EuroReef Club
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builderguy
New member
My CS8-2 Mods
My CS8-2 Mods
This is a photo journal of the modifications I made to my CS8-2, I get the control I want from the gate valve and the direct feed from my overflow with the recirc mod produced lots of dark nasty skimmate...very effecient.
First, this is the gate valve mod. I'm sure most people have figured this out.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/GateValveMod.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
For the the re-circ mod I had to drill some holes into the skimmer body...a little scary to start drilling a $500+ skimmer...but I wanted to make the change.
First I added two holes (1" dia) to the body for the input and output for the Sedra 5000. I used pics on the Euro-Reef website to give me a guideline for placement. The input is at the bottom.
Then I installed the 3/4" Uniseal rubber bulkheads.
The hole to the right (kind of in between) is the original input hole that will be capped.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture042.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Then I added a hole higher up (again using the Euro-Reef website as a reference) for the 1" Uniseal that will be the feed water for the skimmer coming directly from my overflow
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture043.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
You need to add a reducer elbow to the venturi. A 1" elbow fits onto the venturi nice and snug, but I used a 3/4" bulkhead in the body so I just got an elbow that reduced on one end. Next I added the 3/4" unions to the Sedra so that it could be removed for cleaning etc. Here is a pic of the pump with the ells and the unions. I also siliconed a small piece of 3/4" PVC to the bottom of the ell to provide additional support for the pump (you'll see this in the assembled pic as well)
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture047.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
When I first tried running this the direct feed would "burp" and disturb the skimming action so I ran some PVC inside the body, making sure to stay near the center (so the water could still swirl) to lower the output of the feed line so that it would get disrupted by the re-circulating pump
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture045.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
I directed the output from the feedline at the input for the re-circ pump. You can also see in this picture how I capped the original pump input.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture046.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Here it is assembled
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture048.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Here it is running in my sump...it's working great!
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture052.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
My CS8-2 Mods
This is a photo journal of the modifications I made to my CS8-2, I get the control I want from the gate valve and the direct feed from my overflow with the recirc mod produced lots of dark nasty skimmate...very effecient.
First, this is the gate valve mod. I'm sure most people have figured this out.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/GateValveMod.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
For the the re-circ mod I had to drill some holes into the skimmer body...a little scary to start drilling a $500+ skimmer...but I wanted to make the change.
First I added two holes (1" dia) to the body for the input and output for the Sedra 5000. I used pics on the Euro-Reef website to give me a guideline for placement. The input is at the bottom.
Then I installed the 3/4" Uniseal rubber bulkheads.
The hole to the right (kind of in between) is the original input hole that will be capped.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture042.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Then I added a hole higher up (again using the Euro-Reef website as a reference) for the 1" Uniseal that will be the feed water for the skimmer coming directly from my overflow
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture043.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
You need to add a reducer elbow to the venturi. A 1" elbow fits onto the venturi nice and snug, but I used a 3/4" bulkhead in the body so I just got an elbow that reduced on one end. Next I added the 3/4" unions to the Sedra so that it could be removed for cleaning etc. Here is a pic of the pump with the ells and the unions. I also siliconed a small piece of 3/4" PVC to the bottom of the ell to provide additional support for the pump (you'll see this in the assembled pic as well)
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture047.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
When I first tried running this the direct feed would "burp" and disturb the skimming action so I ran some PVC inside the body, making sure to stay near the center (so the water could still swirl) to lower the output of the feed line so that it would get disrupted by the re-circulating pump
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture045.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
I directed the output from the feedline at the input for the re-circ pump. You can also see in this picture how I capped the original pump input.
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture046.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Here it is assembled
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture048.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Here it is running in my sump...it's working great!
<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/SaltyPugs/Picture052.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
reefkeeper1
New member
Those are some great step by step instructions builderguy!
I have two questions:
1. Did you use a hole saw or a 1" drill bit for the holes?
2. How much more efficient do you think your skimmer is now?
I have a CS 6-2 and no room for a larger skimmer, so my only way to increase skimmer efficiency is with a recirculating mod. The only mods I've made are the gate valve mod and the replacement of my Sedra 5000 with an Ocean Runner 2700.
I have two questions:
1. Did you use a hole saw or a 1" drill bit for the holes?
2. How much more efficient do you think your skimmer is now?
I have a CS 6-2 and no room for a larger skimmer, so my only way to increase skimmer efficiency is with a recirculating mod. The only mods I've made are the gate valve mod and the replacement of my Sedra 5000 with an Ocean Runner 2700.
Hef
Premium Member
Very Nice, What size is the hole in top for the 1" UniSeal? As Reefkeeper asked, what did you use to drill it? I would think a Step Drill would work nice.
How Many GPH from your overflow do you Estimate is going to the Skimmer?
Finally, I notice the Sierra Nevada bottle, Do I drink that before or after drilling the holes
Hef
How Many GPH from your overflow do you Estimate is going to the Skimmer?
Finally, I notice the Sierra Nevada bottle, Do I drink that before or after drilling the holes
Hef
builderguy
New member
The Sierra was for before the holes....had to work up the nerve 
I use a hole saw for each of the holes...I don't remember what size I just compared the the saw to the uniseal gasket to determine the best size.
It's around 250 gph going through the Skimmer body...a have another overflow that goes directly into my refugium...then both dump into an area of my sump filled with LR rubble to get rid of any remaining microbubbles before being returned to the main tank. Euro-Reef suggests 2-3 times tank volume through the skimmer, and I figure I have about 80gallons in the tank after subtracting for LR and sand and about 120g system volume...so should be perfect.
The bubble size is much smaller now and its producing a lot of dark skimmate
I use a hole saw for each of the holes...I don't remember what size I just compared the the saw to the uniseal gasket to determine the best size.
It's around 250 gph going through the Skimmer body...a have another overflow that goes directly into my refugium...then both dump into an area of my sump filled with LR rubble to get rid of any remaining microbubbles before being returned to the main tank. Euro-Reef suggests 2-3 times tank volume through the skimmer, and I figure I have about 80gallons in the tank after subtracting for LR and sand and about 120g system volume...so should be perfect.
The bubble size is much smaller now and its producing a lot of dark skimmate
Digital Canuck
New member
New RS 8-3+ skimmer
New RS 8-3+ skimmer
Here's a few pics of my new RS 8-3+ skimmer on my 180 gal FOWLR (except for a couple of mushrooms and toadstool leather). It's been running for 8 days now, I empty the collection cup about each three days. It's the only form of filtration on a BB tank.
The water level is kept at a constant 7 inches using the gate valve on the exterior of the tub. The tub is fed from the LifeReef single overflow about 700gph flow. It then drains into the main sump where the return pump is.
Rick
New RS 8-3+ skimmer
Here's a few pics of my new RS 8-3+ skimmer on my 180 gal FOWLR (except for a couple of mushrooms and toadstool leather). It's been running for 8 days now, I empty the collection cup about each three days. It's the only form of filtration on a BB tank.
The water level is kept at a constant 7 inches using the gate valve on the exterior of the tub. The tub is fed from the LifeReef single overflow about 700gph flow. It then drains into the main sump where the return pump is.
Rick
Jpizzle
New member
builderguy said:
Do you have a total of 250 gph going through the skimmer? Including both the overflow drain and the recic. pump? or were you referring to only one.
Just curious because I have an ES5-3 (with sedra 350 gph pump) and am wondering if I should dial down the pump because my total system volume is probably only around 50 gallons.
Jpizzle
New member
builderguy said:
Do you have a total of 250 gph going through the skimmer? Including both the overflow drain and the recic. pump? or were you referring to only one.
Just curious because I have an ES5-3 (with sedra 350 gph pump) and am wondering if I should dial down the pump because my total system volume is probably only around 50 gallons.
I would do that recic. mod (great idea) however.. I can't fit my hands inside the skimmer body so I don't think its feasible to get all those seals and fittings in place unfortunately.
Reefologist
New member
More than likely your problem is the new salt water. It can freak that skimmer out for hours....the amount of time is relative to the size of water change...Hope this help's .....your friend ,reefologist
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