each other and making the taper take 6-8 inches to change in width, they fit inside each other to make the taper in about 2 inches. Think I paid 14 dollars for both of them. And as a plus since they are made to fit inside of a PVC pipe you can also easliy attach them to 6" acyrilic tubing.
 
yup, I saw those also. I was kinda worried about the step that was created when going from 4" to 3". There ends up being a little lip or ledge between the two fittings that I saw. I guess this could be dremelled off, or it may not effect skimming at all. I was just thinking that it would cause many bubbles to pop prematurely.
 
Hi 'think I might be able to help you out with the collection cup dilemma... I was actually looking today for the type of drain fittings that randy used, and found that most shower traps that have a large grille (as opposed to a plughole) are actually shaped like the bottom half of a collection cup (think rice-ring mould!) Out here, we can get ones with a 3" central drain point, and a ring "trap"that has a lip where you could weld-on a proper deep cup, about 9" across!
 
News on the 6" --> 3" reducer coupling.... According to my man at the local plumbing supply house.... there is no such thing. I can couple reduce to 4" and then neck down to three. The total cost of these two parts is going to be roughly $20 so that's not too bad. I'll probably be going that route.

...oh yes there is... I was outside a second hand electrical store today, and saw a 5 gallon water cooler, minus the water bottle; the bottle fits into a white plastic "funnel" and guess what the dimensions are??? YUP that's it... 6" down to 3"!

so now, all you have to do is either
a) find a broken water cooler, or
b) find a water cooler spares store!

good luck!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9226491#post9226491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
Ok, I understand that my skimmer can't handle all the water from my display. I already have the overflow line T'd, one end goes to my current skimmer and the other loops up and then flows into my sump. So the end of the T that goes to the skimmer will always have a supply of water.

I would think that 1 1/4" pipe would handle 200-300gph, don't you guys think? I'm not sure where to get the flow rate from but I'm sure somebody else has one.

I won't restrict the output of the skimmer, just the input (from the display). I was planning on doing this with a gate valve and a true union. The union will be directly after the valve so I can dis-assemble the union and clean the valve if needed. This union will mainly be used so I can easily remove the skimmer from the system.

So you think I should go with a larger neck? I don't guess it would be a problem, but would it be good or bad for skimmate production?


Ok, so next question. Here are some pics of my pump that's mesh modded and will be powering this skimmer. So I guess it would be good to get your opinions on this. Since I mesh modded it, it absolutely will blow the top off of my Berlin Skimmer XL, it's insane how many bubbles this thing will produce. I had to valve the air intake almost down to nothing b/c the berlin just couldn't handle it.

So, what do you guys think?

Before Mod
DSCF2340.jpg


During Mod
DSCF2350.jpg


DSCF2355.jpg


After Mod
DSCF2358.jpg
Click to expand...

Dajavue, all over again
( however thats spelled.)

26018P1040788.JPG

26018P1040728.JPG
 
Allright!!! It's been a long time coming and a long time in r&d but we finally started the skimmer build last night!!!

There are 5 of us total that got together and each threw in $50/ea for materials for the skimmers. We're taking pics and will post them soon but the Skimmers are looking really good!!!

The skimmers are all being built from 6" PVC pipe and will have 3" OD Acrylic removable necks which are of a different design than any I've seen. Also we're working on some pretty cool collection cups that are... well.... virtually free!!! Keeping price down and quality up were MAJOR factors in building these skimmers.

Can't wait to share all the pics and the build experience with you guys. The skimmers will range from 25 inches total height to over 40 inches tall!!!! :eek1:

Mine's weighing in at an average 33" total height :D !! Most of us will be using the GenX 4100 with the Mesh Mod. So it will be interesting to see the difference that the height will make on the skimmers.

Our design stems from a combination of Randy Stacee's, Deltec, Euroreef and good 'ol fashioned ingenuity :D !
 
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