need help-DIY skimmer for the untalented

vishboy

New member
Hi everyone:D I am going to be upgrading my skimmer relatively soon (much needed) and would preffer to try my hand at a DIY skimmer. I was thinking of using clear acrylic for the body and collection cup with everything else being PVC. I would also try to make it a recirculating skimmer, for the reasons of
a) having a small pump in the tank- in a 30g, the less space taken up by equipment, the better.
b) I like complex "toys" the harded they are to make and the cooler they look, the more fun I have stareing at them.

How much would the total cost be? It would be in my bedroom, so it would have to be quiet. I would also need a smallish pump to be the needle wheel because of heat issues. I already have two MJ 900 in the tank, and my heater is on mainly at night.

I would like to spend $150 or less on this, because I could just buy a CSS for the same amount.

Thanks
 
I don't have much to offer, except this. I know that skimmers are nothing to just jump into. While simple in their function, they are complex in their "tweaking". I spent nearly 100 bucks on version one and version two of my DIY skimmers which both functioned marginally but not consistently. I'd recommend just buying one. the reason being, that once you've blown 100 bucks on something that doesn't work, you have to throw it out and buy a factory built one anyway. And it just doubled the cost. But to each thier own.

If you do decide to go through with this, you'll get more responses from posting pics of ideas, or being more specific on dimensions and stuff. What size tank have you got? Things like that.
 
ok, I have a 30g tank. 30lx18dx12w. If a couple other people say that I shouldn't do this, then I won't.

Thanks
Vishboy

P.S.- I have the craftsmenship level of a 13 year old.
 
What good is money without a sense of accomplishment? I say go for it! There is no joy in watching a $300 purchased skimmer skim like a $100 hand made skimmer... The joy is in watching that hand made $100 skimmer skim better than the $300 one at 1/3 the price!

Sure its possible you'll end up with $300 into it and you could have just bought a $300 skimmer but what is the joy in that? I say research, research, research and then research some more. When its all clean in your mind put it on paper and ask what people think of your plan. I plan on making a skimmer, I just haven't done the research required yet. Still working on my stand, then on to the maxi-stream I've got parts for. Then its onto the motorized maxi-stream which I'm waiting for parts on, then the refuge, auto-top-off, kalk reactor, then the skimmer.

Anyway go for it.. just research untill you understand everything before you do anything else.
 
My next DIY skimmer will be gravity fed with 100% of the raw overflow water (as per Calfo and common sense) and will be recirculating via a MJ900 modded to a needlewheel (curry comb or bio ball) and air will be fed in to the MJ's inlet by a Whisper 60 airpump (much like spazz's mod). This will be a blending of 3 other DIY mods, and will use a scant 12.5 watts of electricity because I'm all about the low power consumption.

At the end of the day, this is a fun hobby and I enjoy designing, building, and tweaking, so I don't deny myself at all. I could never be one of those people that pays others to know for me; I need to know myself. Do what makes you happy; if you want to play, by all means play!
 
I would play all day if I had the money. That is why I am looking at DIY. To save a little money. However, if the odds are against me making a skimmer that works better than a CSS 65, I will probably not take the risk of messing up.

Thanks
 
I agree! Play on. I am a total DIY nut if you have the resources. But one thing I have found to be quite frustrating in this hobby, is unlimited imagination and a trickle of funds. Therefore, my mindset is to squeeze the most out of every dollar that I put into the tank.

If I had the resources to tinker, heck I'm right there with you.

CHEME, I am curious, what if the overflow get occluded. If you have 100 percent Overflow into the skimmer, and it becomes occluded, then you may have a mess to deal with. I was just wondering about your plans there. Oops, please don't let us hijack this thread. I was just wondering.
 
I would like to know what the odds are of me failing, messing up and having to start over again. As I said before, I have the craftsmenship of a 13 year old. I would probably have someone who was better with tools than I am though.

Thanks
 
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