DIY skimmer waste collector

dvups1 · 10/06/2003, 09:28 PM

Well, I was really bored tonight and decided to make this out of things I had laying around. I used an empty kitty litter jug, 4" of clear T-12 flo. bulb protector tubing, a ping pong ball, a 1 1/4 PVC coupling, a 1 1/4 reducer bushing, and (2) 3/8" threaded barbs.

dvups1 · 10/06/2003, 09:29 PM

.

dvups1 · 10/06/2003, 09:35 PM

Finished product works like a champ.

skipm · 10/07/2003, 08:49 AM

Looks pretty neat and the price is cheap enough too. Good job, Skip

Jim in santa barbara · 02/10/2004, 08:52 PM

Gonna make 1, thanks

lovetoreef · 07/12/2004, 09:35 PM

nice

vicious camel · 07/12/2004, 10:35 PM

sorry to be a pain, but how does it function?

cheers
VC

Cannonball888 · 07/13/2004, 09:12 AM

^It's just a waste container with a float valve (pingpong ball contraption). The valve allows displaced air to be released as skimmate enters from the other side. The valve also prevents overflowing because it shuts off when the container is full.

If I were skimmate, I would be honored to be disposed of in this first class waste container

shaw · 07/13/2004, 01:48 PM

good one, thanks
shawn

ajaf · 08/02/2004, 07:03 AM

do you attach the tube from the venturi to the waste collector ? how does it shut off the skimmer ?

Beenalongtime79 · 08/02/2004, 09:47 AM

ajaf,

It shuts off due to the backpressure created by the closing of the exit air hole in the waste collector. No more foam can build up if the exit air hole is closed.

Peace,
John H.

madman01 · 08/02/2004, 10:41 AM

makin one tonight thanks

niko5 · 08/02/2004, 11:00 AM

Thats really cool great job.

dvups1 · 08/03/2004, 10:41 PM

Thanks

Mickey · 06/16/2007, 11:42 AM

I built your skimmer collection container a year or so ago but I can't solve one problem. When it gets full (for example when I am away) it just overflows. the ping pong ball does not block the airway totally and the liquid keeps pouring in and then out the airvent.

Do you have this problem and have you solved it?

Mickey

RandyStacyE · 06/16/2007, 01:33 PM

Looks VERY NICE! I never built one myself though I've been thinking of making one lately.

Like Mickey said, I imagine that the seal would be kind of important. I wonder if using something like a modified suction cup would work inside of the tube would work.

newmoon · 06/16/2007, 05:33 PM

Looks good!

Conesus_Kid · 06/16/2007, 06:09 PM

Awesome!

Where does a fella get a hold of those 3/8" threaded barb fittings?

aninjaatemyshoe · 06/16/2007, 07:10 PM

You can find the threaded barb fittings at Lowes or possibly Home Depot (seems at least for the ones in my area Lowes has alot more plumbing stuff).

Nice design bulldoger! Have you tried filling it with water to see if it overflows?

Mickey · 06/17/2007, 06:53 AM

Mine overflows and I have put silicone around the connections. The one thing I did differently, is I put both barb fittings in the cap as the cap is larger and I'm wondering if that is the problem. If I put the barb that's draining from the skimmer in the handle like his pictures show and a little lower that the air output might that make a difference.

I'm getting ready to go away for 2 weeks in July and I'd really like to get this working so that I can keep my skimmer running.

Mickey

aninjaatemyshoe · 06/17/2007, 08:23 AM

What I would do with the ping pong ball valve would be to cover the ball in cellophane, apply a liberal amount of silicone to the top half of the ball, stick the ball with silicone onto the outlet, let the silicone cure, remove the ball and cellophane, drill a hole into the cured silicone to let air out, and viola you'd have a near perfect seal when the ball rises to close the outlet.

10/07/2003, 08:49 AM	#4
skipm Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: St. Helena Is. SC Posts: 2,164	Looks pretty neat and the price is cheap enough too. Good job, Skip __________________ Caretaker of fishtanks and a spoiled miniature schnauzer. Current Tank Info: Getting ready to set up a new nano after being out of the hobby.

02/10/2004, 08:52 PM	#5
Jim in santa barbara Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 333	Gonna make 1, thanks __________________ The investigation is going slowly because all the officials who came to investigate the initial incident are now dead- Ap news Stop trying to control everything and just let go. -Tyler Durden Current Tank Info: 40 aga zoos, stars, leathers, mated GSM , PC 65's , wet/dry/refugiums 5 - 15 gal frag/test tanks 20 gal FW Amzn 300 gal pond/aquagarden (6 yo feeders) 20 15's to set-up..lots of other various tubs and containers.

07/12/2004, 09:35 PM	#6
lovetoreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canton, TX Posts: 763	nice __________________ Planning SPS AIO tank Canton, TX Reefing on and off since 2001 Current Tank Info: planning nano AIO

07/13/2004, 01:48 PM	#9
shaw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 799	good one, thanks shawn __________________ Have you thanked your Diatoms Today! Current Tank Info: Work for public aquarium

08/02/2004, 07:03 AM	#10
ajaf Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bayside, NY Posts: 76	Question do you attach the tube from the venturi to the waste collector ? how does it shut off the skimmer ?

07/12/2004, 10:35 PM	#7
vicious camel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2	sorry to be a pain, but how does it function? cheers VC

07/13/2004, 09:12 AM	#8
Cannonball888 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 686	^It's just a waste container with a float valve (pingpong ball contraption). The valve allows displaced air to be released as skimmate enters from the other side. The valve also prevents overflowing because it shuts off when the container is full. If I were skimmate, I would be honored to be disposed of in this first class waste container

08/02/2004, 09:47 AM	#11
Beenalongtime79 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,437	ajaf, It shuts off due to the backpressure created by the closing of the exit air hole in the waste collector. No more foam can build up if the exit air hole is closed. Peace, John H.

08/02/2004, 10:41 AM	#12
madman01 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london ont canada Posts: 107	makin one tonight thanks

08/02/2004, 11:00 AM	#13
niko5 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 2,813	Thats really cool great job. __________________ Nick Current Tank Info: 125 Gal Oceanic RR 2 250 Watt Icecap w/ Hamelton 14K

08/03/2004, 10:41 PM	#14
dvups1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Arlington, Tx. Posts: 951	Thanks __________________ Faith? You have to believe it to see it. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon JBJ nano

06/16/2007, 11:42 AM	#15
Mickey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cheshire, CT Posts: 1,256	I built your skimmer collection container a year or so ago but I can't solve one problem. When it gets full (for example when I am away) it just overflows. the ping pong ball does not block the airway totally and the liquid keeps pouring in and then out the airvent. Do you have this problem and have you solved it? Mickey

06/16/2007, 01:33 PM	#16
RandyStacyE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,659	Looks VERY NICE! I never built one myself though I've been thinking of making one lately. Like Mickey said, I imagine that the seal would be kind of important. I wonder if using something like a modified suction cup would work inside of the tube would work.

06/16/2007, 05:33 PM	#17
newmoon Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: N. Miami Beach Posts: 1,622	Looks good! __________________ "But you have heard of me."

06/16/2007, 06:09 PM	#18
Conesus_Kid Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Conesus, NY Posts: 3,897	Awesome! Where does a fella get a hold of those 3/8" threaded barb fittings? __________________ Scott Friends don't give friends Kenya tree...

06/16/2007, 07:10 PM	#19
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	You can find the threaded barb fittings at Lowes or possibly Home Depot (seems at least for the ones in my area Lowes has alot more plumbing stuff). Nice design bulldoger! Have you tried filling it with water to see if it overflows? __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

06/17/2007, 06:53 AM	#20
Mickey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cheshire, CT Posts: 1,256	Mine overflows and I have put silicone around the connections. The one thing I did differently, is I put both barb fittings in the cap as the cap is larger and I'm wondering if that is the problem. If I put the barb that's draining from the skimmer in the handle like his pictures show and a little lower that the air output might that make a difference. I'm getting ready to go away for 2 weeks in July and I'd really like to get this working so that I can keep my skimmer running. Mickey

06/17/2007, 08:23 AM	#21
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	What I would do with the ping pong ball valve would be to cover the ball in cellophane, apply a liberal amount of silicone to the top half of the ball, stick the ball with silicone onto the outlet, let the silicone cure, remove the ball and cellophane, drill a hole into the cured silicone to let air out, and viola you'd have a near perfect seal when the ball rises to close the outlet. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"