My new DIY skimmer

[CHEAPREEF]

My new DIY skimmer
I built my first beckett skimmer about a month ago, came to the conclusion it was just to big to put on my new 40gal cube. So i built this one on monday and tuesday night after work. Pluged it in on Friday and let it go till Saturday afternoon. To say the least i was disapointed, didn't skim anything no foam in the riser. So i cut an inch off the injector to raise it up a bit, works like a chram. Let me know what you guys think. Cost was under $50 CND, took about 4 hours to build and it's driven by a mag7.

Everything for the base cutout.

The base put together.

All asembled, but taken apart.

Fully asembled.

Two hours after staring it for the second time.

Close up

Twelve hours after the startup.

Close up.


So far very pleased with the results.

Clinton

[CHEAPREEF]

By the way this is neither beckett or venturi.

Clinton

[Dale D]

Looks good.

OK, it's not a Beckett or a venturi, so, what is it?

I've got my skimmer about 75% completed. Just have to decide how big to make the diameter of the second riser tube. 4" or 3"?

Any suggestions?

[Dale D]

Never mind, I just looked at your pictures again.

What would that be considered, a spray nozzle skimmer?

[CHEAPREEF]

Originally Posted by Dale D

Looks good.

OK, it's not a Beckett or a venturi, so, what is it?

I've got my skimmer about 75% completed. Just have to decide how big to make the diameter of the second riser tube. 4" or 3"?

Any suggestions?

Spray injection.

How big is your first riser? If it's 6" or larger you could go with 4"OD, if it's smaller go with 3"OD. The one on my beckett is 3 1/2", should have made it 3". By the way there are new pics of the beckett in "action" under that post.

Clinton

[Dale D]

The first riser is 6".
I bought some 3" also (don't really know why I did after I bought it should have just got 4" instead), but, I would rather use 4", so, I may have to get some tomorrow. I can always find a use for the 3".

I saw the pictures of the Beckett skimmer in action. Looks like it is working great now.

What are you going to do with your "old" skimmer?

[CHEAPREEF]

My old skimmer and pump will most likely go up for sale, provided this one works out in the next few days.

Clinton

[Dale D]

Just finished making and assembling the riser tubes and collection cup of my skimmer. Just have a little polishing to do.

I did a dry assembly of the whole skimmer and found out that I may have to make a new box for it. It needs to be alittle bigger than I made it.

On the bright side I will have the first box to make something else out of. I might have to try making one of those ones with the spray injector.

[CHEAPREEF]

Originally Posted by Dale D

I did a dry assembly of the whole skimmer and found out that I may have to make a new box for it. It needs to be alittle bigger than I made it.

Why? Is the riser tube to large to fit the top? I don't think it has to be a certain size as long as it has a baffle to stop micro bubbles and it will fit the riser tube you should be ok.

Just want to add something. I was showing my buddy at the LFS some pics of this yesterday, he asked me where the water level is in the riser? I told him that was why i'm so impressed with this little skimmer, the water level is about 1/2" down int he main box. The riser is all foam, no water. Just wanted to share that peice of info.

Clinton

[Dale D]

The top flange (8") on the collection cup hits the injection tube and keeps it from lining up with the hole in the top of the box. I can probabily just make a new top and space the 2 tubes farther apart.

I'm also wondering if the top is thick enough. It is 1/4" acrylic. It looks like it bows down abit from the weight of the riser and injection tubes. but, that could be because the top is not glued in place yet. It should stiffen it up when it is glued on all 4 sides.