well thnx to geoff's DIY skimmer i built mine using the same method as he did ...i was gonna use a mj1200 but i just couldnt see this being enough power so for now im gonna use a mag 3 that i got off a friend which is a little more powerful than the mj1200 so im waiting on my venturi valve that should be coming this week and a few more adjustments to the skimmer and hopefully this baby that is about 40" tall should rock......here are a few pics
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We'll have to start a special club for Geoff's Skimmer Owners!
Those babies rock!
i need to get a write up of my new one. not much different than the one on the site it is just uglier since i used all off-the-shelf parts. i think i only modified one piece. i was hoping to make a super easy skimmer for people to make.
An3-make sure to get a gate valve on that outlet tube.
G~
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Geoff, I don't recall what size pump you use on yours. I see An3 used a Mag 3. Is this enough, as I'm using a Gen-X 2000L/hr. and think it might be way overkill. Also, if I went up to 6" pipe and tried two injectors could I use just one pump, for instance the Gen-X for that?
Geoff, I don't recall what size pump you use on yours. I see An3 used a Mag 3. Is this enough, as I'm using a Gen-X 2000L/hr. and think it might be way overkill. Also, if I went up to 6" pipe and tried two injectors could I use just one pump, for instance the Gen-X for that?
a mag 7 is about perfect for that skimmer. a smaller pump would work it would just mean the water level in the skimmer will need to be higher. there are many ways to do that. i suggested to An3 to use a gate valve on the outlet. this give a bigger range than using the slide adaptors like i have on the site. i prefer he side adaptors, but these may need some trial and error to make sure the slide adjustment is within the range for getting the correct water level. generally speaking the weaker the pump the higher the water level. the more powerfull the pump the lower the water level. of course if you get a really powerfull pump than the outlet tubes will need to increased.
speaking of increasing the outlet tubes. a lot of this has to do with how much power your pump has. i am now trying to use a Velocity T1 on the skimmer. even thought this is rated a 540gph and a Mag 7 is 700gph, these is no comparison. the velocity is overpowering my skimmer. i have to throttle it down nearly halfway! these high head pressure pumps can seriously power through just about any kind of air injection system we put in its way. Top Fathom uses multiple injectors on some of their models. you can easily add more than one injector to a skimmer. you should double the size of the output though. if the pump can handle high head pressure (nearly 20') than it should have no problems powering multiple injectors.
using a 1" pipe the maximum amount of water that can leave the skimmer is about 600gph. taking into account the shape of the outlet tube the volume prolly drops down in the 300-400gph range. this seems consistant with what i am seeing and you also. to get the full 600gph you would need to run the outlet directly out of the skimmer into a sump.
i am thinking of increasing my outlet tube to 2" in order to handle the T1.
G~
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By the way, the best place I've found to get plastic gate valve is http://www.mcmaster.com/ Anyone got another place? McMaster is good, but when I compare their prices for ball valves, they are more expensive, so wondered if I could get the gates somewhere cheaper?
Oh and if you look at my picture you'll notice that I have a gate valve on my outlet also. Considering the variability of the skimming (after food, epoxying, etc.) the gate valve is so much more flexible. I also put a gate valve on the inlet, a waste of a valve.
i am pretty sure i found them at a Lowe's in our area. i looked for them at the newest Lowe's and could not find them, so maybe they have been discontinued.
G~
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Very nice, I am currently looking for a decent skimmer that doesn't cost me a fortune. If I went this route, appx how much would I have to come up with to get it up and running? I need an excuse to use my tools anyway, they are getting way too dusty.
, I may have to build one soon, can you link to where you got your design or post a pic of the design?
