Skimmer Design Help.

[avgjoe]

Can someone please explain the purpose of the neck on a skimmer? Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m in the process of building a 6ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚x8ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ CC skimmer and I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t find any info on the necessity for a neck let alone what the optimally length and width should be. The little information I have gathered from DIY forums it that wider is better. So is it possible to use the skimmer body as the neck and just have the skimmate over flow the sides? Here is a simple diagram of what Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m trying to do as well as some more questions that need to be answered before I can continue. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[DrBDC]

There is a nice reducer in the pvc parts dept. at Lowes you can use to take it down to 2". It helps to concentrate the skimmate. Realize that you won't be able to use a typical airpump on this skimmer. You'll need a pump that will produce approx. 2.5 cfm under pressure such as the LT24. Here is a link:

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=210

I'd also recommend these airstones for it:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/9751/cid/2328

I'd go with 4-6 of the 6" ones part # ALR150

I have some of these that I used for about 2 or 3 months I'll sell all 6 of them for 40 bucks. They're nice because you can go a long long time between cleanings and when you have to clean them just drop in some muratic acid for a few minutes.

Also don't forget unions and a gate valve on the output and inputs it will help you beyond belief. For the feed pump you need about 2/3 your system volume after calculating head loss for the pump choice. Usually a mag3 is more than sufficient and will need at least a gate valve on the input side to cut it down a little but that is dependant on the system volume.

And on that neck be sure to put a union on for cup removal. I used one of the male/female screw on parts but it would have been easier with a union.

If you're interested I'll let it go for 90 and it has a clear body section and clear collection cup:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=818292&highlight=skimmer

 

[avgjoe]

Here are a few things we talked about at the seasl meeting. Just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same things.

Is there a big difference between these airstones.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/9618/cid/2269
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/9751/cid/2328

Here is the pump I was talking about. SL-65 2.3 cfm/ 3.9 psi http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14684&inm=1&N=2004+113029+2035
So much cheaper than the whitewater pumps, but will it work? Hell I could buy two of them and still pay less than I would for a whitewater/sweetwater.

Chadfarmer convinced me I need to add a neck to the skimmer inorder to concentrate the foam and not lose too much water in the collection cup. I guess he knows better, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve been told he owns a skimmer or two.