Downdraft Skimmer Design Help

[Travis L. Stevens]

I'm looking for a little help with the design from the DIY Gurus around here. I'm in the process of making a Downdraft Skimmer. Some call it a gravity fed skimmer, I guess. My largest pressing issues are performance, cleaning, and space. I think that the final draft is going to be the one that I will go with, but tell me what you think. You can follow along with the thread in the Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society board here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=964736



Downdraft Skimmer (Draft 1)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Diagrams/DowndraftSkimmer.jpg

Downdraft Skimmer (Draft 2)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Diagrams/DowndraftSkimmerDraft2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Diagrams/DowndraftSkimmerDraft3.jpg

Downdraft Skimmer (Draft 3)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Diagrams/DowndraftSkimmerDraft4.jpg

It will fit in the left hand chamber in my 75g tank.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/TravisStevens/Aquariums/Saltwater/75%20Gallon/75gPlumbedSump.jpg

[Travis L. Stevens]

24 hour bump

[LBForce57]

Im also looking to build a DIY downdrft skimmer. I just started thinking about doing one of these too, and Im also trying to figure out the best way to maximize those things you mentioned. I do like the third draft also, its pretty close to the idea I had in mind. How much flow will be running through it? Are you going to use airstones or anything to increase the amount of bubbles (im not what the techincal term is for adding bubbles to the water)? Have you run into any problems with the setup or design?

[Travis L. Stevens]

Well, I haven't made it yet. The only thing that I plan on doing if I'm not getting the skimming performance that I want is extended the drain from the tank further towards the bottom for slightly more contact time. If that doesn't work, I'll add a powerhead as a recirculation mod to keep things spinning more and to break up the bubbles further.

After the weekend bump ;)

[LBForce57]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Short-Beckett-Protein-Skimmer-Injector-Live-Coral_W0QQitemZ170029505414QQihZ007QQcategoryZ20758QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

I ran across this on ebay last week, I havn't received it yet, but it is supposed to be something like the injector used by PM skimmers. I dont know how well it would work on a downdrift skimmer, but I think Im going to give it a shot anyway. Thought it might help. Good luck

[Travis L. Stevens]

Interesting. It just looks like a PVC piece used before a venturi pump. Let me know how it works.