Mixing eductor-driven fractionation

[smoothmove]

Looks something like the Mote Aquarium's setup!

[galleon]

Have you been there lately?

[smoothmove]

Yeah, with the Tampabay Reef society. I just moved up here to Hell, I mean New Jersey.


I saw a similar setup there.



Thanks,
Stan

[galleon]

You have a good eye then, because it is Mote. I'm staff there.

(None of the opinions expressed here represent those of MML unless otherwise expressed).

[H2OENG]

Why the 2" tee? Have you tried smaller, say 1" tees? Seems it would reduce bulkiness.
OTOH, the 2" gives the eductor plenty of air to breathe.
$0.02
Chris

[LeeU]

I'm wondering if this skimmer is so efficent, what would be the proper size for a 180 gallon tank? Could one get by with a smaller skimmer? Would a 1/2 scale version running at 600 gph be about right for a 180?? Thanks LeeU

[LeeU]

Questions
I have a few questions for galleon or some one that has built galleon’s eductor/skimmer combo.

Questions about the eductor:

1) galleon stated that he cut most of the ½” hose barb off, is there an actual dimension?

2) What is the ID dimension of the hose barb as they vary?

3) What is the gap between the trimmed hose barb and the bottom Ύ” to Ύ” slip union? In the drawing of the educator it appears that the there is a gap and the tip of the hose barb is lined up on the bottom of the 1” air intake elbow, BUT in the actual picture of the eductor it appears the tip of the hose barb is inserted down into the bottom Ύ” to Ύ” slip union.

Questions about the skimmer:

1) What is the dimension for the top and bottom 4.5” diameter acrylic tubes from the 4” to 2” reducer unions to the 4” tee (not including what slips inside the PVC fittings)?

2) What is the dimension from the top 4” to 2” reducer union to the bottom of the first elbow on the waste collector?

3) Could you make a “U” shape out of elbows to re-direct the top pointing tube on the waste collector set up back down into the sump just in case something clogs or blocks the other tube?

4)I read this thing is nosey; could one put a muffler of some type on the eductor air inlet?

[Stoney Reef]

Use a 1/2" barb for 1/2" ID hose, usually grey in color. and better built than the white polypropelene ones. The gap is about the size of a couple of playing cards. You trim enough off to get the appropriate gap, but yet have it all setting together nice and pretty.


The top acrylic piece I used a 24" total length. The bottom piece I used about 16" or do the mod that galleon suggests and use a 4X4X2 T into a closed closet flange on the bottom to get it to sit flat.

[galleon]

"3) Could you make a “U” shape out of elbows to re-direct the top pointing tube on the waste collector set up back down into the sump just in case something clogs or blocks the other tube?"

Sure, you could, but I really wouldn't worry about it clogging. The main reason the tee is there is to prevent a siphon from forming at the skimmer top and thus siphoning water into the collection cup.

[Turtlespd]

I have been thinking of making this type of skimmer just to compare with the past few i have made for reference and i cant get passed the enductor. The grey piece inside the iductor, is that a hose barb trimed? If so how much of it is trimmed off? If you have a pic of all the parts unassembled but lined up that would be really nice. I understand the housing but the portion with the grey thing and how it is held togeather is where i get lost. Is the whole unit push tite togeather or glued?

Paul

[wanareef]

That was my quandry as well, if the unit is shoved together or glued up. But if glued up then it couldn't be taken apart for cleaning.

[snazlord]

i'm almost done constructing this skimmer, homemade eductor and all. I did a freshwater test outside prior to gluing it together. seems to work pretty well except that the bubbles were pretty big compared to all the pics i've seen.

Could this be because i was using clean, fresh water? Does that make a difference? I tried adjusting the height of the water level relative to the eductor as well as throttling the pump up or down - those adjustments did affect the amount of bubbles, but not the size, which remained pretty big throughtout the test.

will the bubbles be smaller in salt water with lot's of dissolved organics?

[mnreefgeek]

I think that once you goto salt water the size of the bubbles will be more of what you expected to get.

[Geoff]

yes, the bubbles will stay smaller. they will not form bigger ones like they do in fresh. i had the same problem when i tested my setup also. the DOM attaches rapidly to the bubbles keeping them small. I also believe the surface tension is greater in SW than in FW.

hth,

G~

[snazlord]

thanks for the replys. and whew!! that's what i thought (and hoped). This homemade eductor is a great idea. pics will be forthcoming