skimmer cup drain tube

[lilchris]

Has anyone modded their skimmer to drain the skimmate from the collection cup? If so what type of valve did you use? I want to do it w/ my Euro reef. I want to make sure it will not crack when I drill the bottom. Post pic if have some

[jener8tionx]

I was thinking the same thing...it would help with my laziness!

[Turbovinny]

i did it to my octopus skimmer, just go to the store and get 1/4 elbow, valve, and hose. I would of went wider but the bottom of the cup only allow 1/4" elbow. I also used a stepping drill to drill the cup, just drill slow and it wont crack

[lilchris]

Cool thanks. THe only thing is that I have a Euro reef skimmer and I looked up a replacement cup just in case and it is 140 buck. Soo I don't know if I want to risk it. we will see if I have the nerve or not.

[Freed]

I did both of mine with threaded 3/8" JG fittings. Drilled the bottom side of each because of the close proximity of the large union flange you have to unscrew for removal of the cup. Going out the bottom of the cup, the fitting will interfere with the loosening of the union flange.

[RandyStacyE]

If you decide to tap into your cup, you'll find that worst case scenario (if your skimmer ever goes bonkers) you can overflow the waste container and possibly run your sump's return compartment dry (depending on your sump's size).

There’s another cool DIY out there that shuts off the air flow to the skimmer’s air inlet basically shutting down bubble production when the waste container is full. That might be something worth looking into in the future.

I believe they use a ping pong ball inside of some PVC for this. When the waste container gets full, the ball floats up and closes the venturi air inlet hose … hence stopping bubble production.

[lilchris]

Originally posted by RandyStacyE
If you decide to tap into your cup, you'll find that worst case scenario (if your skimmer ever goes bonkers) you can overflow the waste container and possibly run your sump's return compartment dry (depending on your sump's size).

There’s another cool DIY out there that shuts off the air flow to the skimmer’s air inlet basically shutting down bubble production when the waste container is full. That might be something worth looking into in the future.

I believe they use a ping pong ball inside of some PVC for this. When the waste container gets full, the ball floats up and closes the venturi air inlet hose … hence stopping bubble production.

Do you have any pictures of that?

[Freed]

I have mine run to PVC in the basement that goes to the main sewer drain. Can't overflow that!!! PRICELESS!!!

[john rochon]

huh?? if your overflowing your skimmer into the sewer line how is that NOT emptying your sump out?? you should always have the drain into a container IN the sump just in case. this will just overflow the container [collection cup] back into the sump

[Freed]

Why would I want to do that? This way I don't have to empty the cup every few days. Takes care of itself. Pulls out normal amount of skimmate and disposes into the sewer. My skimmer is on the outside of the sump/refugium so never overflows onto the floor this way.

[bori]

I just did this exact mod to my ER CS6-3. I drilled the bottom of the collection cup with a 1/4" wood boring bit (probably not recommended) but it was the only bit I had that was the right size for the quick connect bulkhead fitting (part #0605002 from Savko, $3.17) I installed. I taped the bottom (exterior) of the collection cup with duct tape and drilled slowly from the inside and down. I had to put 2 wood blocks between the collection cup and the neck for clearance while I drilled. The whole process took less than 10 min. but I was afraid I was going to break the cup. The only special thing I did was to let the bit cool off every so often until it went through. The bit also has a point on it prior to fanning out so it drills a pilot hole first. Sorry no pics but it works just fine. I put a regular airline hose from the cup to a bottle that I throw out when it's full. Depending on your model ER, you may of may not have room to work with. Mine was a tight fit, but works just fine. HTH's --Rob--

[dcs03tx]

I installed a 1/2" fitting in the side of my collection cup, about 1" up from the bottom. Works just fine.

[OceansWonders]

Originally posted by Freed
I have mine run to PVC in the basement that goes to the main sewer drain. Can't overflow that!!! PRICELESS!!!

What he is saying is that if you have your skimmer drain into your house drain and the skimmer goes nuts making foam you will empty your sump and have no water returning to the main tank or worse burn the retun pump up because the water has been drained or pumped directy down the house drain becasue of the skimmer overflow. Could ruin your heaters too if they become out of the water.

[Freed]

Really?

[minispider]

Originally posted by Freed
Why would I want to do that? This way I don't have to empty the cup every few days. Takes care of itself. Pulls out normal amount of skimmate and disposes into the sewer. My skimmer is on the outside of the sump/refugium so never overflows onto the floor this way.

that's how i set mine up...i had a couple of gallons spilled due to my cup overfilling and my back up gallon being full also....my salinity went down just a little due to the fact that my ATO was replacing the lost water with fresh water. and I tell you, 2 gallons on your floor go along way...now if for what ever reason it goes crazy it will go down into the sewer.

[RandyStacyE]

Here's a link to a DIY Auto Waste Container:
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/diywaste.htm

[RandyStacyE]

Skimmers do occasionally go bonkers for whatever reason. This doesn't matter much with in sump skimmers, worst case the cup spills back into the skimmer, but as soon as you tap into the collection cup you leave yourself vulnerable to all kinds of possible problems.

There’s obviously nothing wrong with tapping into the cup though and like minispider said … if you have an ATO system and your skimmer goes bonkers you could give the tank a decent dose of fresh water.

If this waste shut off does work … it would solve all types of unforeseeable problems.

[draleigh]

i second randy. i ran my skimmate to an external collection area and it is the ONLY over flow i have had in my tank. I adjusted the skimmer every so slightly and the damn thing went nuts. i came home and it was bubble madness in my display as my return pump was trying to pull what water was left in the sump.

I HIGHLY recommend that you take the time to just empty your cup and clean it.

[flyyyguy]

here is a little trick to drilling even the cheapest of skimmers cups safely.....


glue a piece of acrylic on the bottom of the cup where you want the hole. it not only makes drilling the hole much less risky of cracking, it gives you plenty of meat to tap it out so you can thread a fitting into it watertight

[effect]

Anyone done this on a asm g3? I will be doing this soon, Just would like a heads up

[RandyStacyE]

Originally posted by draleigh
i second randy. i ran my skimmate to an external collection area and it is the ONLY over flow i have had in my tank. I adjusted the skimmer every so slightly and the damn thing went nuts. i came home and it was bubble madness in my display as my return pump was trying to pull what water was left in the sump.

I HIGHLY recommend that you take the time to just empty your cup and clean it.

I really don't think there's anything wrong with anyone drilling the cup, just as long as you understand what can go wrong which one will likely find out on their own anyway

I just wanted to mention that DIY Waste Collector which could solve the problem. That DIY could be implemented with even a Tupperware container.