diy skimmer... how long of a riser tube?

[miatawnt2b]

I am planning out a recirculating skimmer made of a PVC toilet flange, 12" or so of 4"PVC, a 4"-2" reduser, then a 2"riser neck.

Does anyone have suggestions on how long I should make the riser neck and where should I run the water level in the skimmer?

Is there an easy way to know where your water level is set with an opaque skimmer body?

THanks,
-J

 

[RandyStacyE]

The height of the water will be designated by the standpipe (the output of the skimmer).

This is a link to a skimmer that I am in the middle of:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/diy/17224-pvc-skimmer.html

I show an acrylic viewing pane, but I doubt that I will be using one any time soon.

 

[miatawnt2b]

Nice design. That is very much what I am trying to do. How did you plan on glueing the acrylic to the pvc?

I was thinking of using a fernco 4"-2" rubber adapter for the neck of the skimmer. That way to clean the riser, I could just loosen the clamp and pull out the whole neck. The rubber fernco has a very smooth clean transition from 4"-2"

-J

 

[RandyStacyE]

Don't necessarily have to glue it but if I were to do that Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d use Weld On #16. There are ways to make a seal/gasket and use threaded Teflon/nylon "thumb twist bolts/knobs" to fasten it in place. This way it can be removed. You'd have to drill and tap the threads in the PVC to do that. That would be just a luxury after the skimmer is actually completed.

I was actually thinking of using a 6ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ rubber cap on the bottom. That way it can be removed. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m sure a longer soft brush would help me to clean out the top (from the bottom).

 

[Gsxkid]

I tried building something similar to that except the water didnt drain out of the drain it just kept filling till the water came out the top of the collection cup. Anyone have any ideas what i did wrong. I dont have a hole in a pipe cap like in that pic. Here is a pic not my best drawing but here you go. I didnt draw them in but there are tiny bubbels riseing from the bottom.

 

[miatawnt2b]

Gsxkid:
Your problem is most likely that you don't have a hole in teh top of your return. There is no way for the siphon to start without it.

RandyStacyE:
How long is your riser neck?

-J

 

[RandyStacyE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6476333#post6476333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miatawnt2b
Gsxkid:

RandyStacyE:
How long is your riser neck?

-J

Right now I have everything I need to make it. I've ditched the idea of using 6" caps (too expensive/bulky). I'm using acrylic disks instead.

I don't know if it is a mistake or not, but it doesn't have a long "neck". The top of the reaction chamber goes straight into a union going straight to the collection cup.

The collection cup will not use a cap either (using a disk for the top and the bottom). The collection cup will likely be built first. The rest should be easy and the measurements should be elementary at that point.

I just want the cup to be big enough first.

 

[rivdog]

Randy, nice design, do the 6" euro bodies have 2" neck risers. Ive not seen one in person and was wondering if they were 2" or 3".

 

[GROSSR]

I looked at my LifeReef and the neck is about 2" inches and glued to the next is another piece of acrylic 1/4" larger than the neck. The cup which has a neck slides into the larger area and sets in nicely. At the base of the cup is a rubber o ring, like what is used in the RO filters to create a seal.

rich

 

[CaptiveReef]

Re: diy skimmer... how long of a riser tube?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6473442#post6473442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miatawnt2b
I am planning out a recirculating skimmer made of a PVC toilet flange, 12" or so of 4"PVC, a 4"-2" reduser, then a 2"riser neck.

Does anyone have suggestions on how long I should make the riser neck and where should I run the water level in the skimmer?

Is there an easy way to know where your water level is set with an opaque skimmer body?

THanks,
-J

Here is my DIY skimmer design, the 2 inch pvc riser is what determines the water height in the main skimmer tube.

CaptiveReef