Euro-Reef DIY clone.

[bobn4burton]

OK...I posted my other picters as promised...but I posted them in the other thread started specifically for slanted reducers. So you can get all the details and extra pictures in the thread linked below:

Link to slanted reducer thread

I'm just posting the link to the thread because I didn't want to totally hijack pikeys thread

 

[1234]

bobn4butron

What type of acrylic was it that you used? cast, extruded?

 

[grreefer]

Does anyone know the power consumptions on the Sedra 5000 and 9000?

 

[Rendos]

New skimmer.

New skimmer.

Not quite done, but close.
Here is the jig I use for cutting acrylic tube to length. I have lengths of 6", 12", and 18" precut as these are the standards I have decided on for most cuts.

This is my circle cutting jig I bought from Sears. You simply drill a small guide hole in the center of your acrylic, slip that on the guide pin, and spin the acrylic around. The router bit makes a perfect circle everytime.

Here it is attached to the router.

This is also the way I route the groove for the collection cup top.

This is what you get...

 

[olemos]

Does anyone know the power consumptions on the Sedra 5000 and 9000?

50w and 90w
http://reefs.org/library/pumps/

 

[Rendos]

This is one of the 4 flat pieces...

This is the bottom attached to the skimmer body.

The first step in making the collection cup. Glue the inner tube to the bottom.

Then cut a hole with a drill bit big enough to get the flush trim bit into.

Next...route out the excess material...

This is what you end up with.

 

[Rendos]

This is a flush trim bit.

This is a 45 degree angle bit. I like to use this on all edges to make them smoother.

This is an edge trimmed with the 45 degree bit.

The rest is simply glueing all the pieces together. Hopefully it comes out something like this...

I have not drilled for the input and output of the skimmer yet. I will take pictures when I do...showing the installation of the UniSeals, etc.

 

[Rendos]

You guys like the NEW color? It was on SALE! Hot, right?!!?

P.S. - I tried the oven thing to make a slanted shape going to the neck...I guess my baking skills are not very good. I got it to make the cone shape, but the bottom was so warped, I couldn't glue it to the acrylic tube. Back to the drawing board for me.

Spazz - hurry up with the DIY parts, will ya!!

 

[olemos]

Looking good :thumbsup:

pikey where did you buy the gray union?

 

[Rendos]

Ferguson's Spa place here locally. It doesn't come that way...it is much taller, but I cut it down.

 

[ohioreef]

Pikey,

What are the dimensions of the acrylic tube? Diameter & height for each part. I am seriously considering trying my own DIY skimmer. I doubt mine would look as good as yours!!

 

[Rendos]

The body is 8" diameter cast acrylic 1/8" wall 12" tall.
The collection cup outer tube is 8" diameter cast acrylic 1/8" wall 6" tall.
The collection cup inner tube is 4" diameter extruded acrylic 1/8" wall 4.5" tall.
The neck is 2 pieces. The bottom piece is 4" diameter extruded acrylic 1/8" wall 1" tall and glued into a 4" PVC union (male threaded piece on bottom).
The top piece of the neck is 4" diameter extruded acrylic 1/8" wall 1" tall and glued into the other side of the 4" PVC union (the part with the female threads and the rubber O-ring.
The overall height of this latest skimmer is 23.5" tall.
The flat (red) pieces are 1/4" cast acrylic cut into 8.25" circles.
I think that is everything. The input will be 1/2" Uniseal and the output will be 1.5" Uniseal with the same style outflow plumbing as the last skimmer.

 

[olemos]

on clear cast acrylic and clear extruded acrylic is there a significance in clarity ?

 

[ohioreef]

Thanks!! Would I be able to drop down to say 6" and be okay? I've got limited space in my sump and I don't think I could get an 8" skimmer in it.

 

[bobn4burton]

You guys like the NEW color? It was on SALE! Hot, right?!!?

P.S. - I tried the oven thing to make a slanted shape going to the neck...I guess my baking skills are not very good. I got it to make the cone shape, but the bottom was so warped, I couldn't glue it to the acrylic tube. Back to the drawing board for me.

Spazz - hurry up with the DIY parts, will ya!!

Did you sandwich the piece of acrylic between two pieces of wood? I didn't have any problems at all with warping. I used 1/4" acrylic however. Did you see my pictures from the other thread?

The red is very cool btw!

 

[Rendos]

olemos - yes, the difference in clarity between cast and extruded is very significant.

ohioreefer - sure you could use 6" diameter instead. The skimmer I made previous to these was from 6" diameter tube.

bobn4burton - yes, I used plywood to sandwich the acrylic, but it warped. Maybe I needed the acrylic to be softer before starting to shape it.

 

[grreefer]

I heard the 6" ext. has some serious extrusion lines/marks, I'll find out next week when my 6" pc arrives from usplatics.

ohio reefer - I will sell you a 2' section of my 6" tube for 19.00 + ups ground shipping to you (minimum order from every place I've found is 6'). BTW, cast costs about 21.00/ft.


http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=21315&product_id=21113

 

[Rendos]

I have made several skimmers from extruded acrylic and other than looking different, they perform the same. They are all under tanks inside sumps anyway...what difference does it make if it is pretty or not. Give any skimmer a few months in a sump and it will be ugly.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Grreefer, if you want to sell half of your tube, I'd take half and pay for shipping...

PM me if you are interested.

 

[Rendos]

Water output assembly...

Partially unassembled...

Groove cut in pipe and o-ring inset. This was done on a table saw. I simply set the blade height at the depth I wanted the groove cut and spun the pipe over the blade.