skimmer question.

[bigmatt1992]

is there any way to mod my skimmer cup that way i dont have to clean it every other day. i was think drilling a whole in the bottom of the cup and puting a piece of tubing that leads down in to a big bucket for colection would this work or no?

 

[Tswifty]

Yes, but you will still need to clean the skimmer's neck. As soon as the neck begins to gunk up, your performance drops. I try and do it daily. I just take the top off and wipe the neck with a paper towel while the skimmer is on. Then I empty the cup about every 3 days.

 

[bigmatt1992]

i empty my cup like every other day and clean the neck ever day as well im just sick of such a small cup size becouse if i forget to empty it it starts to almost over flow and it p#*#* me off.

 

[Tswifty]

If you do use an external collection container, I would recommend one which has a float switch or some type of shutoff. That way if the skimmer goes crazy for any reason (which they are definitely known to do) you won't end up draining your sump onto the floor.

 

[bigmatt1992]

how would i drain the sump on to the floor. if im just drilling a hole in the colection cup.

 

[fodupos]

alot of people do something like that. i haven't done it but i have seen people using the large gatorade bottles. two things to worry about would be it overflowing because you don't check it enough (large gatorade bottles easily fit above the sump) and possibly smell. probably don't want a sealed container either i imagine might cause back pressure that will clog up your tubing. i would put two hole in the lid of a gatorade bottle then: one for the tubing and one for a vent.

i am sure if you search you can find someone talking about this mod.

 

[bigmatt1992]

ive sorta seen it done but the guys craftmanship was iffy and i wanted to know if it was a common mod and easly done.

 

[bigmatt1992]

mod complete used 3/4" inch silicon tubeing to run the drain line so no cluging will acure.

 

[bigmatt1992]

it drains in to a 2 litter pop container the opening is almost 3/4" so the smell problem and the back presure problem are solved. pic in a min.

 

[the2ofus]

I too drilled my cup and I too had an overflow problem, only about two gallons went on the floor but, my wife wasn't very happy..so........I put a plastic ball valve in line and fastend it to the inside of the cabinet. Problem solved, If the skimmer goes crazzy when no one is around or sees it, it'll over flow back into the fuge.......I open the valve when I feed the tank or see it needs it. I use a 2 liter bottle and have no smell.

 

[bigmatt1992]

i wasnt exspecting the plastic on the skimmer cup to be so thick. it took a good while to drill it not to melt the plastic