Another Skimer Build

[jlehigh]

Another Skimmer Build

Well... I am building a counter current skimmer. This is silly for me because I retro-fitted a counter current skimmer to a Euro-reef style about 10months ago Ultimately I would just like to have a larger skimming capacity and have confidence in my ability to feed my tank more.

As it stands my sps had browned out until I began doing weekly 10% water changes. This is odd to me because I don't have measurable nitrogen in any form nor phosphates. My alk, ca, and magnesium are all where they should be as well.. Anyway this will be my first acrylic project and I am excited to get started. (My L3 DE retro will be done this week!)

Design:
The tenative plan is much like beast1 just a wee smaller.
Mixing chamber - 24TallX12WideX12Long ~15gallons
Riser - 24"to30" of 8" Tube
Neck - 12" of 6" Tube
Inlet will be directly from the overflow feeding aprox 292gph

The reason for the additional 6" dia neck has more to do with me having the material so I am open to going 8" all the way if it will yield better results and just have the 6" in the collection cup.

Here is the pump:
ALITA® Linear Air Pump AL-40
1.7cfm @2.18 PSI
40w & very quiet
(I estimate 1.55psi will be working against the pump)

Open issue:
I am having some difficulty determining the location of the inlet. You can see in the diagram I have two proposed options. I would like to have it mounted in the tube leading to more contact time but I also need to be sure I have enough room for the foam.

Here is my cry for help:
Although I am a pretty handy guy I have not worked with Acylic and my router is still in it's box I would be happy to pay/trade for the fabrication of flanges instead. So if any of you out there are up to it PM me!! PLEASE!

Let me know what you think. The acrylic will be here any-day now. Maybe I can get this done in time for the tank PSAS tour.

 

[mojoreef]

Jleigh you are welcome to come over and use my shop, I promise not to laught when you loope off a finger on the planer?? lol

Looking at your design I would suggest a couple of mods. Loose the 8 inch riser tube and make that all box (unless you have the tube already). Inlet number 1 would be better and then maybe use pvc to rise it abit and create a swirl.


Mike

 

[jlehigh]

Thanks for the offer Mike! You would be guarunteed some form of entertainment involving loos of my blood I may have an alternative worked out but I'll let you know.

Yup I do already have the 8inch.. I like the idea of a massive mixing chamber but re-purchasing the acrylic sheet may prove expensive (I have the planned pieces cut...)

I hear ya on the inlet. Easy deal. I'll put in either a elbow or 45 in there pointing at an angle upward. If I do go with the 8" tube it should make a pretty cool swirling effect. (works on my current retro-skimmer)

 

[jlehigh]

Update

The Flanges are made and the box assembled. I dry fitted everything to see how it comes together. Here is a pic of what it will look like:

 

[big t]

Awww, just a tiny little guy. Love it! So how did your box building go? Looks great in the pic

 

[jlehigh]

hehehe yea I thought I would use it as a public service. All you have to do is sink plumbing to pump from your house to mine and I'll skim the water for ya

The box building went fairly well. The seams are clear anyway. I had to do allot of sanding on the ends though

 

[big t]

Did you get the ends glued on yet? That is the real test of your skills Glad to hear they came out clear, that is a good sign

 

[jlehigh]

Nope. I have another hour of sanding. I was ready to glue, but when I sighted down the bottom edge there we a few slopes that I wasnt comfortable with trying to glue until they are evened out. The sides were cake.

 

[szidls]

We got a close up view of the Jlehigh Jr. skimmer today. Very cool! I think a garage addition should be in the works......lol. Great job so far John. Thanks again for the late tank tour.
Scott

 

[jlehigh]

I am back from several days of summer fun and thought I would add a quick note: I projected there will be about 2psi of preasure on the stones/air pump. My alita air pump will put out about 1.7cfm at 2.08 psi. Each 6" fine pore diffuser requires roughly .50cfm to run which would equal aprox 4 stones. I have read several other counter current skimmer threads here all seeming to have initially over driven their stones leading to large bubbles so I am going to start out with 5 stones. I may end up running four with a bleed-off as well but we'll see.