DIY gravity fed skimmer ?'s

RobinsonFam1 · #1 08/14/2007, 04:56 PM

here's what i have:

*my tank is on main floor and sump is in basement = 14' drop.
*i have about 3500 GPH of flow coming down 2) 1.5" drains.
*also a TON of air comes down the drains with the water.

how can i harness this air/water combination to create a good skimmer?
i was thinking of building something along the lines of an etss downdraft. i have tried several ideas but nothing really great.

any ideas would be appreciated!

thanks!
BR

RichConley · #2 08/14/2007, 05:15 PM

downdraft should work fine.

RobinsonFam1 · #3 08/14/2007, 06:40 PM

any ideas on what size of nozzle/sprayer to use?
neck down to 3/4" hose barb?

stugray · #4 08/14/2007, 10:41 PM

My setup has a 5 gal bucket recirculating skimmer that is fed directly from an overflow.

Here's a pic. In this pic I was still driving the skimmer with a mag pump in the sump. Now it is fed directly from the overflow ( imagine white flex pvc on right going into skimmer where dark green vinyl hose is in pic ).

So one of my two megaflows goes 100% through the skimmer.

Stu

skhle · #5 08/14/2007, 11:22 PM

hey great looking skimmer, do show and tell of plan in detail please!!!

RobinsonFam1 · #6 08/15/2007, 11:42 AM

i like that idea....where did you get a funnel/cone like that and how did you attach it to the HDPE plastic lid?

thanks!

RichConley · #7 08/15/2007, 12:33 PM

Just make sure you do some sort of bypass so if the skimmer starts restricting flow, you dont back up and overflow the tank.

I think you're gonna have to play around with nozzle sizes. I'd run the downdraft instead of a beckett simply because it'll be less likely to cause a flood with unfiltered water.

As to nozzle sizes, you're gonna have to play around here.

stugray · #8 08/15/2007, 12:34 PM

It's all in here:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1017691

I'm not totally pleased with the beckett, so I will try it with a meshmodded Mag 12 soon.

Stu