Downdraft Skimmer in my 10G Sump

Hey folks, I decided to jump on the Gravity Skimmer bandwagon. :)

I've had this project on the backburner in my head for a while now, and I've finally implemented it.

This I've named Kent. ;)

kent2.jpg



It's Going to be fed from one of two AGA megaflow overflows which will house three (needle modded) 1200 maxi jets. The maxi's will be strapped to a 1/2" pvc pipe and lowered into the overflow which will be modded with a strait pipe drain. It's a 7.5 gallon salt bucket with a 3" union and 3.5" wet neck. It stands 31" tall.

6f2dd5f8.jpg


I sprayed the inside with Krylon Fusion so the Great Stuff foam would stick. Then I shaped the great stuff, applied a layer of 100% polyurethane and sprayed the fusion again.

Now I have to wait 7 days for a full cure on the Paint and I'll be ready to challange my existing Aqua C 180 to a duel. OMG I can't wait to see it go.

Whoops, I just realized this thread is in a reef club forum. Sry folks, now I have to move to Oklahoma. ;) I'll open a new thread In the DIY forum when I'm ready to pit Kent against the spray skimmer.
 
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No problem - we're glad to have you post here! Make sure at least to post a link here to your skimmer thread in the DIY forum.
 
dugg, I have just read all three of these threads discussing this skimmer. I am amazed. I am currently setting up a 125 FOWLR and trying to save as much money as I can but not skimp on things I really need. I though for sure I would be buying a big $$$ skimmer but now you have me thinking differently. I plan on using a mag 12 as a minimum return pump so I think this might work for me without the added powerhead mod.

What is the total height of the skimmer now? Also do you think you could sketch out exactly how and what materials I would need to make one. Thanks.
 
The original version of this skimmer is designed for 1000 gph flow rate. If you have high flow like that you don't need any added air. It will stand up to any skimmer out there IMO on a large tank.
 
.. holy crap! I could make one of these in less than an hour! That's it, I'm heading to HD tommorow and picking up parts. I also have access to needle wheel pumps really cheap. You guys rock!

errrr, sorry to break into the club, ahah.
 
Great thread guys. I've been battling poor skimmer performance since i dropped 140 on my first skimmer and 115 on a used remora. Neither produce a decent skimmate. I've got a 29gal with a 10 gal sump but i think i have a bit larger area where my drains are than Paul. At any rate i'm going to give this badboy a shot, luckily i have a needlewheel pump from my first crappy skimmer i could incorporate as a closed loop. I can't wait to actually get decent skimmate and not have to pay 300+ bucks!!!!!
 
Ok folks, I've got it installed. Here is the link to the DIY Forum thread. I'm hoping it works as well as all of you'all. ;)

BTW, I didn't know what I was talking about when I stated "wet neck". I believe I meant cupless. ;)
 
I've read all of this thread, and most of the links, WOW!

I think RC needs to make a new award category called "thread of the year" Just so that proper "homage" can be given to this fabulous thread.

I was thinking just along these lines, over the past month or so, while I'm designing my new "display-sump-refugium", and then I stumbled across this thread today.

"Fantisimo", EXACTAMUNDO, and "Holy Great Practical Thinking" to say the very least!

The skimmer manufacturers will be crying about this for the next decade at a minimum!

Great job "dugg", "nobody does it better". > barryhc :)
 
Sorry captbunzo, for the reference to "dugg" ONLY, in the previous post, I've read so much today, in both threads, and all the links, I'm getting "fuzzy brained" about "whose which is what".

It' s all such great information, and the collaboration, is "par excelance".

Kudos to both of you and the contributors, for the "thread(s) of the year"!

> barryhc :)
 
Mine has been up and running for about a year now. The original version was working just fine, but a friend gave me a piece of 6 inch acrylic pipe, so i reworked it and made what will be my final version. The round pipe made a huge difference in the consistancy and ease of adjustment. I also have done away with the ball valve and replaced it with a gate valve. That was the best upgrade yet. The gate valve makes adjustment easy. If you are starting from scratch, you would have between $75 and $100 total cost to build this skimmer. That includes the Maxijet 1200 and all plumbing parts. Here is a picture of my final version. This picture was taken before adding the gate valve, and there is no foam in the riser in the pics because i had to move everything around in my sump, and scrape the glass to get the pictures, so it lost it's foam head from all of the stirring around in the tank.
100_1199.jpg

100_1197.jpg
 
With a 10' drop, i think all you need is a big collection cup lol. The fall alone will create some real nice bubbles and should be plenty turbulent i would think.
 
I am soooo glad I had to put my reef tank on hold for a while, reading threads like this one and being able to implement some of the ideas into my project will make it all the sweeter
 
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