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#1
11-05-2010, 09:02 PM
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My stones are solid.
I use a 7/8" boring bit with extension on it for depth. I ground a little off each side to make the hole just under the 7/8". Then I tap the top part using a piece of pipe with 7/8" OD thread, I think it's 3/4" pipe where I cut long narrow "v" groves along the length of the threading and then squeezed the ends together so now the threads have a slight taper but still have a gap. I screwed the other end of the pipe into a "t" for the same dia. pipe and shove a large screwdriver through the "t" when using it as a tap for the hole in the basswood. I use 3/8" nylon firm tubing inside the skimmer, fastened to the stone with 3/8" vinyl type air line, and the same vinyl air line from the top end of the skimmer to the linear compressor. I tried to get mileage out of trimmings left over after making a batch of stones, gluing together like yours appears to be, but it came apart in only a few days. I guess I didn't use the right glue. 
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#2
11-08-2010, 01:56 PM
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2 months since the skimmer is in action!
We really think it's working great! I think this old technology is quit "soft" on the water... compare to using a needle wheel or other pomp that are hard on water... our hait algae problems seems to end, the algae is dying and disolving! The polyps extension is amazing!        mike31154: what glue did you used?
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Life is full of cycles.. our saltwater adventure is over..for now. FTOTM FEB 2011:http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/feb11/ My blog: http://thejosieworld.blogspot.com/ "When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop
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#3
11-08-2010, 02:20 PM
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Wouldn't it be extremely cheap to DIY a monster air driven with some big ABS or pvc? Seems to me the biggest cost is the air compressor/bubbler?
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#4
11-08-2010, 02:58 PM
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Quote:
 good skimmer dont have to cost 3000$! 
__________________
Life is full of cycles.. our saltwater adventure is over..for now. FTOTM FEB 2011:http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/feb11/ My blog: http://thejosieworld.blogspot.com/ "When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop
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#5
11-08-2010, 10:25 PM
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Quote:
Gorilla Glue
__________________
Mike 77g sumpless SW DIY 10 watt multi-chip LED build  http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82206
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#6
11-09-2010, 01:48 AM
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how often do you replace the stones
ok so now as we know thy are great, how often do you replace the stones, or do you sand them off a bit for a nother few weeks.
only down side I would considder is the nois of the air pump. I used a 40W comp. to feed my needel W. with air, as my skimmer is tall, and hate the sound. gust ordered a laguna 2900 to build a mesh wheel, thy should handel the suction of air, so I loos the compressor. however you never know in the future, so always interested to find out how long the w. stones last
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#7
11-09-2010, 02:24 PM
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KevinK:
we change the stones every 3-4weeks... we made our air stone (33cents each!) for the air pump mine is really quiet (O2 Max Air Pump,885 Gallons per Hour)
__________________
Life is full of cycles.. our saltwater adventure is over..for now. FTOTM FEB 2011:http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/feb11/ My blog: http://thejosieworld.blogspot.com/ "When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop
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#8
11-09-2010, 03:10 PM
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Check the first photo of my post #18 in this thread. That air diffuser was doing its thing for 6 months if not longer and still producing better bubbles than any brand new store bought wooden diffuser. As you can see, the wood grain is starting to open up quite a bit so sanding or anything else is not going to extend the life of one of these. When I was using the store bought diffusers, I once soaked and boiled a few of them in a vinegar solution in an effort to get more life out of them. The performance wasn't that great after that, but I was able to use them a little longer.
For my skimmer I don't need a piston air pump, the Rena Air 400 diaphragm pump is more than enough and along with the small AquaClear 301 powerhead, you can barely hear a thing. My lighting fans and VorTech pumps pretty much drown out the low hum produced by the Rena.
__________________
Mike 77g sumpless SW DIY 10 watt multi-chip LED build http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82206
Last edited by mike31154; 11-09-2010 at 03:14 PM.
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#9
11-09-2010, 07:47 PM
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I use the pondmaster linear compressor and they are extremely quite.
For my air stones, I use a pair for each skimmer and change them every 4 or 5 weeks, cleaning the removed one and drying it out and using it at the next change. Two stones get me more than a year service. The advantage of boring the centre hole is that you don't have to glue an assembly together.
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