Need help w/ DIY HOB skimmer - Page 12

dzeadow · #**276** 12/26/2007, 10:08 PM

www.protein-skimmer.com the orca systems website sells the sicce for $109 and a mesh mod kit for $9 w/ the attachments to get the pump up to 1" inlet... sounds like a decent deal. I'll have to meet w/ my banker tomorrow

luke33 · #**277** 12/26/2007, 11:15 PM

I think the sicce's have a 3/4" output. And yep, thats where i was talking about, orca. As for recirc's, can that size handle that much flow? Sure, its a recirc, its not really pumping water in there, its just recirculating. The question is can your neck handle that much air? If you have a 3.75 id neck, it will be ok imo. Its atleast going to be one hell of an experiment. For instance i push 1300gph through my 12" reaction chamber that is 10" in diameter and its just fine. Its all depends on how much h20 your feeder pushes. If i put 500+....its not good, but 325 or less and i'm golden. I like around 225 and i have lots of play room. You may want to feed that skimmer with 100-150gph max. And imo you'll be fine.

dzeadow · #**278** 12/27/2007, 07:08 AM

I guess I'll have to play w/ it to find out huh? would the feed pump still be feeding w/ a venturi or would it just be feeding water period? looks like I'll be getting 2 ball valves just in case.. Ace Hardware here I come... as soon as I get everything else I ordered.

I hope Happy survived the holiday, i've only seen like 1 post from him since the other day.. just not like him!

dzeadow · #**279** 12/27/2007, 07:12 AM

I see that the Sicce's get 40+ scfh of air, I wonder if that's with direct port injection or w/ some other venturi. Id hate to chop up a $100 pump trying to figure out... luke, do you know, or should I PM Hahn and try and get the answer? You have one of these don't you?

If I wasn't all DIY'ed out already, I'd probably try Hahn's AquaClear mod to make it a Sicce.. I'm just sick of chopping up perfectly good equipment

luke33 · #**280** 12/27/2007, 10:46 AM

Well, the sicce may not work without a bubble plate down there after thinking about it and its pushing alot of air in that small chamber. Your pry going to be best with a sedra 500 meshmodded and be done with it, maybe boar out the venturi a bit, but thats it. It'll be the easiest pump to work with in your case.

dzeadow · #**281** 12/27/2007, 10:55 AM

Koral found a spot that sells the DAS Aquabee 2000/1 w/ all the fittings and everything for like $140.. I think it only pumps 500gph if I'm not mistaken... are you still a fan of these?

FishAreFriends2 · #**282** 12/27/2007, 11:56 AM

Man its freezing over here....

So your going to try and use a different pump now? The aquabee pump is nice I heard it uses like 10 watts. Any one know what the ATB concial hob uses? That might be another option too. I hope if I ever decide to replicate your design that there would be a cheaper pump. I agree with Happy wheres the PICS

dzeadow · #**283** 12/27/2007, 12:36 PM

I don't want to start the build thread yet until I actually get this thing done and working. it'd be pointless to start it with pics of an acrylic box that doesn't do anything

. I don't even have the materials to finish the collection cup.

FishAreFriends2 · #**284** 12/27/2007, 12:46 PM

So whats the pump plan? are you really going to get a aquabee or soemthing?

dzeadow · #**285** 12/27/2007, 12:53 PM

I'm waiting to get approved for my home equity line from Wells... then we'll see. I'd like to get some opinions other than the few that I've heard on the AB's. I've heard their good and then reading further I saw that there's been a few problems with the impeller shaft breaking through the volute.. Youd' think for $150 for a pump that they'd have that problem fixed so I just want to make sure it's a small minority vs. a vast majority. I've only read like 2 posts where they've had that, but I also haven't done an extensive search.

FishAreFriends2 · #**286** 12/27/2007, 12:58 PM

Thats gotta suck a $150 pump shouldn't be that faulty now. But man are you really going to spend 150 on a pump?Is there really no other choice? Its going to be a really expensive project.

dzeadow · #**287** 12/27/2007, 01:07 PM

no doubt huh? Well, my other options are: buy a $90 sedra 5000 and buy the extra venturi/volute which I'm sure will be about $20-30ish... get the Sicce which may be too much air flow (but can be dialed down w/ a valve I'm sure), buy an AquaClear 70 and mod it like Hahn did so it'd be like the Sicce (probably $60ish after modding), buy a QO3000 which is probably way too much flow but would have good numbers and would require modding as well.. All the pump options for getting more air are going to cost money. I just dont think a 10scfh pump is going to be that great of a performer. Unless that guy that got 30scfh out of his QO2200 comes out of the wood work and proves his mods (which I doubt), it seems like 12scfh is about the choking point of the pump.

FishAreFriends2 · #**288** 12/27/2007, 01:09 PM

Yeah, Would adding a venturi to the front instead of the back help? Or would that be plain dumb?

JCTewks · #**289** 12/27/2007, 01:12 PM

the Aquaclear 802 with custom shroud is a good pick...I believe that's what will be on the ATB HOB skimmer.

FishAreFriends2 · #**290** 12/27/2007, 01:14 PM

I will 2nd that, you can always find one at petsmart or petco and you won't be destroying any parts of the pump but replacing it with a custom shroud so if you don't like it, put back on the stock parts and return it. Nothing damaged just a diy part. I think you should give that one a try first if you don't dig it return it.

dzeadow · #**291** 12/27/2007, 01:19 PM

There'd be no returning it! i'd have to mesh mod the impeller. So if it doesn't turn out good then I'm out $50... I think I have enough $50 pumps laying here that haven't panned out yet!

FishAreFriends2 · #**292** 12/27/2007, 01:22 PM

Hmm hahn didn't cut his impeller he just staked 3layers of mesh. No dmg or modding done.

JCTewks · #**293** 12/27/2007, 01:25 PM

I picked up my aquaclear on ebay brand new for $18....ALWAYS check ebay when looking for new pumps

Plus, the impellers for these are pretty cheap if you want to hack one up

FishAreFriends2 · #**294** 12/27/2007, 01:27 PM

How much air is yours pulling JCT?

dzeadow · #**295** 12/27/2007, 01:29 PM

Yeah JC, you do have an air meter right? I'd like to know what it's pulling and if you did the custom shroud design so I know who to ask if I actually get one of these and try it out. There's a few people on here that have diy designs that don't like to answer questions!

JCTewks · #**296** 12/27/2007, 01:44 PM

I haven't gotten around to modding it yet...you know the Holidays and all

Once I get it done, i'll post the #'s here.

Bruce513 · #**297** 12/27/2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzeadow
Here's another question, if the 2200 and the 3000 use the same wattage and have the same casing, what makes one pull more water than the other? If it was the impeller, that's out the window since when we mesh mod these things there's no difference unless the plate on the impeller is bigger...

I have a new QO3000 if you need any pics and/or measurements.

happyface888 · #**298** 12/27/2007, 02:39 PM

I believe that would be helpful. Haha yeah its freezing cold here.

dzeadow · #**299** 12/27/2007, 03:52 PM

Bruce, did you mod that pump or is it stock? I'm just curious as to what you do to it, if you do anything, and what the air pull is, if you have a meter.

dzeadow · #**300** 12/27/2007, 03:57 PM

Jeff, that'd be a great help man, I probably won't be doing anything w/ that pump if i get it until 2 weeks from now so it'd be interesting to see how easy/difficult it is for the average joe to do it.