6" RandyStacyE Style Skimmer ... Ghettofied - Page 7

kookerson · #**151** 05/25/2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kookerson
Well, Im gonna try to lower the tee so that I can get the water level a little bit lower.....and if that doesnt work, maybe Ill just throw in the towel and turn it back to a regular skimmer........

OK.....so i lowered the tee and it looks like Im getting way better results. Not sure if it was lowering the TEE that did it or if it was me messing with the pump, but it looks like its doing its job now.......... however, the airline tubing is making this ridiculous slurping sound, what should I do about that? Its Driving me NUTS! Also, I dont have anything alive in my tank........just salt, R/O water and any small amount of dirt that was left on my hands after washing them.......should I be getting any results at all from the skimmer?

RandyStacyE · #**152** 05/25/2007, 08:43 PM

That's the easiest and cheapest part of the whole deal

http://www.randystacye.com/diy_venturi_silencer.htm

I'd stick with the PVC Silencer ... they work perfectly.

kookerson · #**153** 05/25/2007, 08:58 PM

Right on! Thanks for the link.........so, what about the skimmer producing anything?

RandyStacyE · #**154** 05/25/2007, 09:42 PM

Did you check out that little video ... it kinda demonstrates the elimination of God awful slurping

If this is a NEW tank then you won't need a skimmer for a while ... nothing to skim. It's good that you dove right into building your own though. I got reamed on my first few skimmers then I decided to build my own.

kookerson · #**155** 05/25/2007, 10:14 PM

Yes its brand new.....I Just fired up all the plumbing yesterday! Other than the slurping, everything looks like its working good! Ill try to check the video later.........the internet is RIDICULOUSLY slow for some reason!

kookerson · #**156** 05/26/2007, 01:56 PM

Wow, the slurping in that Video is HORRIBLE, what a difference that silencer makes! Im gonna try to make that silencer today, thanks for the link!

kookerson · #**157** 05/26/2007, 09:44 PM

I just got done making one of those silencers and that is quite easily the best 60 cents Ive ever spent! What a difference!

RandyStacyE · #**158** 05/26/2007, 10:51 PM

That silencer is why my wife lets me have a skimmer

kookerson · #**159** 05/26/2007, 11:37 PM

My wife is what persuaded me to get the silencer : )

coyoteseven · #**160** 05/26/2007, 11:38 PM

Wanting to sleep in peace made me rig my pill bottle silencer.

cdentii1 · #**161** 09/10/2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by coyoteseven
I should have remembered that from my 8th grade shop class.

They say the memory is the first thing to go... ... ...

They say the memory is the first thing to go...
Well I hate to tell you but thats not true....
And I would tell ya, but I can't remember....

Keelay · #**162** 09/11/2007, 12:49 AM

Silencer. Got one. Love it.

KD9RG · #**163** 12/20/2007, 01:22 PM

Where did you get the PVC nipples?? I am having a hard time finding them. Thanks Mike/KD9RG

RandyStacyE · #**164** 12/20/2007, 03:51 PM

Most just use a short length of PVC pipe.

KD9RG · #**165** 12/21/2007, 06:21 AM

to go through the 6" pvc ?? Otherwise I was going to order the rubber seals that you used.

Btw, Nice design!! When I was at lowes getting parts I wondered how long you spent looking at PVC pieces before you realized that if you turned a floor drain upsidedown it would work perfect for the dome.

coyoteseven · #**166** 12/21/2007, 09:44 PM

I found the nipples in the sprinkler pipe section of HD, if that will help. They're dark grey in color.

KD9RG · #**167** 12/21/2007, 10:23 PM

cool. I have about given up finding a gate valve here in Indy. called every suppy house. Been to a couple of Ace Hardwares and no good either. I am going to try a ball valve and see how that works out. Btw, you and Randy both did awesome jobs with the different designs.
Using the pipes to thread the PVC was a great idea. Finding the PVC nipples has been a challenge, I am just going to cut up a threaded street 90 and use it. I am off to Walmart for a waste cup tomorrow and hopefully by Sunday I'll be skimming.
What did you end up doing with the conection from the skimmer to the waste cup? Did you use the shower drain fitting? Thanks Mike/KD9RG

GuySmilie · #**168** 12/22/2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KD9RG
cool. I have about given up finding a gate valve here in Indy.

In Indy check here.

KD9RG · #**169** 12/22/2007, 07:17 AM

Yeah, I did find them at Premium, but I did not want to pay a PREMIUM price. I can ship it out of Florida for $15. Thanks for the info though. Mike/KD9RG

RandyStacyE · #**170** 12/22/2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KD9RG
Where did you get the PVC nipples?? I am having a hard time finding them. Thanks Mike/KD9RG

Sorry DK9RG,

I didn't realize you meant threaded PVC nipples. Most hardware stores have them.

KD9RG · #**171** 12/23/2007, 03:45 PM

I found them at another hardware store today. I got the skimmer finished and it was more like a volcano than a skimmer. The Sedra pump is going to require the 1.25 output like your design. I could choke the input to the pump down and it wanted to settle down. Oh well. Back t the hardware store.....Mike.KD9RG