DIY Skimmer, group project - Page 4

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

You are making good progress, when is the test going to happen.

Thanks. Sometime tonight or tomorrow. The only two places I have to test it are sitting in the 120 or in the sump of the 90. It won't fit in the stand of the 90. That leaves the 120 but it won't go through the canopy. Don't have anyone here to help me move the canopy to get it in there. Then I will have to sit the pump on something. It won't pull air through the water (too deep) with it sitting on the bottom of the tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

You know you should really just forget about making it fit under the stand and make it as big as you think you will need it to be. Reefermike already showed you how to cover it up with an easy to make box and I know you have some mean carpenter skills.

I was going to cut this one down to fit under the 90 and decided not to and put it under the 120. I was forced to since I didn't remember to cut it off until after I drilled the uniseal hole in it

. My 90 is on a 32" tall stand, the 120 is on a 36" stand.

The idea isn't just for me, it is to come up with one that anybody can build and it fit in there stand. If this one produces, but doesn't produce enough, I already have it figured out how to make it a recirc skimmer. Simply drill two more uniseals, have the pump pull out of one and into the other. Then have the inlet and drain from the tank.

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 09:09 PM

I just hope the thing doesn't blow itself apart without it glued together......

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 09:20 PM

I may be homeless in an hour (or less) if this thing comes apart

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 09:30 PM

I think my pump is too big.

That is out of the drain. Weeeeeeee.

aquawolf · 06-23-2008, 09:54 PM

Holy crap!

That is going to take a huge bubble trap in order to get rid of all of those microbubbles.

Obviously it is holding up without being glued which is really pretty awesome if you think about it. It could almost be like a tinker toy skimmer where you could swap parts out as needed to get the right mixture for your tank.

Do you have nay smaller powerheads you could try? I have no idea what that needle wheel pump is or how many gph it might be pushing.

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Holy crap!

That is going to take a huge bubble trap in order to get rid of all of those microbubbles.

No kidding

I thought I would get bubbles but not like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Obviously it is holding up without being glued which is really pretty awesome if you think about it. It could almost be like a tinker toy skimmer where you could swap parts out as needed to get the right mixture for your tank.

That is the idea now. Be able to take it apart, put it back together, test and tinker, without gluing up 50 dollars worth of parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Do you have nay smaller powerheads you could try? I have no idea what that needle wheel pump is or how many gph it might be pushing.

I just got off the phone with a guy that wants my coralife 120 skimmer. He is going to check with his LFS guy tomorrow that deals a lot with coralifes and find out what pumps they come with (all 3 versions). I have a pump that goes on a Coralife 65, coralife 120 and this one. This one came off my coralife 220. It is obviously just a tad too big

aquawolf · 06-23-2008, 11:44 PM

Good deal, if you can find the right size pump you my really be onto a good design. At least you know it can make bubbles.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 12:05 AM

I am wondering if the bubbles are coming out from the bottom of it all. I don't think they are but not sure how I could test it.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 12:05 AM

Well, test it without gluing it all together that is. Wonder how hard it would be to get it apart if I silicone the inner tube in it.

kwdelre · 06-24-2008, 12:39 AM

with a little elbow grease you should be able to get it apart.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 05:44 AM

Its out of the tank and drying. I think I am going to take the pump off my coralife 120 and try it on here. See what it does. If I am still getting air bubbles in the return, going to remove the inside pipes and see what happens. Raise the intake up, turn the drain to the bottom, and pray.

aquawolf · 06-24-2008, 07:01 AM

Good question about where the bubbles are actually coming from as there is actually way too many to be able to tell from your pictures. I am sure you will get it sorted out.

Loverotties · 06-24-2008, 07:14 AM

It takes some fittling with,but good you didn't glue it yet!

luvmylo · 06-24-2008, 07:15 AM

ok now I'm into this thread. This is awesome.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Good question about where the bubbles are actually coming from as there is actually way too many to be able to tell from your pictures. I am sure you will get it sorted out.

I don't think they are coming through the fittings at the bottom. I think they are coming over the top of the 2" pipe and down to the drain. The pipes there are double and triple thick. About the only place they could possibly make it out are where the 2" pipe goes into the reducer. The only other place is where the 3" pipe connects to the base of it.

If you look at the cross section, the bubbles would have to go between the light blue and red, through the seam, and back up between the red and purple. I have to literally pry those pieces apart to get it apart. I don't think thats where they are coming from. By the time they get to the 2" pipe, they are headed upwards. And I am getting way too many bubbles for that. If they were coming through the fittings, it would be in pieces as the water and bubbles would literally push it apart.