DIY skimmer - Pics!!

[wharyat]

Just got this up and running yesterday. It's sort of a Geoff skimmer, I used some of the same techniques (thanks Geoff).

Uses a mag 2.5 @ 250 GPH, home-made venturi.


Shot from the top down, note the excellent glue job


Skimmer neck


Yummy goodness.


Day's worth of skimmate.


Home made venturi, works excellent.


For cleaning purposes.

Top part is black because pipe is spray-painted, from a different project.

[Geoff]

what are you using as a collection cup? i am trying to come up with an easier to make collection cup.

G~

[wharyat]

I used a compression adapter, 1" end slips over the riser pipe and the other end is 1" threaded. I used a 3" sewer cap, drilled a hole and slipped it over the threaded end and glued it on, works great.

[wharyat]

Venturi, full section.

I used a threaded tee and plug, located between the inlet and the pump, creates extremely fine bubbles with almost no pressure (smaller pump can be used).

[Geoff]

sounds good. is the vinyl outlet hole attached by any other means than by silly cone? i have found that silly cone is really bad at sticking to PVC long term. it works great for about a month then it just falls off.

it looks like it is working great! you might want to run it just a touch wetter.

G~

[wharyat]

It finally broke in today, skimming even better; more wet. I've already noticed a slowdown in algae growth.

The skimmer outlet? It's not silly cone, it's a gray pvc glue, looks a lot like it tho; I love this stuff it seems to seal a lot better than the clear, especially when filling in the larger gaps. No silly on the entire thing, to keep it in operation longer.

Well it's the first skimmer of many, next one should be a lot better, I think I might try double reaction chambers next, and try to go shorter. I don't think I'll ever buy another skimmer.

[DAC]

so how much air do you need? 1/4 tubing work with a 950gph or 1200gph mag? Im thinking about going weekend worrior on a skimmer this weekend. Dont have the =cash to buy the mr2 just yet, and need something PRONTO>...


Also i have found that 1/4 drip irrigation tubing is cheaper and works just as good as the $$ airline tubing.

[wharyat]

I'd bump it up to 5/16 tubing, 1/4 should still work tho.

[wharyat]

Finally got done with the cad design, pipe sizes can be de/increased as necessary.

[yardboy]

Nice drawing. It doesn't seem to have any kind of water column adjustment, like an outlet valve? How'd you decide where to put the outlet so it was in the right place, and how does it react when you feed or stick your hand in the tank?

I'll never forget the first time I saw skimmate appear in my collection cup. DIY forever.

[wharyat]

Nope no adjustment valve, I decided to put the outlet as close to the top of the 3" as I could. The compression fitting on the cup gives me 3 or so inches to adjust for skimmate collection. Sticking my hand in the tank doesn't affect it much, but feeding makes it skim pretty heavy, not for too long tho.

[VWD]

Nice Skimmer , Looks like it works well.


Vince

[DAC]

can it be alot shorter? or will it affect the production of the skimmer?

[Casey]

Very nice drawing dude!

[wharyat]

Thanks for the drawing compliments, just threw it together to help anybody.

Originally Posted by DAC

can it be alot shorter? or will it affect the production of the skimmer?

At first i did try it shorter but i had huge problems with microbubbles, If you do try it shorter you should increase the main pipe diameter and put a secondary tube in like on Geoff's old design. You could also try and experiment with a dual or triple chamber design.