Sponsor Our Community
Go Back   The Reef Tank > Equipment / Methodology related Forums > DIY Forum
Have a question? It's Free!

DIY Forum Share those Do-It-Yourself projects and money saving tips with us here.


Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 12-04-2003, 08:39 PM   #1
Fatamaran
Plankton
 
Fatamaran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 22
Lightbulb

skimmer idea


I've had an idea about a skimmer, its probally already been done but i thought i would throw the idea up anyway. i thought of insead of having a powerhead pushing water through the skimmer, it could be gravity feed. water enters at the top from an overflow, then is released and the bottom, then contines into the sump, or something along thoses lines.
any comments, ideas or thoughts? I wonder if it would work.
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
Fatamaran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 08:41 PM   #2
gregt
Administrator
 
gregt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,753
Images: 51
Reviews: 1
It works quite well with a counter current design. IOW, put an airstone at the bottom and force the air against the water flow....
__________________
-Greg

Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
gregt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 08:49 PM   #3
Fatamaran
Plankton
 
Fatamaran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 22
heres an image of the idea
Attached Images
File Type: jpg untitled.jpg (9.7 KB, 224 views)
Fatamaran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 08:57 PM   #4
gregt
Administrator
 
gregt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,753
Images: 51
Reviews: 1
Should work fine.
__________________
-Greg

Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
gregt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 09:22 PM   #5
thefatman
Shark
 
thefatman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 3,074
Images: 8
i've seen something similar on the web before, and from what i understand, if done properly, works quite well.

if the water is fed from the tank, ran through the skimmer, then into a resivoir with a return pump, you ensure that all of your overflow water is being skimmed.

i think the key, is to havea really good powerful air pump and stone, to inject a good amount of bubbles into the skimmer.

one thing i might consider if i were to try something like that, is to get the water moving in a circular motion, and have it enter more at the top, then at the bottom. the motion could be generated by simply putting an elbow on the end of the water line. and having the airstone all the way at the bottom.

this way, the water is moving down and the air is moving up, like greg suggested.

you'll probably also want a gate valve on the exit hole, to maintain a good water level in the skimmer.

i'll attach a drawing of my modified idea..

note: i've never done it, jsut thinking it through and trying to help improve the plan
Attached Images
File Type: jpg modified.jpg (24.7 KB, 210 views)
__________________
Proud member of the "J" Crowd
Proud Co-Founder of the SRD's
Proud-Macho Member of the MMR club

thefatman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 09:27 PM   #6
Rick O
Good boy
 
Rick O's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,889
Images: 54
Here's one in use:
http://www.geocities.com/horge1218/palanggana.html
__________________
Rick O is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2003, 05:29 AM   #7
Fatamaran
Plankton
 
Fatamaran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 22
thanks for the replies,i was going to use 1/2' pipe to gravity feed the skimmer, is this to much flow or note enough?
Fatamaran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2003, 05:42 AM   #8
gregt
Administrator
 
gregt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,753
Images: 51
Reviews: 1
1/2' (foot) as in 6 inches? if you meant 1/2" (inch) then I don't think that's nearly enough.
__________________
-Greg

Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
gregt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2003, 05:47 AM   #9
Fatamaran
Plankton
 
Fatamaran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 22
sorry 1/2'', ( im from australia, we dont use feet and inches) i thought maybe the 1/2" into the skimmer from a bigger pipe, my tank is only 13 gallons, with a 18 gallon sump i didn't think i would need so much water flow, but im no expert so i woudn't have a clue.
Fatamaran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2003, 05:54 AM   #10
gregt
Administrator
 
gregt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,753
Images: 51
Reviews: 1
Oh. I didn't realize your tank was so small. Honestly I don't think this will work with that small of a water volume. It might though. I don't know.
__________________
-Greg

Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
gregt is offline   Reply With Quote
Comparison Shopping
Hagen Test Kit - Nitrite for Fresh and Salt water

As low as $8

at 8 sellers

Taam Rio 800 PowerheadPump

As low as $19

at 6 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Stress Zyme 1gal

As low as $44

at 7 sellers

Kent Marine Pro Clear Marine Clarifier 16 oz.

As low as $10

at 20 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Spotted / Pajama Cardinalfish

As low as $9

at 9 sellers

Rio 600 or Rio 600RVT Impeller

As low as $7

at 5 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Python Mini Pro-Clean

As low as $4

at 8 sellers

Kent Marine Discus Essential 8 oz.

As low as $6

at 14 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Blue Life USA SPS T5 Compact 48 Inch -54W Surface V-HO Bulb

As low as $25

at 3 sellers

Python X-Large Pro-Clean

As low as $9

at 9 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Aqua Medic Aquarium Tweezers

As low as $15

at 3 sellers

Kent Marine Reef Starter Kit - 4oz each

As low as $9

at 13 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Buffer Max Marine 220g

As low as $5

at 19 sellers

Danner Pro HY-Drive 4800 GPH Water Pump

As low as $240

at 13 sellers

Members with more than 50 posts don't see this bar

Reply

Tags
gravity feed



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Sitemap:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196
Sponsor Our Community

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Our lawyer tells us that, by pressing the "New Thread" or "New Reply" button, you acknowledge that the opinions and information expressed in your article are yours alone and not those of thereeftank.com, dba The Reef Tank. Further, you agree to indemnify The Reef Tank, its moderators, administrators and agents from any and all liability which may arise as a result of your article. (C)opyright 2006 TheReefTank.com
 
close
Sign up for free and join one of the largest communities of saltwater aquarists!
Our members will be glad to help you with anything you need!

Join over 30,000 TRT members!

Email

Email Confirm Email
Username
Password Confirm Password

I agree to the website rules