My Beast DIY Skimmer!!! - Page 2

OneDummHikk · 03-23-2008, 06:46 PM

I am going to try to use one of the ones I have and if they won't work, I know what to hunt now

One thing I don't understand is if the quietone2200 is supposed to be capable of 900lph of air, why was the air pump needed? That confuses me.

Jnicho · 03-23-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

I am going to try to use one of the ones I have and if they won't work, I know what to hunt now

One thing I don't understand is if the quietone2200 is supposed to be capable of 900lph of air, why was the air pump needed? That confuses me.

Because the schmuck puttin' it together couldn't get the venturi right on the first 27 tries!!! I also think the stock impeller was a problem. I mod'ed a stock to make it needlewheel style, I might still try the mesh.

This is the stock impeller:

Here is what the mesh impeller looks like...

And here is the venturi intake setup off of an ATI skimmer (notice how close to the pump body the air intake is and also the reducer on the water intake):

reefermike1 · 03-23-2008, 07:40 PM

had no idea that sicce and quietone pumps were the same... where did u find that out if u dont mind me asking??

nice diy skimmer!

Jnicho · 03-23-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefermike1

had no idea that sicce and quietone pumps were the same... where did u find that out if u dont mind me asking??

nice diy skimmer!

I found out from a local reefer buddy with an SMX skimmer...I had a quiteone and he said "boy that looks a lot like the pump on my skimmer"...when I took a closer look I found the front cover, impeller magnet, ceramic shaft, etc. where all the same. The main difference are that the quietone has a pretty blue shroud (woohoo) and they are made to move water not air...on the sicce "skimmer" models they use the mesh instead of a reg impeller and have an air line in the front housing along with a reducer to create the venturi. It's not hard to drill a hole for an airline and slip in a piece of 1/2" pipe to reduce the intake opening. I did find I needed to add a valve to control the air flow...with large diameter air line wide open the pump will sometimes stall. I think the ATI skimmers also come with some type of air valve to tune the air intake.

FWIW, after doing some more research I found that Sicce does OEM work for Tunze Master, Quietone & ATI.

Jnicho · 03-25-2008, 12:25 AM

Skimmate update:

I drained the excess gunk off the cup last night before bed...here is the cup tonight after 24 hours or skimming (only foam because the liquid drains to a gallon jug):

And here is 24 hours worth of liquid in the jug...I didn't measure it but its a gallon container if that helps...could be a little darker, but not a bad start for the first couple of days:

aquawolf · 03-25-2008, 06:47 AM

That beast is doing great for only a couple of days.

Jnicho · 03-25-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquawolf

That beast is doing great for only a couple of days.

Yea...I'm pretty stoked about it...it seems to be doing at least as well as some of "fancy" off the shelf units I've right after they are setup.

b16drag · 03-25-2008, 12:06 PM

Now go mesh mod it!

OneDummHikk · 03-25-2008, 09:45 PM

Now, I KNOW I am going to build one. That thing is awesome! Congrats on it.

Jnicho · 03-25-2008, 09:49 PM

I think I would make it a larger diameter if I did it again, I did this size because I had the clear acrylic already.

Also I would like to find a gate valve instead of the ball I have now...I think fine tuning adjustments would be easier.

OneDummHikk · 03-25-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jnicho

I think I would make it a larger diameter if I did it again, I did this size because I had the clear acrylic already.

Also I would like to find a gate valve instead of the ball I have now...I think fine tuning adjustments would be easier.

I have two skimmers that were given to me that were broken. I am going to try to let the acrylic dictate my size (to an extent) and use the larger collection cup off of one of them. I think I have access to all of the stuff to make one that is 6" in diameter without having to buy a whole lot.

Just start with a plain pump, see how it does, then mod it so that I can see what effect the mods have and figure out which ones are good mods to do and some that could potentially not be worth the effort.

Jnicho · 03-25-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

I have two skimmers that were given to me that were broken. I am going to try to let the acrylic dictate my size (to an extent) and use the larger collection cup off of one of them. I think I have access to all of the stuff to make one that is 6" in diameter without having to buy a whole lot.

Just start with a plain pump, see how it does, then mod it so that I can see what effect the mods have and figure out which ones are good mods to do and some that could potentially not be worth the effort.

Modding the impeller was the big one for me...much finer bubbles in the chamber that way...I think I will try the mesh down the road...that seems to be a good way to go.

And 6" should be awesome!!!

OneDummHikk · 03-25-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jnicho

Modding the impeller was the big one for me...much finer bubbles in the chamber that way...I think I will try the mesh down the road...that seems to be a good way to go.

And 6" should be awesome!!!

I talked to my brother today and he thinks he has about 20' of 6" PVC. He won't be sure until tomorrow. It is his house I am going to in Alabama to build all my stuff at (he has room that I don't for my tools). If he has it, I would only have to buy fittings and go from there.

I have an idea for the inlet though that I have never read about. When you use the tee, the water is going in and then has to go through the 90 to start its journey. I am wondering what would happen if you had a 6" pipe and drilled a hole, off center, pointing slightly downward, if it would help or hurt the skimmer.

If the blue is the current inlet, it is centered. If you offset it (as the red is), then it would hit the side of the pipe and it would seem to be more efficient in getting a vortex flow going. I know the blue has an elbow on it but I am still wondering if the idea with the red is worth it or not. I may try it just to see how it does. I have the stuff to drill the hole and seal it up. It would also negate the cost of all the fittings to get the inlet pipe into the skimmer. Would make it harder (no, impossible) to change the flow direction though.

Jnicho · 03-25-2008, 10:24 PM

I forgot about that, but that is something else I would change if I had to do it over. I think you could accomlish the same thing by putting a 45 elbow on the "blue" inlet instead of a 90.

OneDummHikk · 03-25-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jnicho

I forgot about that, but that is something else I would change if I had to do it over. I think you could accomlish the same thing by putting a 45 elbow on the "blue" inlet instead of a 90.

You would change the 90 to a 45 or change the inlet position? I am going to try one in the next few weeks and will post pictures of it and how well it does. If the offset inlet doesn't work right, I can always cut that part out (keeping it low/high) and put the tee set up in it.