Need help w/ DIY HOB skimmer

[luke33]

Yea, there's not many hot diy ers out there. The mce 600 used an aquabee 2000/1 at 500gph and 500lph air. But if you put two in there it would be waaaay to turbulent. The QO1200 isn't going to ba a good idea as its not going to pull enough air. Your going to need the recirc pump to be around 500-600gph and have a feeder pump around 150-200gph tops. That will work well for you in that body style.

[dzeadow]

So if I use the Odyssea WP500, or the QO2200 as a recirc in the skimmer, and feed it with even the Resun225, that should work? I think I can come up with something for that combo... I don't mind having a feed pump as long as it fits in my preskimmer box which is only 3" wide.

[luke33]

Thats correct D. Here's a rough sketch of how i would make a diy hot skimmer. 6" diam reaction chamber, 3.5" neck 600-800gph recirc pump, 150-200gph feeder pump. A gate valve on the output. Thats it. The t in the reaction chamber goes from right to left, not up and down.

[happyface888]

Well theres always a choice to make a tall rectangle if you don't have a tube. I don't think there'd be much difference between a tube and a rectangle besides the needs to glue parts right? Hows the micros on that design?

[luke33]

Micro's arent an issue as there won't be any air that low. It would be alot cheaper as well since all you need is some tube and some uniseals for the body, and much less work in fabrication than a box style.

[happyface888]

Would there be enough force to force the water back out of the return or will there be water pressure? I always thought that if a returns like that, there'd be water pressure or a reverse siphon?

Yup simple design, but seeing D already ordered the stuff he could make a rectangle thats the same height and width. Im sure it probaly have the same effect right?

[luke33]

A rectangle will work fine, just saying this is easier and will save you time and money.

[luke33]

The design is no different than a typhoon, its just got a pump on teh side of it pulling air and water.

[happyface888]

Yeah I know it'd be easy and save money. I guess if D doesn't want to use his sheets hes going to have to find a tube somewhere. So would there be water pressure for water trying to return to the tank?

the typhoons return was the same height as the inlet. I didn't dig the typhoon maybe this one will be alot better.\

[luke33]

It would work fine, the water pressure wouldn't be an issue. You would have to use around a 1 1/4" return tube. Just think of it as a recirc skimmer that hangs on your tank and the feed pump inside your tank. Thats it. I don't understand why everyone has trouble picturing it lol. Once you see you'll know what i'm talking about.

[dzeadow]

Yeah, I already got the sheets on order. I don' t mind the fab work.. it's pretty much what I do for a living anyway, kind of. It'll be fun to mess w/ it. Besides, I can't fit a 6" diameter back there. So w/ the rectangle, I can always enlarge it to be something like a 5x7 reaction chamber. I have 12" of 4" tube coming so I could use that for the neck instead of the 3". It's actually 3.75" ID. Should make for a monster skimmer.

If I have a 1/2" inlet, should I have a 1" outlet? This makes a difference for the size of the gate valve. Now I just need to order some uni-seals. I wonder if my plumbing subcontractor can get them for cheap. I'm going to give him a call.

[dzeadow]

Luke, would I really need the gate valve if the collection cup is adjustable?

[luke33]

If the neck is adjustable then no. But it won't hurt just to have on there just in case. You'll be able to fine tune it much easier. But will cost you 20bux

[happyface888]

I'd do the fine tuning option, it would be a lot easier to get the foam/ bubble height where you want it. How will you attach the cup? will it be like the above picture of the typhoon with the ring around? Twist and lock?

[dzeadow]

No, I'm just going to put the collection cup in like a bakpak/remora/octopus. That's why it'd be adjustable and wouldn't really have a need for a gate valve, but I'll probably put it on anyway. 1 1/4" return tube w/ the same size gate valve.. it's gonna be bulky!

[happyface888]

At least it still comes in handy, that way you get both functions in one.
Are you going to have the tube under the collection cup shown in lukes picture

Think you can do a quick sketch with google to show a update of the design in 3D?

[dzeadow]

It'll take a bit. The tube he has below the cup is just the riser neck. We have one in our collection cup now.. only the one I put in this skimmer will either be 3.75" ID or 2.75" ID... probably the 3.75" for better performance. Now to find a decent 600+gph pump that doesn't require a second mortgage on the house.

[happyface888]

Oh ok I got it,weren't you going to use a odyssea pump for the recirc?

[dzeadow]

Possibly. It's a 500 gph for $30, after shipping I'm sure I could just use the QO2200 at 581gph. Here's a rough sketch since I don't know what size the pump is that will actually be used, I just did 5x5 by whatever.

[dzeadow]

THe inlet pipe will actually be another oh 4-5" higher than it is to clear the tank wall.

[happyface888]

Yeah, the shipping sucks if your just going to buy one thing. The aqua trader store is actually around my area. But the customer service sucks big time. Well if the QO 2200 is cheaper and if modded correctly than there shouldn't be any problems. Thats probaly the best option or you could try one of these pimp my AC pumps.

[dzeadow]

Luke, is there any issue doing it this way instead:



I'm just a little hesitant to have pumps outside just because of how easy it seems to unscrew the volute covers on most of them.

[happyface888]

I don't think so though, from what it looks like its the samething. The only thing that was added on was a chamber surrounding the pump, Its pracically the same concept. Yeah sometimes things like that makes it uneasy to step out of the house. but if it was in a sump or something, than who cares

[dzeadow]

Yeah, now it's a bakpak/remora on steriods... I should name it BALCO!

[happyface888]

If there is a problem maybe this is probaly it the water on lukes design exits the left side so why not stick a baffle here?


I tried the sketch thing its way too confusing so I give.