Cheap and easy surface skimmer.... - Page 2

SMS76 · #26 07/30/2006, 09:36 AM

What did you use to cut the pipe in half? I am guessing it has to be accurate.
Also what ABS means?

despot101 · #27 07/30/2006, 10:23 AM

I got the float switch from a Grainger branch location.
http://www.grainger.com

And to cut the ABS I just used a handsaw. It wasn't perfectly straight, but the silicon helped make up for that.
ABS stands for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene. You can get it at Menards, Lowes, HomeDepot.

rljlll · #28 07/30/2006, 02:33 PM

there are so many which did you pick

despot101 · #29 07/30/2006, 07:13 PM

Honestly I cannot even remember. I've been using it for 3 years.

rljlll · #30 07/30/2006, 08:08 PM

oh ok i have heard that the black pipe releases toxins but the white and the grey electrical is ok though any thoughts

despot101 · #31 07/30/2006, 08:47 PM

There was a thread here on RC I read where basically for every person that said it was toxic, there was another person who had used ABS for years without problems.

bklynmet · #32 07/30/2006, 09:13 PM

Great idea. I've been wanting to setup at 5-10g nano for the office - I can now put my skilter overflow to use instead of collecting dust.

larryl · #33 07/31/2006, 08:05 PM

I think that quarter-circle would work great for a coast-to-coast style overflow. You really don't need to cut any teeth in it - all that does is decrease the available length for skimming by about half. With a smooth rim, it will skim the entire length, and the thickness of the surface layer that gets skimmed will be only half as thick (for the same amount of flow).

Quote:

Originally posted by CoolUsername
This is kind of like what I was thinking:

I would cut teeth into the top edge (long straight). I think this is the perfect material for this application. And I guess I have more tools to work with it than the alternatives.

CoolUsername · #34 08/17/2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by despot101
There was a thread here on RC I read where basically for every person that said it was toxic, there was another person who had used ABS for years without problems.

I'm one of those that is usually pretty cautionary. I've read the posts and don't worry about ABS. I have used ABS for various things. Mainly because it is black. Second it is cheap. Third it is less dense than water (It floats) PVC is more dense than water (sinks) Sometimes that is useful.

Most of the claims supporting the myth (no one has verified this to my knowledge) is that ABS is not NSF certified. NSF stands for National Sanitation Foundation. That scares people for some reason.

On the surface it would seem that picking only NSF certified materials would be an easy rule to follow to remain safe. The problem is if you did that you wouldn't be able to have silicone seals, o-rings, sand, rock, electrical cords, ceramic impeller shafts, biowheels, filter socks, or egg crate in the tank/sump. Since none of the materials going into these are certified and most could never be certified.

NSF wants to make sure that the materials used are food safe. That means among other things, that the material cannot harbor bacteria. Is anyone in the reef hobby worried about keeping bacteria off of and out of materials in the tank? On the contrary, we design the system so it can and will harbor bacteria. The NSF certification is has a different set of goals.

Anyways I'm rambling, but I haven't worried about it.

despot101 · #35 08/17/2006, 05:33 AM

The abs I used has NSF printed right on it.

CoolUsername · #36 08/18/2006, 02:38 AM

What was the ABS you used? The ABS that most people use is drainpipe from HD. This won't have an NSF label on it.

despot101 · #37 08/19/2006, 09:55 AM

I just picked it up at a small hardware store.

latazyo · #38 08/19/2006, 10:19 AM

nice work brandon, you're always leading the way in innovation

despot101 · #39 08/20/2006, 08:56 AM

doing my best man.

SMS76 · #40 08/25/2006, 09:46 AM

How is your overflow design working out?

Cuervo · #41 08/25/2006, 03:38 PM

Great idea!

I'd like to add one to my 46 Bowfront, but I'd hate to tear the whole thing down just for that. Any ideas on a way to attach it with the tank still full of water?

Will silicone cure under water?

I wonder if just piling a bunch of rock against it would be good enough, it doesn't have to be absolutely watertight for it to still work well does it?

despot101 · #42 08/25/2006, 09:07 PM

So far it's working great. No surface scum and the top-off works perfectly. I'll definately be using this design in any future tanks I setup.

Cuervo, I don't think the silicone would cure wet, and I can't really say for sure on the seal. I think between the rocks and the pressure of the water it would pretty much stay in place.

Cuervo · #43 08/25/2006, 10:35 PM

Something you said earlier inspired me...

you said "one type of PVC floats"

I started thinking.. the overflow doesn't really have to be attacked to the tank at all.

I'm going to try this tomorrow:

Take the piece of ABS, and stick an edcap on it, cut it to the length of my intake on my HOB skimmer. Cut the teeth for the overflow on the other end. I think a couple of short pieces of 1/2 in PVC with end caps glued on and stuck to the top should be able to keep the thing from sinking.(mini-pontoons) Then just let it float in place with the skimmer intake inside it.

If it works, I don't even have to worry about the water level dropping a little.

I'll put it together tomorrow and see what happens. I guess my biggest question is how I'll get the balance between the skimmer cavitating and the thing overflowing totally. Won't know until I try.

Thanks again for the great idea!!

amiricle · #44 08/25/2006, 10:56 PM

hey, this looks great. Sorry if this is a dumb question but how exactly does this reduce skum? i always see teeth cut out but i never knew there purpose. Does the skum get stuck behind the teeth?

MJAnderson · #45 08/25/2006, 11:52 PM

The teeth are just so a fish or snail doesn't end up in your overflow, potentially blocking the drain or kiling the animal. Some people use a solid top and use 1" of gutter guard or similiar.

amiricle · #46 08/26/2006, 12:06 AM

so how does this reduce skum?

CoolUsername · #47 08/26/2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by amiricle
so how does this reduce skum?

Scum floats. When it floats it accumulates in a thin layer on surface of the water. Surface skimming is designed to pull this thin layer off the top of the aquarium display tank so that the scum can be filtered in the protein skimmer.

The use of teeth technically reduces the surface skimming a little. Some people don't use teeth at all as a previous poster stated. The point here is that without the teeth a thinner layer is transferred into the overflow box, thus more scum. People who don't use teeth use other creative means to keep critters out of the overflow box.

amiricle · #48 08/26/2006, 12:26 AM

thank you for the info

Gordonious · #49 09/10/2006, 10:28 PM

I've seen sooooo many designs and have not come across this one until tonight. I like it. Worth looking into.

Cuervo definitely let us know how that goes.

Jon

FallenElement · #50 09/11/2006, 01:41 PM

I know this is a dumb question but i cant find it anywhere. How do you mod an AC to be a ref and filter? what exactly needs to be done to it?