My new Deltech based DIY skimmer

[CHEAPREEF]

I've been wanting to try out a Deltec based skimmer for a while now, so while i was building my new sump i thought "what better time". A buddy gave me his old DIY venturi skimmer after i sold him my DIY beckett, so that's what i used. I just didn't want to go spend any money on anther project that i might not finish/or work. For those interested i took quit a few pics as i built it so could post some build up pics and messurements if anybody wants. Just remember this was a bunch of used stuff and only spent a day wipping together.

Here's what it looked like when i got it
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_016.sized.jpg

Here's what i ended up with.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_061.sized.jpg

It is gravity feed from my overflow, uses 2 maxijet 1200's with bioball pinwheel impellers and works like a charm so far. :mrgreen:

Clinton

[Skimmerking]

Clinton you have to much time on your hands
can you make on for a HO skimmer

LOL

[Jack]

Cool. Where do you get pinwheel impellers or is that DIY?

[CHEAPREEF]

Bioballs are good for something. :cool:

http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_072.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_073.sized.jpg

Clinton

[Jack]

Pretty smart. Looks like you've discovered the secret to a DIY Euro-Reef.

Another quick question. What size and schedule pvc fits the Maxi-Jet's?

[CHEAPREEF]

Pretty smart.
Another quick question. What size and schedule pvc fits the Maxi-Jet's?

I know. :mrgreen: Just kidding, with a little heat the 1/2" sh40 pvc will fit the input. With a little heat a piece of vinyl hose and a hose clamp it fits the output.

Clinton

[LostMind]

hey! more pics! I dont understand how that works!

Ps - thanx! :))

[Jack]

Thanks Clinton.

[CHEAPREEF]

What pics would you like me to post, i have a whole bunch. Do you want them all or is there a certain part you'd like explained?

Oh and Jack, it's more of a Deltec than a Euroreef. It's gravity feed, or fed off another pump and then the two maxijets recirculate the water/air mix. Should be more efficient, maybe. :mrgreen:

Clinton

[Jack]

No, I understand Clint. I'm just saying the Euro-Reef uses the pinwheel impeller on their pumps too. Thats why it can get such a large ammount of small bubbles with a relativly small pump (compared to becketts) Otherwise I think Euro-reefs would be easy to DIY. :wink: Just wondering if you had another project in mind with the pinwheel impeller.

[CHEAPREEF]

Just wondering if you had another project in mind with the pinwheel impeller.

Like what?

Clinton

[Jack]

Just a Euro-Reef. :rolleyes:

Any pics of the new skimmer running?

[CHEAPREEF]

Oh, ok. :cool: Here are a few pics of it after about 18hrs of breakin. Didn't really start to even foam in the riser until 12hrs in.

http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_074.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_075.sized.jpg

Clinton

[Jack]

That's pretty cool. Not a bad little design.

I guess this is running on your little cube tank?

[LostMind]

hmmm, after looking at it closely, I think I understand how this works...

feed the skimmer with a small pump from your tank... or overflow in this case...

the two maxijets grab the water from the bottom, suck up some air thru the hose you have dialed into your pvc intake pipe somehow...

the modified maxijet impeller churns the crap outta the water and air to make tiny bubbles...

all makes sense now.

Got 1 question tho...

If you flipped the maxijets return and intake, would it increase the efficiency of the skimmer?

[CHEAPREEF]

Got 1 question tho...

If you flipped the maxijets return and intake, would it increase the efficiency of the skimmer?

Most likely would be better if i mounted the pumps lower, but you need a venturi on the intake to pull the air in. I might have been ale to get another 1" lower but that's about it. The overflow runs about 550gph throught the skimmer and the maxijets recirculate the water and air. Here are a few more pics of the venturis ect.

http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_024.sized.jpg
1/4"air intake.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_036.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_034.sized.jpg

Here's what i used for the union, 4" pvc and cap and plug.

http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_019.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_027.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_030.sized.jpg

Clinton

[LostMind]

ahhh, mounting it lower makes sense.

I really like this idea... can you post a couple of updates for me? :)

[mnoll406]

Hey Clinton,
How did you mount the pinwheel impellers in the powerhead? Also what is the venturi, and where did you get the pieces for it? More pics and description would be great.

Mike

[CHEAPREEF]

Here's how i did the venturi, the parts used are
1/2" barb to slip joint fitting(gray fitting)
tip from a silicone tube (screw on type)
1/4" 90 deg (from garden section home depot)
section o 1/2" pvc

Here is the parts cut and readdy to go into the pvc. They are justpush fit as i wanted to be able to take all this apart if it didn't work. The barb fitting is 1 3/8" long, silicone tube end 2 /34" long and the pvc is 3 1/4" long
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_024.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_025.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_038.sized.jpg

Here is the 1/4" 90deg i used, you have to take the barb down on one side to fit it in the hole you drill.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_036.sized.jpg

Drill a 5/32" hole 3/16" up from the barb fitting end of the pvc, once everything is pushed together firmly.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_039.sized.jpg

And here it is all put together, the end that goes over the pump input had to be heated slitly to fit. Just heat it with a lighter ect just till it softens and push it on so it's a snug fit.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_034.sized.jpg

Clinton

[CHEAPREEF]

The output of the pump also has to be moded to fit. The 1/2" pvc is pushed over a piece of 1/2" vinyl tube and heated. Tighten a hose clamp over it so it's just firm, let it cool down and remove the clamp and you'll have a snug air tight fit that can be removed later. Vinyl tube is 3/4" long and the 1/2" tube is 2 1/2" long.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_031.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_040.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_032.sized.jpg

Clinton

[CHEAPREEF]

The pinwheel is just push fit with a little krazy glue, just drill out the center with a bit just a little smaller than the powerhead shaft your going to use. If you can find the larger "blue" bioballs it's way easier as they have a hole in the center and they fit a little closer to the outside of the housing. I can't find tham in Edmonton (unless i want a huge box), that's way i used the black ones.

Clinton

[LostMind]

Wow, thanx clinton :)

[mnoll406]

Hey Clinton,
Couple more questions. What is the diameter of the body of the skimmer?, What did you use to go on top of the skimmer (funnel), and what did you use to glue it?, What size maxijet power heads?, Also for the pinwheel/bioball, did you remove the wheel part of the stock impeller, or just trim off the blades? How is the skimmer working now that it has been skimming for a while? Thanks for all the help.

Mike

[CHEAPREEF]

Holy :eek: just a few ?? :mrgreen: Ok here goes. Body diameter is 6" and the height of te reaction chamber is 14". I used welon 3 and a little 16 for teh PVC to acrylic joints. The maxijets are 1200's, you remove just the i guess "wheel" part and replace with the bio ball. It was only running for about 20hrs and i had to shut it down to move/setup some stuff. I'll have it working agin today sometime and i'll keep you guys posted.

The "funnel" shape is a piece of acylic i heated and formed. It's made from 1/8" used a 6" coffee can and a 3" piece of cardboard tube. Heated it with a propane torch and press down on the tube so it's recessed about an 1 1/2". Here are a few pcs of the top and the union type fitting i built.

This is how i formed the top.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_004.sized.jpg


Clinton

[CHEAPREEF]

Just an update on how it's working, had to shut it down after the last "in action" shot to move it. Got it up and running and in my sump as of yesterday morning, stopped putting my hands int he tank and adjusting it and here's how it's working.

http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_089.sized.jpg

It's getting better as i leave it be. :wink:

Clinton

[CHEAPREEF]

Oh, and no comments on the nice lid, i haven't had the time to making one yet. :smile:

Clinton

[EmilyB]

Oh I remember reading about that bioball thingy a while back....let me see if I can find the link...



http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88687&highlight=bioball+impeller

Yeah, some pretty good directions there, now I just need some blue balls.

:mrgreen: :razz:

[CHEAPREEF]

Never saw that link, found a few others. Here is where i got the ides from quit awhile ago. http://camelreef.free.fr/skimmer/skimmer.html :smile:

Clinton

[Delphinus]

... , now I just need some blue balls.

:eek:

[mnoll406]

Hey Deb,
Just bought a box of them. I could spare a couple.

Mike

[CHEAPREEF]

Just a final update on how it works. This is after 1 week of running 24/7 on my 15gal nano, with a 15gal sump.

This is just after i shut it off to clean it.
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_126.sized.jpg

It pulled out 1 cup of the worst smelling stuff. :crazyeye:
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_125.sized.jpg
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_131.sized.jpg

And the one fish tank i's skimming. :smile:
http://www.nacdsm.org/albums/album18/Picture_104.sized.jpg

Clinton

[EmilyB]

Hey Deb,
Just bought a box of them. I could spare a couple.

Mike

I knew he wouldn't sell you a handful..... :lol:

Sure next time I see you I'll grab a few.

[LostMind]

I hope you dont use that measuring cup for anything else ever again!!