Changed my HOB Skimmer to In-Sump Skimmer!

stereomandan · #1 03/09/2007, 07:44 PM

First of all, I know this is a crappy looking skimmer, but it is getting me by until I buy a good in-sump skimmer. This has maybe been done before, but I thought I'd show you what I did at least.

The skimmer is one that I've had for over 10 years. It's an old US Aquarium model that used a RIO venturi pump to inject air, and it is a Counter Current (CC) style I believe. The contact chamber is quite small. The skimmer is about 20" tall with 4" diameter acrylic. I modded the skimmer a long time ago, and put an airstone inside the reaction chamber hooked to a strong air-pump. This greatly improved the performance, and made it silent. All you hear is the air pump that runs the airstones. I also replaced the RIO pump that came with the skimmer to a MJ400 a LONG time ago.

Modding:
All I did was tie strap a big plastic 10"x10" GLAD container to the bottom of the skimmer so that the skimmer was at the correct water level in my sump. This gave the skimmer a stable footing also. One thing that I really like is that the water from my overflow goes right past the intake of the skimmer pump, so it's catching all the prime water for skimming.

Skimmer after I zip tied the GLAD container to the bottom.

Just started it up in the sump and it looks like it is going to work excellent.

I'll report back tomorrow with a pic of what it pulls out.

Dan

melev · #2 03/12/2007, 05:38 AM

So? You're a few days later reporting back.

stereomandan · #3 03/12/2007, 08:25 PM

Ahh, I tried to take a picture tonight, just about 15 minutes ago actually, and the batteries were dead! I thought about waiting for the batteries to recharge, but cleaned the skimmer cup anyway. The cup was almost full, and I don't have a waste line in my skimmer cup. I didn't want that crap (literally) going back into the tank.

I'll report back in a few days with a picture. I can say that I'm happy with the performance.

Dan