Downdraft skimmer update.

mdiddy7s, yes you do need to be either using an auto top off, or a baffled sump area to maintain the water level, but i would say you have yours set way to wet if it's affecting your water levels. I might be able to offer some tips on what you have set up wrong if you post a few pics. My water level fluctuates about 1 inch day to day, but the one inch doesn't effect the skimmer production, it just skims a little drier if the level gets too low.

mikeatjac, yes mine is still pumping away. It has been very consistant at just a little over 1 cup per day. This jug is 1 gallon, and was emptied when i set this final version up.

I just realized the thread we are on lol. This thread kind of got side tracked to another thread due to making this thing work on a low flow system.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=641513
I have totally re worked this skimmer, and it has evolved into a skimmate monster using this design crossed with the plumbing of a Euro reef.

This is about 9 or 10 days worth of production.

100_0833.jpg
 
dugg,I have a 225 gal tank,and I live in a stilt house,with my sump down stairs. I have two 2" internal over flows,connected to a 4" line. this runs under the floor ,and down to the sump. My return pump is a sequence hammer head . I get so much foam in the 4" line going to the sump I have to use a filter sock. I had been thinking about a skimmer like this for some time now,to use all this foam. Other people told me that this type of skimmer ,could not handle the flow.
 
You can always T off the overflow line and only provide SOME of the flow to the skimmer.

Too much flow - what a problem! :)
 
I would build the skimmer for that system using a 30 gallon cube, make the riser and intake 4 inch instead of 2. I bet it would make pure mud. I would build the skimmer to suit the flow instead of bypassing some of the overflow water. This way eveything gets skimmed on every pass. You might as well put the existing foam and flow you have to full use.
 
dugg,that makes even better sense. Thanks. I have a Euro Reef CS 8-2,and I added a second 5,000 pump as a recirculator. It skims like crazy,but I need more for my system. Do you think this skimmer will do a better job?
 
i know this skimmer seems like such a good deal but you still have to buy a 110$ overflow box and a 50$ return pump for it to work, correct? im looking for a 1100+ skimmer system and am thinking about using an old salt container with a siphon coming out the top, and a funnel at the very top. i have another question, dont the bubbles need some room to build up before they hit the funnel and into the smaller tube (leading to a collection cup) or a collection cup?
 
Actually, after experience with this, I would recommend building a more traditional style collection cup. The funnel works great, but is less tunable, IMO... :)
 
I have about 1000 gals of water flowing through it (maybe a little more). I have the hose pulled amost all of the way out of the skimmer tube. I have the hose arched kind of steeply to increase the fight against gravity. I get 2 1/2 gals every other day, mostly water. Fortunately for me, I have a commercial size filtration system that makes 7gals p/min.
Mike D
 
reefrubble, I'm not sure how big a cs 8-2 is, but i doubt this will do much better. It will probably do just as good. If you are looking at building the 30 cube size, then yes i think it will out skim anything you can buy.

bryang, I'm not sure what you are talking about ($110 overflow box? I built my overflow for $9 with pre cut glass from a local glass shop. As for the return pump, if you are running a sump, you already have a return pump. If you don't, you should. The top of the main skimmer body should be right at the water level, or about 1 inch below. This gives the bubbles pressure to keep them small until they reach the riser.


mdiddy, it sound like to me that your exit hole is causing too much back pressure and causing the actual water to enter the riser. The riser should be bubbles only with the high flow rate you have. A picture would do wonders for helping you figure this out.
 
thanks for you help, one question if the inverted funnel is right above the waterflow then you really dont have a riser right? so wouldnt you want the inverted funnel at the top?
 
You DO need the riser tube. The further the foam climbs up that tube, the nastier your skimmate will be. Also, you REALLY want to be able to adjust that up and down to control the density of the skimmate you are getting.

Down more = more watery skimmate. Up more = thicker skimmate.

Also, make sure the riser tube assembly is removable. You really should clean it once a week or so. I get lazy with mine and then realize my skimmer isn't performing as well. Then I clean it and am once again amazed.
 
The inverted funnel needs to be adjustable from the top of the riser to the bottom, to control wet to dry skimming.
 
sorry to have soo many questions, im not trying to be a pain and am somewhat of a rookie when it comes to this, but dont you want dry skimming only because that is the dense good stuff?
 
Back pressure could be the reason. I have the skimmer exit near the wall of the sump area to prevent the bubbles from the skimmer getting to the return pump. This probably does not allow enough water to flow out and causes pressure, pushing the water up the funnel tube. I'll try to adjust it and let you know how it goes. If this fixes it i will be so appreciative.
thanks,
Mike D
 
You can get arguments either way on this subject. Both types of skimming pull out different types of debis from the water. I personally keep mine to a coffee color, and not thick just coffee brown soupy water. If i have an emergency i will skim wet for a few days. or if i am dosing or doing extra feeding of my coral, i skim it dry to keep from pulling too much out. It's kind of a personal preferrence i guess. The important thing is that you get all you can out.
 
do you know where i could get stretch hose, the kind that can screw onto other pvc type things at the end. My wet/dry came with one and i was wondering where i could get another. If you arent too sure could tell me where and what type of tubing I can get that will withstand 1200 gph
 
Swimming pool supply store. They will have the hose you need or can order it.

mdiddy, to stop the bubbles i use a wall of rock rubble that stands about 2 inches out of the water. I don't get any bubbles past that point.
 
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