timer for turning skimmer back on after feeding.

[bergzy]

i feed my corals about 1/2 hour after the lights go out at 12:30 am.

i also like to keep the skimmer turned off for 1 1/2 hours so that all the goodness that i am feeding them isnt skimmed out right away.

convential wavemakers (red sea nd reef fanatic) only have a 10 minute feature...way too short.

so, i got a 3 prong mechanical timer (that ground wire is pretty important, esp with water pumps) and loaded them with 'on' switches in 1 1/2 hour intervals...

so, when i feed the corals, i move the wheel til a 'on' switched is tripped...this will give me 1 1/2 hours. then i turn off the timer with its top switch, feed the corals and go to bed. i dont have to wait til 2:30 am to turn the skimmer pumps back on.

order extra pins from www.intermatic.com

i got mine for $2 for 20 on switches and 20 off switches!

 

[BruiseAndy]

its pretty too

 

[gitsumpottery]

won't they turn on and off every hour and a half? why wouldn't you just have one on off switch and let the timer run and then feed at the same time every night?

 

[overflowin]

different pins for on and off...he turns it off manually, then when the next pin passes it'll turn it back on and does nothing else till he flips it again...great idea.

donnie

 

[GROSSR]

Now that is sweet. I was looking at the intermatic site for something very similar. It was a always on timer and you would turn the knob (like the bathroom fan thing) and this one would turn the appliance off for 1 - 12 hours I believe. It was like 30 bucks plus shipping.

Very Very Cleaver. Just saved me a bunch. Thank you.

rich

 

[overflowin]

i use a digital jacuzzi timer and a relay to interrupt the circuit...works well, but its a bit more work to wire it up.

donnie

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6661609#post6661609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GROSSR
Just saved me a bunch. Thank you.

rich

your welcome!

 

[gitsumpottery]

you know what threw me off was the comment about the 20 on and 20 off switches. i was trying to find both on the timer, but i understand now. sorry for the confusion, great idea!

Zac

 

[GROSSR]

You could also get away with 1 on tab. Being the skimmer is always on, you spin the on/off wheel to off, then you spin the single tab to just before it hits. If you do it blind, like I do my lights you can feel when it is about to trip.

this way you don't have to order any tabs, or use the 4 or 5 or 6 you might have lying around.

If you can see the front of the timer, even better.


rich

 

[bergzy]

that's a good tip rich!

if you space out just a few 'on' switches...then you're right, you wouldnt need 20 of them!

i was just lazy about spinning the whole thing cuz i pass up the next 'on' click every so often. with all the pins, you wouldnt have to go far to get to the next one. that's just me being really lazy!

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

marineland makes nice ones as well

 

[bergzy]

i didnt know that marineland made an adjustable timer for turning things like pumps and skimmers off and on!

knowing that would have saved a few brain cells for me...and i need every one that i can spare!!!

 

[GROSSR]

bergzy : that works great for my Lifereef with a pump driving it. I plan on building a gravity feed skimmer. What about that?

I can only think of a Normally Open seloniod.

rich

 

[bergzy]

hmmm,

a gravity fed skimmer...

i am assuming that you are feeding the skimmer from your tank over flow...

let me see...

there are several ways i could approach this...

it depends on how much and how complicated you want to make it...

you could electronically cut the flow with this:
http://12.107.25.236/smcweb/eINM028...ndm=33855#Electro Actuated Compact Ball Valve

electrically controlled solenoid...

when you feed, the solenoid shut the valve off and redirects the overflow water somewhere else wit a split T line orsomething or another...

that is complicated and expensive to me...

the easiest and cheapest method?

i am going to also assume that the gravity fed skimmer is driven by an air pump for bubble production (counter current mothod)...

i would just make a timer like the one i did...and use it to control the air pump turning on and off. no air...no bubbles...no skimming...

if i am totally off...

let me know how your skimmer is set up and driven so that perhaps i can be of help with it.

 

[GROSSR]

I nominate you the DIYer for the week. Someone has to second this...

I looked at mcmaster and saw the high prices. I didn't think about killing the recirculating pump. That would do the trick. Thanks again for saving me 387.50 for that 3/4 inch SS solenoid.

Rich

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6672857#post6672857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GROSSR
I nominate you the DIYer for the week. Someone has to second this...

Rich

thanks rich!

killing the main return circulation pump will definitely do the trick by feeding that skimmer.

if you can post a pic of your skimmer set up...that would be great.

if you dont already have them, prhaps adding a couple of fine airstones will increase your skimming to the point where you might not need another skimmer.

i am looking into a large (10-12 feet high by 8" diameter) countercurrent skimmer. not only will it basically outskim any consumer available skimmer but should use about 150 watts doing so. a powerful airpump and a small non-pressure rated pump can do amazing things in the world of skimming!

 

[GROSSR]

I currently have a Lifereef venturi and your first post works great for that unit. I am starting to build a recirculating needlewheel with 160 gallon flow per hour. My new one should be about 24 inches talles vs. the Lifereef of about 20".

rich

 

[bergzy]

recirc needlewheels are an awesome concept and does a phenom job at skimming!!!

definitely post some pics of it when you are done a pm me when it is up!!! would luv to see it!!!