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#1
12/14/2007, 03:27 PM
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How hard is it to make a skimmer?
I have been looking for about a month now for a skimmer for my new 120 and everything seems to look like a tube and a pump. (I know that’s an exaggeration but you get my point) How is it that these things are on occasion over $1000. I just don’t see the intricate and beautiful design here. Is it something more subtle? I can’t seem to do a search of the DIY forums to see what other people say so I thought Id ask you guys.
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If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing. Benjamin Franklin |
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#2
12/14/2007, 03:33 PM
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it isnt too hard, but alot of the more expensive skimmers are made of extrudid acrylic which is very expensive. as well as not that easy to form. but it isnt very hard to make one. there are alot of DIY threads for building them out of PVC "Not see through", plastic tubes and some acrylic tubes. and with some of the skimmers your paying for the names, just like any other highend piece of equitment.
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#3
12/14/2007, 04:05 PM
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I've made a 4 ft tall 10" diameter skimmer and a GEO Calcium reactor with only $90 worth of parts (not including any pumps.) As long as you understand the concepts of how a skimmer works it's a no brainer. You can be very creative.
The key constraints are having the proper tools (ie fine tooth chop saw blade 80+ Teeth and some acrylic cutting and deburring tools, the proper adhesives)
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#4
12/14/2007, 05:12 PM
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I was looking at the octopus mod thread, and I can't figure out why some of these guys don't just buy a pump and make their own.
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#5
12/14/2007, 06:42 PM
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They can be made for sure. Just takes someone with a little skill in working with plastics. I considered doing this myself a while back but ultimately bought a cheap used one, fixed up its broken pump, and didn't bother wasting my time building it. Actually making one would be decently time-consuming
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You will miss 100% of the shots you dont take. Dare to dream Mike, aka Fletch |
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#6
12/14/2007, 07:13 PM
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Re: How hard is it to make a skimmer?
Quote:
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/skimmer101.htm SkiFletch is right- there are FANTASTIC used skimmer bargains out there. You just need to do some legwork and maybe a mod and repair or two.
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some common aquarium nuisances: Bryopsis,Derbesia(hair algae),Cyanobacteria(red slime), Diatoms(golden brown algae), Dinoflagellates(gooey air bubbles),Valonia (bubble algae) |
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#7
12/15/2007, 06:12 PM
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Easy, here are a few links.
http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/vie...r=asc&start=60 http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/vie...t=764&start=60 http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49 |
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#8
12/15/2007, 06:50 PM
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This is one that I made:
http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=390 Yeah, I was in a weird mood.
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