WHy a box on beckett skimmers

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 11:53 AM

Why is it a box on the bottom of beckett skimmers (ie MRC)

cost, mass producation ease, actual performance?

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 12:16 PM

The Box on the bottom allows the beckett nozzles to be mounted vertically becide the uplift tube,.. then they can have the drain right under the uplift tube along with it's associated elbow,.. I think that's why they do it.

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 01:27 PM

But could you have the beckett tube going down into the actual uplift tube, like this skimmer

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dyn...f/ventskim.gif

You would have to off center the tube for the collection cup, but have the beckett running vertically where the venturi is now (the 90 degree woudl be above the beckett)

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 01:29 PM

Well for a beckett the design would have to be different than that,. but yeah you could I guess,... though the box takes away allot of 90's and makes for a bulkhead type connection which to me seems better.

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 01:35 PM

How would it have to be different?

I am looking to make sometign like that. But minus the venturi. I could make the outside tube rather large.

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 01:44 PM

well,.. You wouldn't want to blast the water into a larger tube like that and direct it almost to the top of the neck,.. I don't like that skimmer generally for any type,.. the bubbles should be in the large outer tube,.. more contact with them and the water plus less turbulance.

I think making a DIY skimmer you would be better off copying one of the PM or MRC models because we know they work.

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 01:46 PM

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phishy

Pm?

No,... let's talk about this here if you want to talk about it,.. that way everyone gets to see it.

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 01:49 PM

So lose the 2nd chamber and go from Beckett to outer chamber and don't take it all the way to the bottom, say only a inch or 2 in from the top of a 13in body and let it swirl in that?

I can get up to 12in diameter clear PVC, so my "box" could be round

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 01:51 PM

PM as in skimmer, I know MRC.

not PM as in private message although I did send you one before that

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 01:53 PM

Yes,.. but it's straight up isn't it? The advantage of the box is it extends past the acrilic round chamber allowing you to install the beckett's vertically into the box, then they can go into the box, rebound off the bottom and head up the tube while the drain sits on the very bottom of the box under the tube. There is a director in PM models to direct the water coming in up the tube, the MRC does not have this but it is a Mod.

Your way will work, I just see it as involving allot of 90's, and a high stress fitting where that goes into the acrillic tube,.. if you put too much force on that I think it would easily break loose.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phishy

PM as in skimmer, I know MRC.

not PM as in private message although I did send you one before that

Oh,.. PM= Precision Marine,.. it's the other big Beckett skimmer maker. The designs of both are very simaler between the MRC and PM.

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Yes,.. but it's straight up isn't it? The advantage of the box is it extends past the acrilic round chamber allowing you to install the beckett's vertically into the box, then they can go into the box, rebound off the bottom and head up the tube while the drain sits on the very bottom of the box under the tube. There is a director in PM models to direct the water coming in up the tube, the MRC does not have this but it is a Mod.

Whiskey

Bare with me cause I am not getting this...how is this, I will installing the beckett vertically into the large circular chamber 8-12 inch diameter (forget about the medium chamber and tube from beckett going to near the bottom it will stop shortly inside the larger tube) and then have the collection cup running off off it next to it with a drain at the bottom. I can't see the diverters in the precison marine.

So it will be basically a MRC but the "box" will be round. Is there anything wrong with a round box.

Wiskey · 03-20-2008, 02:12 PM

Are you talking about taking a 12" peice of tube, and putting a top on it, then gluing a 8" round acrillic tube to the top plate and using that as the riser for the skimmer?

Whiskey

Phishy · 03-20-2008, 02:14 PM

The reason I am asking in I can get large diameter clear pvc and woudl only have to seal 2 ends, versus trying to make a box.