Start of 80gal Build

[wanareef]

It'll have all the fittings so no more drilling of holes once it's up and running, that's already in the plans. An idea, I can have one pump be the feed pump and the other recirculate - don't have to worry about adding another feed pump.

Just need more practice making those cones, this is the 2nd one today, first one cracked trying to take it out of the mold.

[wanareef]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

Theres no way I would run becketts on that skimmer though. The design isn't very beckett friendly.

If I ran the Beckett's it would be a clone of the MR-2R Recirculating Protein Skimmer [MR-2R] (see pix)

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by wanareef

It'll have all the fittings so no more drilling of holes once it's up and running, that's already in the plans. An idea, I can have one pump be the feed pump and the other recirculate - don't have to worry about adding another feed pump.

If you make it recirculating, there will only ever be one feed pump. Never two unless you just had some perverse desire to use two. The recirc pumps are where the air comes from and the water movement. Its the main benefit of a recirc design is to be able to seperate feed and air injection through two pumps.

Trying to have one pump recirc with the other being the feed pump and later turning it into two recirc pumps is going to require 2 more holes. Its late and I am going to bed but will post a lot more about this tomorrow.

[wanareef]

It must be late.

The holes will be there as if I will be running 2 pumps for recirc. But since it's only an 80gal, I can block off a hole for one pump and use it for the feed pump.

[OneDummHikk]

That's what I thought about last night after I laid down. Instead of doing that, simply set it up as if it were running dual pumps with a feed pump. Three pumps, 6 holes. The inlets/outlets for the recirc pumps and the feed pump is going to be different and trying to run in the place of the other is going to hurt the performance. If you build it as a dual recirc pump with a feed pump, you could simply not put the second pump on there. If you turn the unions to be able to do it, you would need one extra union to create the "block" loop for it. If you planned it right, if/when you upgrade and need the second recirc pump, you could use the "block" setup to be able to take a pump off line for maintenance, install the block loop, leave the skimmer running while you do maintenance on the pump.

Just don't try to use the recirc pump locations for a feed pump or vice versa. They have different requirements on where the best place to pull, input water is.

[wanareef]

More work on the stand, paneled, caulked and painted. Made some of my own moulding today, didn't like the type or the price that Lowes or HD had so i cut down some 1x2's and 2x4's.

I used Wainscoat panneling from Lowes and finished the top of the stand with a coma type moulding I made, to cover the top of the wainscoat, be the same thickness.

We has some left over paint and Iused that up for the inside of the stand, really like that green thought. Just have to finish the corners and then start on the doors.

That white is dense foam for the tank and sump.

[wanareef]

Almost forgot, cut this bad boy today while making moulding, 10" cast acrylic tube for the skimmer body. It'll be a clone of the Deltic AP1003 and AP1004 but with 2x Sedra 9000's w/mesh mod

Last years price was $ 65/ft

[aquawolf]

The woodworking on the stand looks good and that should be one heck of a skimmer when you are done with it. Thanks for the update.

[wanareef]

Thanks

More to come, especially on the skimmer.

[OneDummHikk]

The stand looks nice. Nothing quite like cutting your own moulding and getting exactly what you want, it fits perfectly, and nobody else has it. I cut all the moulding on my 12 and 90 gallon stands. I also like painting the inside of the stand. It helps with lighting (to me anyway) by reflecting light. My first stand was black on the inside and I swore I would never have anything but a white stand on the inside again.

Can't wait to see the skimmer come together. I am working on a way to make my own tubes 14"-24" by taking 1/4" (or thicker) acrylic, heat it, roll it and then glue the end. It will have the seam in it but I have a way to "hide" it without really trying to hide it. Just accent it. The price of acrylic has gotten to the point where it is almost worth it to try to make my own larger cylinders. 14" tubing 30" long and 1/4" wall is 621 + tax from Freckleface and I can make it for about 100 dollars. I have the stuff to start on a jig to make them just have to have time and my back allow it.