Mojo's Airtones Clone Skimmer =)

[reeffan]

After spending time with Mike couple weeks ago and getting inspired by his awesome skimmer, i decided to built a Mojo airstone clone. I had a little time this weekend and did some work. Well, here you go, not quite finish yet but hopefully i will have some time this coming weekend to finish it.


Here's some pic's this weekend:

reeffan

 

[bradreef]

you just need your own brand name now.

 

[tamarindthai]

keep on going ,,can't wait to see finishing product,,,

 

[big t]

He has his own brand, it is Reef FantaSea. Looks like a cool skimmer. I am looking forward to having a skimmer w/ a wetneck.

 

[reeffan]

He has his own brand, it is Reef FantaSea. Looks like a cool skimmer. I am looking forward to having a skimmer w/ a wetneck.

BigT, im working on the wetneck design right now. I really like Mojo's wetneck, but im looking for an alternative design also. Hopefully i could get it done next wek or two.

reeffan

 

[big t]

I like Mojo's design also, but it is a lot of work to put into any kind of production. I don't really have any suggestions, but have you thought about using tubing around the inside of the top of the neck? I tried that but my skimmer was too short for me to get it tuned properly. I only had about a week or so to mess w/ it before I went to germany. I am going to try something new when i get back.

 

[reeffan]

I like Mojo's design also, but it is a lot of work to put into any kind of production. I don't really have any suggestions, but have you thought about using tubing around the inside of the top of the neck? I tried that but my skimmer was too short for me to get it tuned properly. I only had about a week or so to mess w/ it before I went to germany. I am going to try something new when i get back.

Mike also suggested that idea but i havent tried it yet. It be very interesting how the tubing would work. How did you make yours by the way? I have few design in mind but its taking too much space in the neck columm. Oh yeah, have fun in germany

reeffan

 

[big t]

Don suggested to me to use rodi tubing. I used 1/4" rodi and made a loop that fit snugly into the very top of my skimmer neck. at the connection of the loop there is a JG 't' and that is how the loop gets its water. Then drill the smallest holes you can (I did 1/16th) close together all the way around the loop on the side facing the skimmer neck. I powered it w/ a maxi 900, and it made a nice wetneck. But like I said I didn't manage to get it tuned right, but I didn't have much time before I came here. I will be back in 2 weeks now and will be working on this again soon w/ a bigger skimmer then my current one.

 

[piercho]

Some questions about the outlet penetration. Is that black ring in the third pic a Uniseal? If it is, have you used these before and do you like them? Can it bear as much stress as a solvent welded penetration? TIA.

 

[Scooterman]

I think I'm in need of a better skimmer, thanks for all the pictures, I hope it works out as well as MoJo's!

 

[mojoreef]

Ok I cant take credit for an air stone skimmer folks, lol. Besides I was just a baby when they first came out, lol


MIke

 

[Zephrant]

The uniseal provides a flexible mounting point for the pipe penetration. It can shrug off a bump or whack that a hard-glued joint would crack on.

It's a much better idea than hard gluing to the fragile wall of a tube.

Zeph

 

[reeffan]

Some questions about the outlet penetration. Is that black ring in the third pic a Uniseal? If it is, have you used these before and do you like them? Can it bear as much stress as a solvent welded penetration? TIA.

Pierco,

Those black ring/rubber indeed a uniseals. I use this on my calcium reactor and skimmer as well as some other equipment that i make. They're really a good seal on my experience, virtually no leak. And yes they can handle pressure but not sure how much pressure (not on top of my head ). So far, this Uniseals is working with my equipment w/out a leak. Comparing to welded penetration, i would say it would work better. But again, that's base on my experience.

reeffan

 

[rufio173]

Let's get an update of this sucker!!! Can you please post some dimensions and specs of the skimmer as well as the pump and the airstones?!?

The uniseals I think are rated for up to 40 PSI, I read that somewhere, but I think that this is with the most perfect hole, and probably goes down when you are inserting it into a curved surface.

Peace,
John H.

 

[rufio173]

Hello... Is anybody out there?

 

[reeffan]

Let's get an update of this sucker!!! Can you please post some dimensions and specs of the skimmer as well as the pump and the airstones?!?

The uniseals I think are rated for up to 40 PSI, I read that somewhere, but I think that this is with the most perfect hole, and probably goes down when you are inserting it into a curved surface.

Peace,
John H.

John, Heres the skimmers spec:

Base: 9X9
Height: 56 iches total height
Mixing Chamber: 6 OD"

I will be using a fine pore air stones from www. aquaticeco.com and linear airpump (L19/1/5 CFM) from http://www.aquacave.com/Whitewater.htm. I just place this order last tuesday and hopefully will get sometime next week. I've been busy lately and never had a chance to make any updates...

reeffan

 

[DonW]

Have you heard one of those pumps run yet? I'd like to know if the noise level is to high for a living area.

Thanks
Don

 

[rufio173]

reeffan,

Thanks for the update! I'd also like to know how that pump of yours sounds. I might be going the same way myself, but I'm wondering whether I'll get the pump that is supposedly very quiet... the sweetwater pumps which are mondo expensive for the same amount of PSI and air delivered when compared to the whitewater pumps, but noise is definitely an issue.

Peace,
John H.

 

[reeffan]

reeffan,

Thanks for the update! I'd also like to know how that pump of yours sounds. I might be going the same way myself, but I'm wondering whether I'll get the pump that is supposedly very quiet... the sweetwater pumps which are mondo expensive for the same amount of PSI and air delivered when compared to the whitewater pumps, but noise is definitely an issue.

Peace,
John H.

John, DonW, the whitewater airpump is pretty noisy compare to sweetwater pumps. But for the price, you can't beat it. My tank is in my garage so the noise is not an issue. I would not suggest this pump if you are using it inside your house or living room.

reeffan

 

[mojoreef]

You cold always have the pump somewhere else and run the air tue to the tank


Mike