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07/04/2010, 12:57 AM | #1 |
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DIY Skimmer Club
I have seen many great diy skimmers on RC, but they are scattered everywhere. This it just an attempt to compile all the diy skimmers. I know there are other threads on this where members have simply just posted pics, I trying to get more details here. So if you built one and care to share, please join me.
This is used on a 20L with a 15g sump, and is most likely overkill. I have no experience with skimmers and this is the 1st I have used. The reaction chamber is 4.5" OD and 12.5" tall, the neck is 2" OD. I used a Gen-x 1000lph pump. I do not have air draw numbers, but plan on acquiring a meter in the near future. One last thing I plan on doing is making a pinwheel impeller -Pros: -It's quiet, can't hear it over my mag 3. -It's already skimming, 48 hours later. -Cost under $100 and a weekend of your time. -6x8 footprint. -19" tall. -Cons: -I can't think of any. Unfortunately I will not be doing a DIY write-up, I accidently deleted all my pics of the build process= It's beer related. I did however add up all my receipts: Acrylic = $34.68 Pump = $35.33 3"-1 1/2" coupler = $3.28 Uniseals x 2 = $6.62 Weld On #4 & #16+ Hypo and 1'x1" acrylic rod for venturi =$13.37 Pvc =$4.38 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- All prices include S+H and tax. Total.............................................................. = [ $97.66 ] + A weekend of your time. -I already had some supply's like the drill bits and the o-ring. This was a very enjoyable build and if I had built this one originally I would have had spare acrylic for a second skimmer. I'm not sure about the rules on RC about posting links, so if you would like to know where I got any of the material just PM me or post on the thread and I will try to respond in a timely manner. Happy Reefing. 1st design: 2nd design: Cup, note: After installation I cut the riser by about 1", the cup hold's about 16oz. Venturi: Running: Skimmate: Skimmate: |
07/04/2010, 05:06 AM | #2 |
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Location: salt lake city, ut
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Nicely done, my first skimmer was not nearly as nice looking. Why not just make a mesh wheel for the impellar?
Here is a couple of pics of my last build. The ghetto cone:
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40 Breeder DIY external overflow, closed loop, skimmer, sump, dosers,.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef w 20 gal sump/40gal reef w 20gal sump |
07/06/2010, 07:20 PM | #3 |
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That's a great skimmer fishoutawater! I'm not doing a mesh mod simply because I do not have any enkamat on hand. I do have the parts for a pinwheel impeller though, or so I thought.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This was my first attempt and it worked, but not very well: This is the final design and after going through about 6, this one worked the best. It skimms better than the stock needle wheel, and I have no idea why.... The Cable Tie Impeller: I won't be doing anything else to this skimmer. If it breaks of the pump burns out, I'll dismantle it and build another one there's a few things I would like to change. |
07/07/2010, 12:01 PM | #4 |
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vegas do you live in vegas??? prolly a dumb question lol.... are you part of lvvr?
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07/07/2010, 04:20 PM | #5 |
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07/07/2010, 06:11 PM | #6 |
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awe man.... thought there was another local into building things lol.....oh well... i got a few skimmers i have built.....
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07/07/2010, 06:15 PM | #7 |
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a few others...
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07/07/2010, 06:23 PM | #8 |
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07/07/2010, 06:28 PM | #9 |
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and the current one i run.... a atb 10.5 deluxe i built from scratch... with some help from vic...
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07/07/2010, 07:27 PM | #10 |
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Woh! That's a lot of skimmers, awesome job troylee. Where did you get the cones at? The reason I ask is I searched and the only ones that I found would have cost me more than a brand new cone skimmer.
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07/07/2010, 07:52 PM | #11 |
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Location: Salinas, CA(93905)
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Cool guys! But... where did you guys get the acylic pipes from? I have been searching and searching, but I am only able to find 12ft pieces of it that cost about $150, or more, each.
I wanted to make my own as well but after seen the prices of the acrylic I just decided to buy the finished product. I haven't yet since someone gave me one that they had lying around, its a Berlin classic by Red Sea. It works, but its only at the end of the week that I notice something on the cup. Its a 6 inch cup with the 2 inch inner pipe and only fills about 0.5 to 0.75 inch high, so not much. |
07/07/2010, 09:24 PM | #12 |
ARS Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Western PA
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i dislike all of you.
those all look great.
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We are not descended from fearful men. The Final Countdown is now stuck in your head. I use "..." excessively Current Tank Info: tankless |
07/07/2010, 09:42 PM | #13 |
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I got mine at Target, lol. Build cost me around $60.
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40 Breeder DIY external overflow, closed loop, skimmer, sump, dosers,.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef w 20 gal sump/40gal reef w 20gal sump |
07/07/2010, 10:20 PM | #14 |
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I got mine at estreetplastics.
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07/07/2010, 11:12 PM | #15 |
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These are just pictures!!! We need HOW TOS!!!!!! They look too great to now share the wealth! Pretty pretty please!
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07/07/2010, 11:24 PM | #16 |
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Here's a build thread, pictures should tell you most of what you need to know. You need to have at least some basic knowledge/skills and tools and equipment to build a skimmer. For mine, I just used basic tools, drill, dremel, sandpaper. For a project like Troylee's, with twist lock flanges and such, you will need more expensive toys to play with. Hope this helps.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=cone+skimmer
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40 Breeder DIY external overflow, closed loop, skimmer, sump, dosers,.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef w 20 gal sump/40gal reef w 20gal sump |
07/08/2010, 09:28 AM | #17 |
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for my skimmers all you need is time and a router... also used a band saw to make templates.....
for the cone bodies i form my own, i dont buy them..... |
07/08/2010, 01:52 PM | #18 |
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07/08/2010, 01:54 PM | #19 |
undercover reefer
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how do you form your own cone ? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW
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EDDIE WOULD GO Current Tank Info: 25 gallon lagoon. Apex controller. Ghl mitras 6100. Mp10 skimmerless triton method |
07/08/2010, 02:02 PM | #20 |
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Here is mine. I would like to try a cone body with a 15" or 16" base and a 6" neck maybe around 30" tall Last edited by brandon0350; 07/08/2010 at 02:13 PM. |
07/08/2010, 03:27 PM | #21 |
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07/08/2010, 03:52 PM | #22 |
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How do you form them? I really wanna try one
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07/08/2010, 03:56 PM | #23 |
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BTW that is amazing
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07/08/2010, 10:21 PM | #24 |
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OMG, I am trying to envision the size of tank you could skim with that thing, and failing, lol. What are you using that behemoth for?
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40 Breeder DIY external overflow, closed loop, skimmer, sump, dosers,.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef w 20 gal sump/40gal reef w 20gal sump |
07/09/2010, 09:52 AM | #25 |
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Location: Tallahassee, FL
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Wow, some of these skimmers are pretty awesome. When I get a bigger tank I think i'll have to try my hand at this club.
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