DIY skimmer success!
- Thread starter crister13
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Jlsardina
Aquarium Advice Addict
Got a write up of how you made it?
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'll try tomorrow I'm tired lol. You ever built one?
Jlsardina
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nope. Lol. I'm lazy and bought mine
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
I bought a reef octo like 2 months ago but it's SOOOO loud I figured I'd make one! It was fun!
Jlsardina
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'd love to see the make up of it. I'm looking to get a skimmer rated up to 600 gallons and rather than spend $$$ I would like to build it and save the money. Lol
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
Heres goes. This is gonna be fun haha.
Parts list:
2" PVC union
1' 4" PVC
8" 2" PVC
4" to 2" coupling
5x 1/2" elbows
1/2" PVC
2x 1/2" ball valves
1/2" female adapter (with mag drive 7)
1/2" male adapter (with mag drive 7)
Misc container for collection cup
Airline tubing
Limewood airstone
Air pump
GE silicone 1
PVC cement
PVC primer
pill bottle
drill (and the correct things for drilling the holes)
What I did: I should have drilled the holes first but didnt which was stupid. Do this!!!!!!!
I used the male adapter to connect to the input of the pump so I could make a DIY venturi system and made a DIY air muffler with the pill bottle. I used the female adapter to connect to the mag 7 and then an elbow and a ball valve. Then once inside the skimmer i put an elbow on the line so it would spash against the bottom and create smaller/more bubbles. I then mad the return with 1/2" PVC and put the pipe where I wanted the MIN water level to be. I attached a ball valve to this so I could adjust the level in the skimmer. I also put an elbow facing upwards on the output of the skimmer so some microbubbles would pop/float back to the surface immediately. I then drilled a 1/4" hole for the airline tubing and put the limewood airstone on for more foam. Obviously I attached the air pump to this. I sealed all the holes I drilled with silicone BTW. Then I siliconed the piece of acrylic to the bottom for a base of the skimmer. Then I decided to make the neck of the skimmer and attach it later. I got the 8" piece of 2" PVC and cur it in half so I had 2 4" lengths. I put a union in between so I could remove the collection cup. Then I put my misc collection cup on it by drilling a hole for the neck in the bottom and siliconing it on. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the side of the collection cup for airline tubing so I can collect the skimmate in some other container. I then attacehd this to the other part of the skimmer and it was done. Any questions are welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parts list:
2" PVC union
1' 4" PVC
8" 2" PVC
4" to 2" coupling
5x 1/2" elbows
1/2" PVC
2x 1/2" ball valves
1/2" female adapter (with mag drive 7)
1/2" male adapter (with mag drive 7)
Misc container for collection cup
Airline tubing
Limewood airstone
Air pump
GE silicone 1
PVC cement
PVC primer
pill bottle
drill (and the correct things for drilling the holes)
What I did: I should have drilled the holes first but didnt which was stupid. Do this!!!!!!!
I used the male adapter to connect to the input of the pump so I could make a DIY venturi system and made a DIY air muffler with the pill bottle. I used the female adapter to connect to the mag 7 and then an elbow and a ball valve. Then once inside the skimmer i put an elbow on the line so it would spash against the bottom and create smaller/more bubbles. I then mad the return with 1/2" PVC and put the pipe where I wanted the MIN water level to be. I attached a ball valve to this so I could adjust the level in the skimmer. I also put an elbow facing upwards on the output of the skimmer so some microbubbles would pop/float back to the surface immediately. I then drilled a 1/4" hole for the airline tubing and put the limewood airstone on for more foam. Obviously I attached the air pump to this. I sealed all the holes I drilled with silicone BTW. Then I siliconed the piece of acrylic to the bottom for a base of the skimmer. Then I decided to make the neck of the skimmer and attach it later. I got the 8" piece of 2" PVC and cur it in half so I had 2 4" lengths. I put a union in between so I could remove the collection cup. Then I put my misc collection cup on it by drilling a hole for the neck in the bottom and siliconing it on. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the side of the collection cup for airline tubing so I can collect the skimmate in some other container. I then attacehd this to the other part of the skimmer and it was done. Any questions are welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
Oh and I also made the air muffler out of the pill bottle of I didn't say that haha. Here are some pics. And just as a side note, I made this design up. It wasn't from instruction.
Attachments
Saratj1
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Let's see it in action, I may be interested in building something like that if it works,
I wonder if the PVC will let the bubbles climb up as good as acrylic or not?
What type of skimmer is it? Like downdraft or Venturi ?
I wonder if the PVC will let the bubbles climb up as good as acrylic or not?
What type of skimmer is it? Like downdraft or Venturi ?
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well, it's working like a boss!!! The venturi didn't really do much for bubbles but I already had a limewood airstone in there and it foams amazingly. I already have yellow crap water in the collection cup!
OP
OP
crister13
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nu-Nu the eel
Aquarium Advice Addict
Haha that looks nasty.... Good though...
