Bored! So lets design a Skimmer!

[wanareef]

Guerry

Yeah, looked at the bottom and I know it's glued on good - an excuse to build another skimmer :eyebrows:

Just ordered a boss hogg and looking at which air pump toget. The commercial air 1 @ 38lpm for about $38 or the commercial air 3 @ 65 lpm at $52 - might as well get the 65lpm one and can always valve it down. It'll be noisy but sitting out in the garage and run a hose into the tank will work

 

[Guerry]

you'll be happy with the hog, that was a good find by Mojo. I tried the com. 1 pump and wasn't to impressed with it and as for the noise I went for the quitest due to the fact mine has to go under stand. The Alita AL-15AS that I'm using right now will walk all over the com.1 but sure the 65 should do the trick for you, I've got an AL-40 coming this week and can't wait to see what it does for it

 

[wanareef]

I'll be wondering about that Alita-40 as well. Like to see what you think, where are you getting it from?
Yes it was a great find by Mike and local to me dist.

Also, Guerry for that cone transition how will you be making it? I put mine in a mold sandwiched between two pieces of wood with a hole for the smaller tube on one side and the same size hole for the tube (bigger end) on the other and use the oven to soften it up. Good thing my wife doesn't complain about it, too much. I can't get the 1/4" soft enough and have to use 1/8" thick material instead

 

[Guerry]

same way as you in the oven, I picked that trick up from Frankie. How long are you baking and at what temp?

 

[Guerry]

Almost forgot here's link to where I'm getting my pumps, best price I've found
Alita Linear Air Pump for Koi Ponds Efficient and Reliable - Part# AL-40 - Best Price guaranteed and shipping is free.

 

[wanareef]

Guerry

Thanks for the link. Found this wonder if it's any better than the hogs?

Di you consider getting the pumps with the "P" pressure rated? O the standard non "P" was sufficient?

Still playing with the settings for 1/4" but for 1/8" thick acrylic 250 @ 60-90 mins

 

[wanareef]

Got my Boss Hogg the other day, but looking at Mike's again, he is using two of them. Now do I need another one??

it's pretty big

 

[mojoreef]

What size air pump did you end up going with Wana??

Mike

 

[wanareef]

Mike, which one would you recommend? Thinking of the Commercial Air 3 @ 65 LPM or the 5 @ 88LPM or just go "whole hogg" and get the 7 @ 200 LPM

 

[mojoreef]

Ok so mine is a 100lpm on a 6 foot skimmer, so kind of scale it from that. If I were you I would go 65lpm and then run just one double, that might even be a bit much for the skimmer body you have.



Mike

 

[wanareef]

I was gonna to build another one just for the "air stone", so yours is 6' tall, what dia body is it? 10"? I've always wanted to build one like the bean animal - his 6' re-modded bubbler

 

[mojoreef]

12 inch main tube, then 10, 8 inch neck


mojo

 

[Sasquatch]

well, as you've all gone air pump and I think I have the only working n/w recirc model (that is working like a champ!) I will stay with my style and here's the one for my new tank, 24'' tall 14'' wide 6 1/2'' thick.
out flow water is forced to pass the intake of n/w and should pick up any stray bubbles, incoming water is in a plenum at the top for full exposure, not quite finished yet and Ill post again when it gets running, Thanks Mojo for a really great thread and everyone else who's played along.

 

[mojoreef]

Looks cool Sas . So the two pipes on the left are the recirc?? and then the one on the right is the output??


Mojo

 

[Sasquatch]

Looks cool Sas . So the two pipes on the left are the recirc?? and then the one on the right is the output??


Mojo

correct! have to make up the tube for the top today, was going to use abs as its a perfect fit for my 4'' cup neck but realized I wont be able to see the head line

 

[mojoreef]

Whats the purpose of the upper flange/bubble plate??

Mike

 

[Sasquatch]

Whats the purpose of the upper flange/bubble plate??

Mike

thats the plenum for the incoming tank water, the holes are there to keep disturbance of the force to a minimum lol

 

[mojoreef]

No the one on the top of the skimmer??

Mojo

 

[Sasquatch]

No the one on the top of the skimmer??

Mojo

at the top are two plates, there will be a tube between them, the water from the overflow goes into the black bulkhead fitting, fills the space left and goes out the holes into the body?

 

[mojoreef]

Ahh ok I didnt see the bulkhead to start with. Cool idea to spread the water out when going into the main. The only think that may be an issue is if you needed to clean that area. Something to keep in mind when using a needle wheel or beckett style skimmer, is that if you want more air but dont want to anymore water flow is to inject air via the venturi by using an air pump.

Mojo