Downdraft skimmer update.

I got the skimmers in today. Dugg, how does the little water pump and airstorne system work with the skimmer? I am running the skimmer on a 75 gal tank with two 1" drains that I will PVC together in to a 2" drain down to the skimmer. I will be using a Mag 12 to run the system. Will I need to add the pump and airstone?
Thanks,
Mike D
 
With a mag 12, you might get away with not having to add anything. If you need anything extra, i would try just an air diffuser (limewood). If that's still not quite enough, place a powerhead inside the skimmer box. A maxijet 1250 fits right in the bottom slot. I have mine pointed at the opening where the water enters the skimmer. It helps to break the bubbles up super fine, and causes lots of extra turbulence to help scrub the water.
 
Also make the 2" part of the drain as long of a straight drop as you can. It helps it to pick up more air.
 
nice thread!

Would love to see some photos of it skimming a big tank. I'd love to ditch my electric hogging beckett skimmer and just use good ole physics to skim my 180g.

billpa
 
This is a pic of it running on a 140 gallon sps tank with 1000gph flow rate, at Wayne's store. Large tanks is what this skimmer is designed for. They cost just a few bucks and take maybe 30 minutes to build, or Wayne sells them for $30.
46077skimmer_in_sump.jpg
 
Do you think this would work using a 10 gal aquarium(20x10x12'') instead of the acrylic box? I could drill a hole in the bottom corner. I would weldon acrylic to the top. It would be a bit larger, do you think this would be a problem?
 
I think a 5.5G aquarium would be great. Keep in mind, however, that you'll want to make it somewhat easy to "open up" and "take apart" so that you can clean it, make adjustments, etc.
 
I think a 5.5 would work fine if you have a large high flow system, but for the smaller low flow tanks, it would be way to big. You would need atleast 1000gph flow for that size of a box.
 
captbunzo said:
I think a 5.5G aquarium would be great. Keep in mind, however, that you'll want to make it somewhat easy to "open up" and "take apart" so that you can clean it, make adjustments, etc.
Click to expand...

How do the acrylic boxes open up? I didn't think they did.
 
Mine doesn't open up. The foam riser tube is removable for cleaning. The riser is the only thing that needs cleaning i think. How big of a system do you have and flow rate?
 
Sorry, let me explain better. :)

Because of the DIY/experimentation involved in this, it might/probably will require some fiddling, tweaking, etc, to get right. I worked very hard when building mine to make sure that I could easily take it out of the sump, clean it, etc. That has proved valuable with all of the tweaking that I HAVE had to do.

Btw. I am designing a new skimmer for my tank right now. After my experiences with model #1, and after reading a gazillion posts in Anthony Calfo's expert forum, I have learned some things that should result in some improvements. At least, that's the hope.

I will post more info as I continue with the project, etc.
 
I am setting up a 125gal (sps) with a 55 gal sump. My flow through the sump will be 750gph with an Iwaki 40RLT. In my tank I will have 6000gph on two closed loops.

I am also going to have my ER 8-2 in the sump. I would like to have this skimmer in as a pre-skimmer.
 
If you set up a skimmer like this on your system, using a 5.5 gallon tank, it will not be a pre skimmer, it will be your primary skimmer. On a system with high flow, these things really skim the muck out.

Paul, i reduced the size of my output to about a 1 1/2 inch hole, and my skimmer is working very consistant now. It has pulled abouy 3/4 cup every day now for 4 days straight. I didn't rebuild one with a ball valve yet, as i wanted to test the theory, but i glued a piece of plexi over the original hole and cut it out a little at a time until i got the foam head level right. The skim has also darkened up some due to the extended contact time.
 
dugg - Very cool stuff. I will have to consider this as I move forward. The biggest change I am going to make is to probably build a more traditional collection cup on top. If I get really creative at the same time, I might build two riser tube assemblies - one with a traditional collection cup, and one with our inverted funnel idea.

I also think I might need a better air pump. Of course, I am considering lots of things, including trying to dream up some way to incorporate a venturi/needle valve. That's not terribly likely, however, due to the small amount of space I have to work with. I guess I am much more likely to end up with a couple of limewood airstones on a better quality air pump.

What was that air pump brand that you recommended?

causeofhim - First, I understand and like your handle. At least, I think I do. Secondly, I think you are right on with your plans to put only 750 GPH through the sump and the rest through the closed loop. I would recommend two things that I am dying to try.

First, build a Calfo Overflow (otherwise known as a Internal Horizontal Overflow). You'll get a lot better quality of water to be skimmed with such a beast.

Second, build a Closed Loop Return Manifold to return water to the tank from the closed loop. Read up here...

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2003/short.htm

Anyways, good luck.
 
I use a luft pump. I have had mine for over 15 years, and it is still going strong. It's a little noisy these days, but still pumping air. Nothing makes air like a luft pump that i have ever found.

Restricting the exit water is an idea from anthony's thread that i posted and it really made a huge difference.
Luft_Pump.gif


This is the one i use, they do have bigger ones, but this one is plenty big enough.
 
captbunzo - Yep, it means what you think. I would love to use a Calfo Overflow but my tank is already reef ready and the way i have it set-up (3 viewable sides) I cannot change that.
My plan is to use a closed loop manifold with one pump and 4 eductors on the other pump.
 
dugg said:
I use a luft pump. I have had mine for over 15 years, and it is still going strong. It's a little noisy these days, but still pumping air. Nothing makes air like a luft pump that i have ever found.

Restricting the exit water is an idea from anthony's thread that i posted and it really made a huge difference.
Luft_Pump.gif

Click to expand...

I will look into getting one of those Luft's sometime soon.

And thanks again for posting the link to Anthony's skimmer thread. I read the whole thing... :)
 
I have to say that unless you have an automatic top-off system, this system is a little too difficult to use. It pulls out a lot more water than any skimmer s I have ever used. Dugg, maybe you have some suggestions for me concerning the set up of this system. The level of the water is crucial to the skimming of the water. The problem is that the skimmer pulls out too much water and then the water level is not high enough for the skimmer to be effective. Please if you can tell me how to better use these skimmers (I have two) then I will be happy to try. Otherwise, I will go back to the mechanical skimmers that do more skimmate and less water.
Mike D
 
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