DIY Skimmer Design

[Toast_Man]

Hello all fellow DIY'ers

I am currently looking at constructing a DIY skimmer as per the attached design. THis is just an Idea that I came up with for a skimmer design and seeing as I am new to the DIY skimmer design world I thought I would post the basic design to see what the collective brain may have to say. The skimmer would be powered with a RIO or similar pump modified as per this link http://saltaquarium.about.com/pets/saltaquarium/library/weekly/aa091099.htm

The dimentions for 1 & 2(the drawing is not quite correct this should be to the top of the 3" portion) are not yet decided and any input would be apreciated. everything except for the 4" tube is going to be made out of white PVC and the 4" section out of clear PVC (I may make only the top 12" or so out of clear PVC in order to save $$)

Thanks in advance for your help.

Joel

This is my first attempt at posting an image so here goes!!! :)

ok thanks for al your patience, lets hope this works!! (4th try) :D
http:\\www.topcities.com\family\jagreef\img9.gif

here is the link to this picture just in case http://www.topcities.com/family/jagreef/img9.gif

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:D -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- :D
Good Judgement Comes from experience.

Experience comes from bad judgement.

[This message has been edited by Toast_Man (edited 05-30-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Toast_Man (edited 05-31-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Toast_Man (edited 05-31-2000).]

[Toast_Man]

What am I doing wrong??

the image posted fine at work?

[Toast_Man]

Originally posted by Toast_Man:
Hello all fellow DIY'ers

I am currently looking at constructing a DIY skimmer as per the attached design. THis is just an Idea that I came up with for a skimmer design and seeing as I am new to the DIY skimmer design world I thought I would post the basic design to see what the collective brain may have to say. The skimmer would be powered with a RIO or similar pump modified as per this link http://saltaquarium.about.com/pets/saltaquarium/library/weekly/aa091099.htm

The dimentions for 1 & 2(the drawing is not quite correct this should be to the top of the 3" portion) are not yet decided and any input would be apreciated. everything except for the 4" tube is going to be made out of white PVC and the 4" section out of clear PVC (I may make only the top 12" or so out of clear PVC in order to save $$)

Thanks in advance for your help.

Joel

This is my first attempt at posting an image so here goes!!! :)
C:\My Documents\Skimmer2.jpg

[Larry M]

T-Man--I don't have any advice for you on your skimmer, it's on thing I've never built. On the picture posting: You are providing a link that resides on your computer: C:\My Documents\Skimmer2.jpg

This won't work, for the UBB software (this board) the picture has to be published on the net somewhere.

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Larry M

Visit Reef Stores.com (http://63.75.34.139/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi?) The liaison between hobbyists and on-line retailers.

See my tanks at Northern Reef (http://www.reefcentral.com/northernreef/index.htm)

[Toast_Man]

I can't seem to get this to work, if anyone is interested in taking a look at my design you can e-mail me at joel.goldsney@total-control.com,
please cc joel_goldsney@hotmail.com

tks

Joel

[Toast_Man]

Thanks SOOOOOOOO mutch for your patience everyone.

I finaly managed to get that pic up that I mentioned.

Here is the link to my "new" and very empty web site which I hastily created so that I could get the skimmer picture posted.
www.topcities.com\family\jagreef (http://www.topcities.com\family\jagreef)

Thanks Again,
;)
Joel

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[Afishianado]

Hey Joel,
I saw the picture of your design. I am currently building my 4th skimmer so I have somerecommendations for you if you want them. These are from problems that I experienced building some of my other skimmers. Unions can be your best friend. They allow you to take the thing apart for cleaning or to easily change the design if it doesn't work just how you would like. I know they can be expensive but it is cheaper than scrapping what you have because you glued the whole thing together and need to change something inside. Something you need to be able to vary is the height of the return lift tube since
that sets the water level in the skimmer, it may take a few tries to get right. Address the issue of getting the thing to stand up before you build it. I ended up having to strap a particularly large skimmer contraption to a big wooden frame I had to build,it ended up taking up too much space. When you build it, be sure it is level, if the riser column is not level the foam will redisolve back into fluid and you won't be able to get that separation to collect it. Let me know how it goes and if you are interested I will give you some info on my new skimmer as I complete it. This one is based on the Beckett foam jet like the
HSA skimmer uses. I kind of blended this design out of my own previous attempts and
checking out all the DIY sites I could find on the web. My big pet peeve was making it so
I could build the thing out of parts I could buy without having to cut them and modify them and all that hassle. So this one (if it works) could be built by anyone that can get
to a Home Depot. See ya

Chris

[Toast_Man]

Chris,

Thanks for your reply. Your skinmmer plans sound kind of like what I wanted to achieve.

I would be interested in any plans or insight you may have.

Thanks


Joel