Downdraft skimmer update.
- Thread starter dugg
- Start date
overanalyzer
New member
I have been following these threads and would like to see a simple design if possible.... as my name suggests I tend to over do and from what I've seen and read this seems pretty easy - too easy.... so can someone toss up a quick design? Please please please!!!
Thanks All!
Thanks All!
bryang6286
New member
i cant really sketch you a design but i could probably explain it all in a few sentences.
-basically their is an overflow of any sort
-the overflow falls directly into the skimmer house
(you know when you pour water into something their are bubbles, for example if you take a bath the newly poured water will create some bubbles under water and will pop at surface level)
-from here on it is just like any other skimmer, the bubbles rise and collect above water level and so on
hints
-the main housing of the skimmer should be about an inch below water level.
-a funnel in the bubble collection chamber will help push the bubbles upwards
-1000gph is needed if you want to run this without additional air added, i.e. airstones. anything lower will not produce sufficient bubbles.
hope that cleared it up somewhat
-basically their is an overflow of any sort
-the overflow falls directly into the skimmer house
(you know when you pour water into something their are bubbles, for example if you take a bath the newly poured water will create some bubbles under water and will pop at surface level)
-from here on it is just like any other skimmer, the bubbles rise and collect above water level and so on
hints
-the main housing of the skimmer should be about an inch below water level.
-a funnel in the bubble collection chamber will help push the bubbles upwards
-1000gph is needed if you want to run this without additional air added, i.e. airstones. anything lower will not produce sufficient bubbles.
hope that cleared it up somewhat
dugg
New member
here are a few pics for you incase you missed them in the post. The first is the original design for high flow systems (1000gph +). The second is my final design for my low flow system (287gph). The final design is a recirc design simular to the euro reef skimmer in the plumbing design. The low flow needs the recirc to control the head pressure, and produce enough bubbles.
There are quite a few picyures in my gallery of the various designs along the way.
There are quite a few picyures in my gallery of the various designs along the way.
bryang6286
New member
hey dugg, i noticed that you are from florida and was wondering if you had any connection to wayne. i actually just purchased one of his skimmers since they are only 30$. I will post results as soon as I can
dugg
New member
Other than supporting him through my purchases, there is no connection. His store is less than a mile from my house, so i bother him frequently lol. When i originally posted this thread, i had no intention of anyone buying from Wayne. I just saw his skimmer, and saw how well it worked, and how cheap and simple it would be to make, so i thought i would pass it on. For people with large 100+ gallon systems, with high water flow, the original version (Wayne's skimmer) is unbelievable. A Euroreef or simular skimmer big enough for a large system cost a small fortune. Wayne's skimmer will skim just as good if not better for $30. For small systems like mine, they aren't so good without some mods. Actually my final version, as you can see, barely resembles Wayne's.
I guess to answer the question asked, the answer is NO, I get nothing for anything he sells from people seeing this thread, not even a discount. I have no interest in this what so ever, other then to pass on a good idea to the rest of the hobby, and save a few people some money.
I guess to answer the question asked, the answer is NO, I get nothing for anything he sells from people seeing this thread, not even a discount. I have no interest in this what so ever, other then to pass on a good idea to the rest of the hobby, and save a few people some money.
Doubt
Doubt
Hi Dugg, the only think I do not have clear is how do you make the bubbles in the surface skimmer.
I have an overflow from my tank to my sump that manage 400 gph so I could use a design like yours to add more flow to the skimmer, but I do not know how do you make the bubbles when the water goes down from the overflows to the sump..
DO you just let the water drain form a open female pvc and sucks air?
please if you can explain..
diego
Doubt
Hi Dugg, the only think I do not have clear is how do you make the bubbles in the surface skimmer.
I have an overflow from my tank to my sump that manage 400 gph so I could use a design like yours to add more flow to the skimmer, but I do not know how do you make the bubbles when the water goes down from the overflows to the sump..
DO you just let the water drain form a open female pvc and sucks air?
please if you can explain..
diego
dugg
New member
The water naturally takes in air as it flows down to the skimmer. If there was no air coming in at the top, the water would not flow. With 400 GPH you will need to add an airstone inside the skimmer though. In order to use the original version of this skimmer, you need to have 1000GPH actual flow rate (not just 1000gph pump size) or higher.
has anyone built the original design with a gate valve to control the output? It seems that you could put a standard collection cup on one of these and then adjust the height of the foam column by adjusting the output via a gate valve. I know it would probably add a few bucks to the design but it seems like it would make it more consistent.
Good photos dugg! Id like to see some pics of your new design working.
billpa
Good photos dugg! Id like to see some pics of your new design working.
billpa
Travis L. Stevens
New member
According to the original make of this, it doesn't need a gate valave because all of the air/contact time is in the drain pipe and not the chamber. All the "bubbleless" air goes out through the bottom hole(s) of the chamber. The bubbles stay at the top and because they have no where else to go, they go up and out the neck of the skimmer and into the collection cup.
As for a gatevalve on the new model...who knows.
As for a gatevalve on the new model...who knows.
Hmm...not sure what you mean by bubbleless air. And I would assume that the contact of proteins to bubbles happens in the chamber because its merely air forcing water down the drain pipe before then. The hole at the bottom of the chamber is fixed and the skimmate is adjusted by pulling out or pushing in the tubing. This to me is a crude (although functional) way of adjusting the skimmer output. If you create a fixed collection cup and attached a gate valve to the output of the skimmer (perhaps with a hartford loop like dugg has on his new prototype...so that sump level doesnt effect the operation of the skimmer) then you would merely have to turn the valve to tune the skimmer. Its a more precise way...thats all...not better or worse than the original design.
Dugg
I also like how you built your new reaction chamber with a slope up...nice design
Travis L. Stevens
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6245611#post6245611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billpa
Hmm...not sure what you mean by bubbleless air. No microbubbles And I would assume that the contact of proteins to bubbles happens in the chamber because its merely air forcing water down the drain pipe before then. Nope, the reaction happens in the drain pipe as well and the chamber. The surrounding air is what creates the water to fall and be pushed down as well as gravity. Because of this, some air gets caught in the the drain pipe and goes down with the water.The hole at the bottom of the chamber is fixed and the skimmate is adjusted by pulling out or pushing in the tubing. Because bubbles travel up, very little water with bubbles in it should exit out of the bottom. As for adjusting the skimmer, An adjustable neck sounds more feasable if it isn't already adjustable. This to me is a crude (although functional) way of adjusting the skimmer output. It is to me, too
Dugg
I also like how you built your new reaction chamber with a slope up...nice design
My reference was to this skimmer pitcured below (and above in Dugg's post) :thumbsup:
I had trouble with mine and so i sold one of them and continue to experiment with the other. I have had thoughts about a fixed collection cup mod myself. I think it would be much more regulated and although i really don't understand, or just can't picture the valve idea fully, I would love to see a prototype for it. It would make things easier for me. Try to explain further Billpa. I am listening. Maybe you could do a paintshop drawing for us.
Mike D
Mike D
dugg
New member
These skimmer threads have kind of gotten mixed up lol. I'm not sure which one has which info and pic anymore, so i'll post a few of my new low flow recirc design in here. My skimmer has been up and running consistantly for a few months now. The gate valve is the key to the consistency. It also increases the contact time. Mine agtually has a cheap ball valve instead of a gate valve due to life in hickville lol, but it works fine, just a little tougher to adjust out.
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causeofhim
New member
dugg, Can you explain your last invention a little more for me? I would like to give it a shot. Any plans you could post?
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