Recirculating Skimmer plans Critique

[Theexp]

I designed this skimmer to be like a reef octopus recirculationg sorta. It has a 20" tall 6" acrylic chamber, a 6" tall 2" neck, and a 6" tall 6" wide Collection cup. The cup will also have a fitting tapped into the bottom to empy skimmate. The intake of the recirculating pump is 8" up, and the the output is 13" up. The input is 3" from the top of the chamber. I will thermoform a neck and it will have twist lock flanges (not ramps which clamp the oring, but the screws that have the wider hole i'd describe it later better). but here are pictures. What recirculating pump shoudl i have on it, and what pump should be feeding it/how much flow.

Any suggestions would be great.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o77/theexp435/Skimmerplans002.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o77/theexp435/Skimmerplans003.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o77/theexp435/Skimmerplans004.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o77/theexp435/Skimmerplans001.jpg
Thanks alot:D

[RandyStacyE]

Many suggest the neck being approx 1/2 the diameter of the reaction chamber. I wish mine was a bit larger. Probably go with at least 1-1/2" pipe for the output plumbing. You won't need a small air valve on the top of your exit standpipe. I'd just use a cap with a hole; many don't even use a cap.

The 2" neck will work ... most very experienced skimmer builders suggest going larger.

Looks just like the Top Fathom skimmer.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/images/items/TF110A_rgb.jpg

[Theexp]

alright so a wider neck, wider plumbing, and no little air valve. any suggestions on pumps or flow or anything else?

[RandyStacyE]

Well my reaction chamber is 6" in diameter, 13" tall and I use the GenX 2400. Yours will be significantly taller, Likely step the pump up a size if you like the GenX pumps. I think that would be the GenX 4100

There are many threads going on impeller modifications right now. Most any modification will significantly increase the skimmers production. The GenX impellers are easy to disassemble and modify. Most mods do not destroy the impeller at all and they can be easily restored back to the way they were. The GenX venturis suck for the most part, but DIY venturis are simple and kick butt.

[kentrob11]

I built a skimmer about that size about a year ago and I would have to agree with Randy- Go with a 3" neck, not 2"....As far as pump goes, I would go with a Gen-X 2400 with meshwheel and mount it as low on the skimmer body as humanly possible. I believe that you could get 700LPH easily out of a 2400 so use an air valve to dial the pump in a bit.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/8543image10.jpg

[Theexp]

what does putting the pump as low as possible do?

[waldomas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8529627#post8529627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Theexp
what does putting the pump as low as possible do?

1. decreases turbulance at the neck and helps prevent foam head collapse.

2. Increases contact time of bubbles with the water in main chamber.

[waldomas]

kentrob11,

Nice skimmer BTW

[Theexp]

Ohhh alright, that makes alot of sense. Can Colored acrylic be thermoformed?
Thanks alot for everything so far anything else would be great

[MASTER_REEFER]

I know this is off subject but you guys have some really nice pieces of equipment.. Question, I run a Deltec AP851 skimmer on my reef and I really like the two and three pump models that deltec makes. But don’t like the price... I have asked a friend and he told me that I would hinder the performance of the unit if I added another pump?? To some degree I understand because of all the research and development in the units but I don’t agree. If I added another pump to the unit at the bottom where it can get as much turbulent free water as poss would it not increase the production because of more air/turbulence?? Or would it be over kill and reduce the effectiveness of both pumps??