My new DIY skimmer

Okay since this post is receiving the most feedback I have to ask this question. I'm making a home maid sump and bought a Sterilite brand and rubbermaid brand can i use both together they wont harm my water or fish? I cleaned them out also
 
I am the only one who is totally lost here? I've been reading this thread for over an hour trying to figure out how to make this thing, and I think I am at a serious disadvantage because a certain level of DIY experience seems implied in the directions. I know I'm not the first one to ask, but has anyone made any step by step guide, or anything more detailed about exact sizes and or have a breakdown of all the pieces required? This is seriously hurting my brain :(

A few of my main questions are:

Are the injector tube and riser tubes glued to the top of the box, or are they set down in it a bit? And if they are glued to the top, how much smaller did you make the holes so the tubes would not fall through?

And what all is goin on inside the black box? I really can't tell anything from the pic.

Also I'm totally confused as to how the collection cup is connected.


Please anyone feel free to answer this (if you would be so kind ;) ) because I know cheapreef must be getting pretty sick of answering questions.

Thanks!
 
Spider_Whistle said:
I am the only one who is totally lost here? I've been reading this thread for over an hour trying to figure out how to make this thing, and I think I am at a serious disadvantage because a certain level of DIY experience seems implied in the directions. I know I'm not the first one to ask, but has anyone made any step by step guide, or anything more detailed about exact sizes and or have a breakdown of all the pieces required? This is seriously hurting my brain :(

A few of my main questions are:

Are the injector tube and riser tubes glued to the top of the box, or are they set down in it a bit? And if they are glued to the top, how much smaller did you make the holes so the tubes would not fall through?

And what all is goin on inside the black box? I really can't tell anything from the pic.

Also I'm totally confused as to how the collection cup is connected.


Please anyone feel free to answer this (if you would be so kind ;) ) because I know cheapreef must be getting pretty sick of answering questions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The injector tube and riser are set into the box, the hole is just large enough to push the tube through and just set in the thickness of the top.

The box just has a baffle like a beckett to direct the bubbles to the riser. The output is coneccted to a pipe which sits about 3/4" off the bottom.

The collection cup has two flanges a 1/4 of the circumference each, about a 1/2" wide. The riser tube has a hole cut with the two flange pices cut out.

Clinton
 
I am curious how you made that little clover thingy that jets the water down. is that a regular piece of pvc that was pinched in 3 places. what tool can be used to do that? thanks dude.
 
:D How about a pair of longnose pliers and a bit of heat ... ;)

p.s - I believe he mentioned something about a 1/2" pvc ftg.

Van :cool:
 
hey i made some quick diagram I think this is what you have. its pretty simple, right. you mentioned the water level. should it be at a level up in the risers, just below the jet nozzle?

skimmer_cheap1.jpg


also, what is that red flange for? is it just for extra spacing or sealing? thanks cheapreef! i think i start to make it now.

skimmer_cheap2.jpg
 
Van is correct. Yeah your diagram looks right, the red "flange" is a gasket, didn't want water all over my floor. Water level should be at the top of the box.

Clinton
 
Can someone answer me this question please. Can I use the name brand tub for a sump? The name brands are Sterilite and rubbermaid. Can I use these for my two peice sumps?
 
skimmer diy

skimmer diy

the location of your skimmer is above the aquarium water line. is this the only location it will work in. also the opening for the baffel could you tell how far down from the top of the box it is located and approximately at what angle you placed it at thank you looks like a great job
 
very nice man. get some more pics of it up and running w/ the skimmate. once i get a break from school i plan on DIY'ing a skimmer sometime

Lunchbucket
 
Like I need to take on ANOTHER diy project! LOL

I broke the collection cup on my es5-2 tonight. Guess what? I need a new skimmer. No reason to buy a new collection cup when I can build a new skimmer for the same price. Maybe I can scrap the sedra off it or sell it.

I have the clear acrylic tubing from an old cc skimmer. I have so much 1/2 inch pvc I dont know what Ill do with it! I also have an order of weld on 4, and 16 scheduled for delivery on monday. I guess Ill just need some more 1/4", huh? My plastic suplier isnt open on sunday so Ill be at HD.

Ill let everyone know how it goes.

John
 
Hey:

I love the skimmer. May make one this weekend. Question, what size acrylic did you use for the box 1/4 " ? and what type of gasket are you using between you flanges??

Thanks

George
 
Is this thread still alive?

Can anyone post any better pics of how to collection cup is connected? Due to my lack of diy expertise I am having a very difficult time visualizing it just from the written descriptions.

Thanx
 
If you look at the second pic on the first page the collection cup is upside down so you can see the flange and the riser is claerly visable. As i said in the middle of the last page if anyone has any more questions please email me directly.

Clinton
 
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