Any ideas for a dcent DIY Skimmer
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ldrhawke
John
mojoreef said:
Sorry...my dyslexia again......35 pt to 32 pt, or 1.025 to 1.022... :razz: Ca't get anything by you
Barry Grossman
Member
I too am interested in big skimmers - need to source build/skimmers for a new 20,000 litre reef tank I just built in Bali and am starting from scratch. I have the ususal plans, books etc but thus far have inclined to a simple venturi set up although could use any qualified advice regarding capacity/size etc....
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Hey Barry welcome aboard. What kind of tank do you want to put up?? as in lots of bioload? more corals not so many fish. let us know and we can try to help.
Living in Bali might be a little bit of a challenge in trying to get livestock though?? lol
mike
Living in Bali might be a little bit of a challenge in trying to get livestock though?? lol
mike
ldrhawke
John
Barry Grossman said:
A 4500 Gal reef tank......are your opening your own Bali Sea World?
I think you need to start looking at buying a commerical skimmer or building your own. This may give you some ideas.....Commerical Skimmer The cheap way to build and operate a large skimmer may be to follow Majorreef's airstone idea, expecially where the size you will need is concerned....as he has said both small compressors and air stone have improved over the last few years.
I think you will use a lot less power with an airstone system compared to a pump (ejector/pinwheel) system. We are all waiting to get feed back from Majorreef's experience with airstone life and maintenance.
ldrhawke
John
Here is a more specific approach and idea. If I needed a large skimmer I would look for commercially available tanks that could be modified. As an example; the attached tank turned upside down and a couple of ft. 6" extension pipe added to the cone. Poly tank turned up side down Price and supplier
For the collection cup take a smaller std. tank and cut a 6" hole in the bottom, using a Uniseal to mate, and slip it on the 6" pipe. Small tank for collection cup Price of small collection cup tank Uniseal
The company that manufacturers them may beable to weld and modify the plastic on their basic product to make what you want, or at least suggest someone to do it for you. Adding a good linear piston compressor, airstones and presto a commerical skimmer, it would be a lot cheaper than buying a package made system.
For the collection cup take a smaller std. tank and cut a 6" hole in the bottom, using a Uniseal to mate, and slip it on the 6" pipe. Small tank for collection cup Price of small collection cup tank Uniseal
The company that manufacturers them may beable to weld and modify the plastic on their basic product to make what you want, or at least suggest someone to do it for you. Adding a good linear piston compressor, airstones and presto a commerical skimmer, it would be a lot cheaper than buying a package made system.
Barry Grossman
Member
hhmmmm.... Nice to get some feed back given that I'm stuck here in the jungle 3/4's through a mad project that can only get more difficult. Thanks fellas and I will come back once I've reviewed the suggested sources.
What kind of tank, well I figured if I was going to do something this nuts might as well go all the way.....as in 'more corals and not so many fish.' That said, gotta have some fish although plans are for some wierdo's like, for example, flashlight fish (see attached JPEG). No, stock is absolutely not a problem here and is very inexpeensive. There are some reasonably serious exporters of stock here and, in any case, we are in a position to source what we want directly from reefs in and around Bali, Slawesi, Java etc...
Yup of course I'd love to use a commercially available big skimmer (like the Deltec AP2601) but the prices are scary! I'm still hoping to find a skimmer solution at under $2500. In any case, I'd like to find a low cost solution that I can share with the aquarium facility at the Zoo in Surabya, Java, They have more than a dozen large tanks but alas they're all but dead and they've no idea how to fix the problem and certainly no funds to do so. (Third world issues you know)
One of the problems I have here is that I can't source large diameter acrylic tubing. I've been thinking about simply using 16in PVC pipe lined inside with Acrylic sheeting (I worry about PVC and algae - all the plumbing is in polypropolyne) for the body of the skimmer unit(s). What I remain confused about is which type of skimmer to use. I had palnned on trying to produce a simple venturi driven skimmer but I worry about the poor little planktons being frced through that little birthing canal every hour or two. Maybe a big but simple counter current skimmer using an airstone and blower?? Or maybe even an ETS/downdraft system?? see...I'm confused.
What concerns me more right now is skimming capacity. Escobal's, Aquatic Systems Engineering, Dimension Engineering Press 1996 probably has the answer but alas my math skills have grown dull over the past few decades. Assuming a moderately efficient skimmer system, would one plan to 'turn' the tank contents every hour (AJ Nilsen), every 3 to 4 hours (as appears with some of the Deltec skimmer specs) or less frequently?
Anyway, any and all advice is appreciated and I will now go and follow up the suggested sources...Thanks Mike & LDRH
What kind of tank, well I figured if I was going to do something this nuts might as well go all the way.....as in 'more corals and not so many fish.' That said, gotta have some fish although plans are for some wierdo's like, for example, flashlight fish (see attached JPEG). No, stock is absolutely not a problem here and is very inexpeensive. There are some reasonably serious exporters of stock here and, in any case, we are in a position to source what we want directly from reefs in and around Bali, Slawesi, Java etc...
Yup of course I'd love to use a commercially available big skimmer (like the Deltec AP2601) but the prices are scary! I'm still hoping to find a skimmer solution at under $2500. In any case, I'd like to find a low cost solution that I can share with the aquarium facility at the Zoo in Surabya, Java, They have more than a dozen large tanks but alas they're all but dead and they've no idea how to fix the problem and certainly no funds to do so. (Third world issues you know)
One of the problems I have here is that I can't source large diameter acrylic tubing. I've been thinking about simply using 16in PVC pipe lined inside with Acrylic sheeting (I worry about PVC and algae - all the plumbing is in polypropolyne) for the body of the skimmer unit(s). What I remain confused about is which type of skimmer to use. I had palnned on trying to produce a simple venturi driven skimmer but I worry about the poor little planktons being frced through that little birthing canal every hour or two. Maybe a big but simple counter current skimmer using an airstone and blower?? Or maybe even an ETS/downdraft system?? see...I'm confused.
What concerns me more right now is skimming capacity. Escobal's, Aquatic Systems Engineering, Dimension Engineering Press 1996 probably has the answer but alas my math skills have grown dull over the past few decades. Assuming a moderately efficient skimmer system, would one plan to 'turn' the tank contents every hour (AJ Nilsen), every 3 to 4 hours (as appears with some of the Deltec skimmer specs) or less frequently?
Anyway, any and all advice is appreciated and I will now go and follow up the suggested sources...Thanks Mike & LDRH
Barry Grossman
Member
Thanks for the welcome NaH2O
NaH2O
Well-known member
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I have a question.... Does a skimmer have to be tube/cylindrical shaped? If acrylic tubing is difficult to get, but acrylic sheets are not.....could a skimmer have a tall square-shaped body? I don't know how efficiency would be effected, but with the airstones like Mike has, would it make a difference?
ldrhawke
John
Barry Grossman said:hhmmmm.... Nice to get some feed back given that I'm stuck here in the jungle 3/4's through a mad project that can only get more difficult. Thanks fellas and I will come back once I've reviewed the suggested sources. ...............................
One of the problems I have here is that I can't source large diameter acrylic tubing. I've been thinking about simply using 16in PVC pipe lined inside with Acrylic sheeting (I worry about PVC and algae - all the plumbing is in polypropolyne) for the body of the skimmer unit(s). What I remain confused about is which type of skimmer to use. I had palnned on trying to produce a simple venturi driven skimmer but I worry about the poor little planktons being frced through that little birthing canal every hour or two. Maybe a big but simple counter current skimmer using an airstone and blower?? Or maybe even an ETS/downdraft system?? see...I'm confused.
....................... Assuming a moderately efficient skimmer system, would one plan to 'turn' the tank contents every hour (AJ Nilsen), every 3 to 4 hours (as appears with some of the Deltec skimmer specs) or less frequently?
Anyway, any and all advice is appreciated and I will now go and follow up the suggested sources...Thanks Mike & LDRH
Mike,
I wouldn't worry about hurting the plankton, especially with as large a pump as you will need to feed and recirculate with. The theory of plankton being hurt from going through a centrifugal pump is largely a bunch theorectical bunk. If you could get a large microscope, I'd bet you'd see the plankton smiling as they came out the other end; as if they just went to Disney World and came off a roller coaster ride.....
Keep one thing in mind,....you can only undersize a skimmer. After couple of weeks, after giving it and the tank time to stablize, that is easy to figure out. Does you skimmate stop or slow down as the skimmer pulls out the protein from the life load. If it just continues to pull skimmate without stopping, it is undersized.
When I feed my skimmer pulls out the residual protein within an hour and fills my container. It pulls out very little between feedings. Too small a skimmer pulls out protein slowly and give the proteins a chance to break down and pollute the water.
Virtually all plastic material is inert to salt water and can be used for construction as long as it has the structural strength to hold the pressure.
Stop when you see a construction site laying water and sewer pipe. Ask the forman for a piece of scrap and pay him a few bucks. Large PVC or poly pipe used in contructing sewer and water lines is ideal. Keep you eyes out for any place they are laying new water or sewer pipe to pick up a 6' section of scrap to use to build a skimmer. It doesn't need to be clear, infact clear encourage algae growth inside. If you can pick up plastic sheeting to make a square shape skimmer that is fine too.
A skimmer is the easiest piece of equipment you can build. All you want to design for is fine bubbles, contact time, and flow rates. Just copy the basic dimensions used for one of the large commercial systems. Taller is better.
Also, a skimmer doesn't have to be a single large unit; it can just as easily be multiple smaller units sitting side by side and run parallel. If you can only find cheap 6" or 12" pvc pipe to build it with; install three or four identical smaller systems side by side with a single feed pump. The nice thing about that is you can easily increase capacity by adding another section in parallel.
The cheapest way from both the component and operating cost stand point is using a good little linear compressor and airstones, like Majoreef has done. Just pick a quiet compressor so you don't have to put it a 100' feet away because of the noise. :badgrin: You can always design it and install connections so you add an ejector and pump to test out other feed systems. Just keep a gallon of vinegar around with replacement air stones soaking in it. Design the skimmer so the airstones are easy to remove and clean.
If you live close enough to the water, buy a good pump and lay some piping. Then you can forget about all this skimmer stuff.
Good luck and post pictures......
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NaH2O
Well-known member
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New thread: Barry Grossman's Big Tank
Barry Grossman
Member
ldrhawke said:I love a practicalmind!Zephrant said:Don't disagree, but what we are talking about is skimmers, only two to six feet high. The slight change in performance can be easily compensated for by selecting a pump that develops slightly more head pressure and increases the velocity through the venturi. My point is that there is basis fore not using an pinwheel pump on a skimmer because it is four or five tall.
It is like saying you can't use an airpump because of the additional pressure on the bottom of a taller skimmer reduces the air flow. Just size and select it properly. I am not saying it may not require a little more power. my skimmer is almost 4' tall and I am throttling back on the air flow on my venturi. It could probably handle a skimmer two or three feet taller.
