Do Skimmers HAVE to be Cylindrical?

[lotsofgallons]

i want to build a diy skimmer but if i made the body of the skimmer cubed instead of round i would be able to install bulkheads for in/out plumbing; thinking it would be easier then trying to diy water tight seals on a rounded body. is there a reason why skimmers are built with a cylindrical body as opposed to a cube structure?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

No, I once used a 10g fish tank and a piece of sheet acylic glued at 45deg inside it, to build a skimmer.. (glass is too thin to make it practical)

 

[Wetline]

Aqua C Remora and Urchins aren't round. As far as the physics of why a clyinder is prefered I don't know. I do not think you are limited to a cylinder but that seems to be the most popular probably for a reason.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

IMO...I think the only reason skimmers are made clyinderical is that they are easier to manufacture......(unless someone else has a theory )....

 

[lotsofgallons]

right, but i know the remora has somewhat of a maze the water travels through before reaching the collection cup, i thought this was maybe to make up for it not being round?!?

i pretty much want to replicate the euroreef skimmer, but with a cube body. doable?

 

[BurntOutReefer]

the maze is to give the bubles longer contact (dwell?) time

 

[luke33]

The reason there round is because the bubbles are less likely to pop. But thats not to say a square skimmer can't be a good one.......lets not mention the remora though! lol

 

[Ti]

Isn't the tube portion of the remora to the collection cup a cylinder?

 

[luke33]

Pretty sure my remora was square. There were three square chambers. A successful hot square skimmer would be the deltec or the bermuda.

 

[luke33]

Yep, i'm positive, the remora's middle was square. The Skimmate cup was square at the bottom to fit in the middle chamber, then the riser tube was round. That was the only cylinder on the whole body.

 

[lvreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9590404#post9590404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
Isn't the tube portion of the remora to the collection cup a cylinder?

Yes.

And no, they do not need to be cylindrical. Take for instance Tunze DOC skimmers. I believe skimmers are engineered to be round because the protein adhears to the outside of the bubble. So as mentioned earlier a round chamber allows for smoother ride up the column. And if you notice, even on the flat sided skimmers, the area of most "reaction" is always round.

 

[Cubman777]

smoother ride up the column, and maintenance wise, much easier to clean. It can be tough to get sludge of or corners.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I forgot to add.... IMHO, strait lines then to cut bubbles.... (not good)