Anyone have a link to DIY skimmer made outa PVC?

maxvan1 · #1 06/03/2005, 07:16 PM

I am not very good at working with acrylic (yet) and I dont have a router or any fancy equiptment. So, I want to build a skimmer for my 75G outa PVC, I searched it but didnt find exactly what i was looking for. So, anyone have a link to a DIY skimmer made outa PVC (or mostly outa PVC?)

Any help or ideas would be nice,
Max

(PS, I want it ro hang on the back.

kgross · #2 06/03/2005, 07:40 PM

If you follow the links at the top of the forum to snailmans DIY skimmer it is an airstone driven counter current skimmer that works very well. I have made a couple of them myself and they work great other than needed a reallly good airpump.

Kim

speakeraddict · #3 06/03/2005, 08:26 PM

I second the snailman skimmers. I have been building that style for years and love them. I am currently running a 30" model on my frag rack and a 48 model on my 55 soon to be on my 125.

speakeraddict

maxvan1 · #4 06/03/2005, 08:35 PM

Do you have a picture of how the air stones get in? (kinda hard to understand that part)

kgross · #5 06/03/2005, 09:02 PM

On Mine, I have the airstones connected to a long piece of ridig airline tubing which is connected to a short piece of hose that is put through a hole in the neck. So to change airstones remove the riser, pull out the tubing, discconect the rigid tubing and pull out the airstone.

I hope this helps.

Kim

speakeraddict · #6 06/03/2005, 10:12 PM

same here.

Works like a charm.

speakeraddict

skinutt · #7 06/04/2005, 07:34 AM

I have a better solution for you.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hlight=skinutt
good luck.. And there are no other pics of this skimmer. I built it a while back and it is still doing a great job. Later...

jaugat · #8 06/04/2005, 11:37 PM

thanks for the link!

speakeraddict · #9 06/05/2005, 07:42 AM

May I ask why you think that is a better solution?

speakeraddict

Paul B · #10 06/05/2005, 08:11 AM

I made a few of these venturi skimmers and sold a few to wholesalers. It is 5' high and is mostly PVC except for a 6" tube of acrylic near the top so I can see the bubbles. I also made the venturi valve for under a dollar. The entire skimmer was less than $10.00 except for the two powerheads that run it. I have been using this one for about 10 years.
Take care.
Paul
top is removed for the picture. The bucket below collects the skimate and shuts the system down via a homemade float switch if it overfills or leaks. It filled once when 24 local urchins spawned at the same time.

skinutt · #11 06/06/2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speakeraddict
May I ask why you think that is a better solution?

speakeraddict

Because he asked for a skimmer made with PVC, and that is what I gave him. Plus, I don't like snailmans skimmers!!!

speakeraddict · #12 06/06/2005, 03:38 PM

Uhmmm... the one I talked about is made out of pvc also. I don't want this to turn into a ****ing contest, but, if you state it is better when someone is asking for input, please list a reason why.

If you compare ease of building, cost and energy consumption. Then compare skimmate output, it is very tough to beat a simple countercurrent pvc skimmer.

speakeraddict

skinutt · #13 06/06/2005, 03:45 PM

Well you started ****ING first.. And I do not like Snailmans skimmers! And they are not that easy to adjust or build. So put that in your pipe and smoke it! I really do not care what you think!

skinutt · #14 06/06/2005, 03:47 PM

And yes, in my opinion the type that I suggested is better!

speakeraddict · #15 06/06/2005, 03:52 PM

First off, grow up.

Second, I asked a simple question as to why it was better and you still haven't answered in qualitative terms as to why.

And, third, the skimmers are not hard to build or adjust at all. As a matter of fact, there is very little adjusting to them needed to get good skimmate production.

I would be sorry to have offended you if I could understand why you took offense, but, that is not what this thread is about.

The person asked a simple question and should have gotten simple answers.

This is why there is so darn much drama on this board. Folks like you getting yourself bent out of shape over nothing.

BTW, I smoke camel lights not a pipe!

speakeraddict

bshumake · #16 06/06/2005, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skinutt
I have a better solution for you.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hlight=skinutt
good luck.. And there are no other pics of this skimmer. I built it a while back and it is still doing a great job. Later...

Now that is one crafty skimmer! I wonder... would this be able to take a Beckett? And if so would raising the height make it work for a 160?
This one might be fun to make for the Sits and giggles of it.

skinutt · #17 06/06/2005, 04:01 PM

Let me **** some more! How would you know if my design is harder to build? Have you built it? I have built one of snailsmans. Energy consumption? I ran the same pumps on both skimmers, doh, cost the same. Skimmate, hmm very little with the CC cause it was to hard to adjust. My design skimmate every day, just like clock work. There is no reason why I should have to list these reasons why I think one solution is better than the other, but since you called me out, I did.

skinutt · #18 06/06/2005, 04:04 PM

Why did you even ask in the first place, if you already knew that it was my opinion that mine was better?

Keep throwing those lungs darts!

skinutt · #19 06/06/2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bshumake
Now that is one crafty skimmer! I wonder... would this be able to take a Beckett? And if so would raising the height make it work for a 160?
This one might be fun to make for the Sits and giggles of it.

Never tried it with a beckett design, but I am sure it would be fun to mess around with. For a 160 I would raise the height and Add another pump with venturi! Later And good luck..