Help me build a Frankenskimmer!

[zachfishman]

Didn't get any love in the DIY forum so I'll post it here too. I know lots of you guys have some massive skimmers.
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For work I will be installing a 600g SPS system, and while I could budget many hundreds of dollars for a brand new skimmer, I was wondering if I could bring this old monster to life.

I don't know what it is/was, but it's definitely a recirculating model of some kind, with ports for two Eheim venturi pumps (one remains but is dead). How would you rebuild this beast? I'm between Mazzei injection (using the 1" port or dual 3/4" injectors) or sticking with an external feed and putting a Bubble Blaster 10,000 where that Eheim sits now (simpler).

Anyone know if the BB10000 can be hooked up with 3/4" plumbing, or will I need to drill new holes? Everything can be re-done with uniseals and plugged where needed.

 

[CuzzA]

Assuming the original manufacturer did some R&D on the build I would probably stick to the original design. Changing pumps or their location, etc. could create an imbalance of air and water which of course could reduce performance.

Good luck. Is this for the pier?

 

[zachfishman]

Assuming the original manufacturer did some R&D on the build I would probably stick to the original design. Changing pumps or their location, etc. could create an imbalance of air and water which of course could reduce performance.

Good luck. Is this for the pier?

Yes it's from the Pier; I may not go through with modding it though. The original design was appropriate for maybe a 300 gallon system and I'm unsure whether simply upping the flow and air injection will work...

 

[bigzman]

With that hieght it is great reaction time. Have you thought of maybe 2 aquamaxx shark 5?

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...cement_Parts-AquaMaxx-UJ1433-FIPSRPAX-vi.html

With 2 of them running you can get 3000lph of air. Not as powerful as bubble blaster but They are silent and very energy efficient.

 

[hobbzz]

I would stick with the original design. Use pumps that match the flow/draw of the original eheims and probably start with a feed rate of around 600gph and go from there.