My Second DIY skimmer - Updated again!
 

Well, The first skimmer didn't work and after do several modifications to it, I decided to build a new one. Here goes.

Here is the new box.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/box.jpg

Here is the glue I'm using, with the applicator.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/glue.jpg

My new toy. Worked pretty good.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/circutter.jpg

Here it is on the drill.....

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/ondrill.jpg

Here is how nice the hole comes out.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/holecut.jpg

Here is where I screwed up last time. My baffle was wrong, I didn't realize the importance of this.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/baffle.jpg

Here is the drain installed.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/drainandbaffle.jpg

Here is a variable hight injector in the high position.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/injectorhigh.jpg

Here it is almost at it's lowest.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/injectorlow.jpg

All done. Again.... Hope this one works! :lol: I'll post pictures of it working later.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/alldone.jpg

Thanks, Walter

Here are some pictures of it running after a few minutes.

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/skimmerrun1.jpg
http://aquahome.no-ip.com/skimmerrun2.jpg
http://aquahome.no-ip.com/skimmerrun3.jpg

Walter

Keep us posted. Damn, I'm very interested.


Maverick

What are you using for a injector and the pump.

I'm using a LG 4MDQX-SC. I use it for my return, I just used a 't' off the return. But If I was to buy another pump, I'd get a mag9.5 and use a valve to adjust. Most people use a mag 7 for the spray injectors of this size. The injector you just make yourself from 3/4" or 1/2" PVC. I'm going to try 1/2 injector. I remember reading about it on RC and it is supposed to make a big difference.

Walter

Right on Walter, glad to see everything is working and looking good.

Nice job!!

Bill

Thanks for the help on the old skimmer! I figured it would be easier to build a new one then fix the old one :) Now for a CA reactor. I have tonnes of acrylic left over... I ended up buying a 1/4 sheet :biggrin: Just have to find some good plans and figure out how they work.

Walter

Looks really good, getting lots of skim mate?

dave

Not too sure yet. I had my hands in the tank alot yesterday, so not much happened with it.

Walter

How do you adjust the hight of the water inside the skimmer?

The valve on the output and/or the valve on the input (pump).

Walter

I dont see the valve on the out put? :rolleyes: Or Im blind. :biggrin:

Opps, sorry, I added that after the pictures. I just have a gate valve on it.

Walter

Hey Walter,
Nice job on the skimmer. As far as reactors go, the DJ88 design from RC is awesome. I built one, and it works great. BY the way, where did you get the gate valve? I looked all over Calgary for one. The only place I could find one was at a spa place, and only 3/4".

Mike

Revy had them.

Here is a picture of the skimmate after 5 days. Little on the light side, but I don't have a big bio load yet. That's 3 cups. Sorry about the fuzzy picture. :biggrin:

http://aquahome.no-ip.com/skimmate.jpg

Walter

Right on Bubbles!!!!

Does Rona carry PVC gate valves now? I've never seen them there ... if they've decided to carry them that's cool!! Which Rona, the one on McLeod by Southland? What size gate valve?

dont let your girl see that you stole the measuring cup!

Sorry, I said gate, I meant ball. :confused:

Walter

Just wondering if anyone knows how to get a darker skimmate? I've tried to cut back the input, result is I have to also close the output a bit to keep the bubbles up near the top of the riser. But what happens then is, the water level in the skimmer box goes to high and as a result, stops making bubbles. I get nice dry foam, just not very dark. I have noticed the bubbles in the riser are quite large, I seem to remember reading that the smaller bubble the better. Anyone know how to get a smaller bubble from the spray injection? When I did have the old air-stone skimmer running I got very back/green skimmate....

Thanks, Walter