Skimmer finished...pics

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11418955#post11418955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClayWagner
Can you run a pump in vinegar?

That's how I clean my Tunze streams every six months for the past 3 years and no problems whatsoever. I let them run overnight and they come out squeaky clean.

Some people like muriatic acid because it is cheaper and it works faster.

If using muriatic acid mix 1:10 parts of water. Very important to use and mix it properly. WATCH YOUR EYES AND CLOTHING!
and always add muriatic acid to water not the other way around.

HTH,
djfrankie

 

[pescadero]

good advice. in my days as a chemist we always used a mnemonic: AAA. it stands for "always add acid" to water, not the other way around. by adding acid to water it is rapidly diluted, so that the splashes aren't so dangerous.

 

[GuySmilie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11406805#post11406805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClayWagner
.....the collection cup was from Linens and Things (used to have a bunch of medal on it so you can snap it closed...was removed. Got it from an idea of someone in a DIY forum) which was PERFECT for this application.

You're welcome. Glad it worked out for you.

I never did hear back from you on that 4" union.
Did you get that from USCORP for $28?

Also, that doesn't look like a QO3000. Weren't you talking about using one?

 

[ClayWagner]

You're the guy! Thanks a bunch for the idea. That acrylic container is sturdy and the top seals very neatly. I got the union from a place locally called Barnes Industrial, it's the same company my friend's father buys mass quantities for his own company. I was going to choose the QO3000, but it's just too loud for the location of my skimmer (IME their extremely quiet in water but loud externally). I really like the OTP3000. It's got a huge chamber for destroying bubbles and with an inlarged intake through some variation of venturi, little mesh, and increasing the volute a little (if you'd like) you can get 40 scfm everytime. Plus, it's only 55 bucks. The pump itself is not loud, but the turbulence of air inside the pump is. If you can, find some place local so you don't have to have the union shipped. It's quite heavy and would tack on an extra 5 or 10 to your bill.

 

[GuySmilie]

Sounds good. Hope it works out well for you.
I've already abandoned the union idea. I found a rubber 6x4 DWV transition the other day at Lowes which fits my 6" DWV pipe perfect. Got the rest of my UniSeals and a new venturi delivered today, so I'm just about ready to roll. Still gotta find a piece of 4" tubing, the collection cup, and a hunk of PVC for a base.
Take care!

 

[kuhli]

Where would one find the JCT 'blow-by' type venturi?

 

[pescadero]

if you look through the first two pages of the DIY forum, you'll see lots of skimmer threads that have photos or links in them. we've been talking about this a lot in the past few days.

 

[pescadero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11423978#post11423978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClayWagner
I was going to choose the QO3000, but it's just too loud for the location of my skimmer (IME their extremely quiet in water but loud externally).

funny. i was working on some skimmer tests in the laundry room, and i inadvertently left a QO3k running overnight because it was so quiet that i didn't realize it was even running.

I really like the OTP3000. It's got a huge chamber for destroying bubbles and with an inlarged intake through some variation of venturi, little mesh, and increasing the volute a little (if you'd like) you can get 40 scfm everytime. Plus, it's only 55 bucks.[/B]

where did you buy yours? the only online site iv'e found is marinesoluitonsinc.com, and their prices seemed kinda high.

 

[RandyStacyE]

www.aquacave.com
www.customaquatics.com
www.marineandreef.com (I believe)

I think they all carry the Octopus pumps.

 

[tank watch]

How come a guy with a Beemer and a brick driveway cant just buy a skimmer also? j\k nice work

 

[MeuserReef]

ClayWagner,

Your skimmer looks great (sweet car BTW too)

I have a 6" x 24" piece of PVC sitting in my garage that I picked up at Lowes a few weeks back to make one of these skimmers (inspired directly by RandyStacyE)

I have my uniseals, and now have a solid design for a DIY venturi (thanks Hahnmeister)

I have not yet started the build ... mainly because I have no pump .... yet. (key word: yet )

 

[ClayWagner]

The pump was purchased from customaquatics.com. HA! I wish that was my beemer . It's the momma's. I use the rents' house for my projects because they have all the tools. I still havn't hooked it up to my aquarium because I'm currently building a cabinet to house the skimmer and provide some shelves for additives and chemicals. I also have to find a way to feed the skimmer, and ran into problems because I have an internal overflow. I wish I had an external box that I could tap into...but I don't. I think I will settle for some sort of 'T' configuration, but I'm just worried about backpressure.

 

[customclimates]

Nice job!

 

[customclimates]

Nice job!