Guys.. Need your help with this skimmer project!

[Michael_Lambert]

So this is the idea i have!!!

http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/536/551Skimmer-idea-med.jpg

What i need to know is what dimentions should i make the skimmer box?


This is the injector unit i have now and am going to use.. its a Becket injector in a custom housing.. with a nice little air control valve..

http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/536/551Becket-injector-1-med.jpg

a second shot to show how nicly it comes apart to be cleaned!

http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/536/551Becket-injector-2-med.jpg

So again.. I got some nice 1/4 inch acrylic that i want to make the box out of .. just looking to see what size i should make it?

I was thinking

6 inches long, by 6 inches wide by 6 inches tall? would that be too big? small???

and the drain valve.. i was thinking 1 inch? with ballvalve to control the water level?


Please and thanks..

Mike,
mlambert@rogers.com

[Michael_Lambert]

So i scrounded up some scraps... Some 4 inch tubing.. and tossed it together...

now there are many leaks in it.. becouse of the scraps.. and not having it cut right it was hard to really assemble right.. lol but it was a good pratice item!...

here you go :)


http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/500/551NewSkimmer-TEsting-med.jpg

This was about 5 mins after fireing it up... :eek1: :eek1:

Was kind shocked.. I could only image how well it would work wit out all the little leaks and sprays.. lol
http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/500/551NewSkimmer-TEsting2-med.jpg

Please keep in mind.. that this is the first time i worked with acrylic.. lol

http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/500/551NewSkimmer-TEsting3-med.jpg

http://aquariacanada.com/PhotoPost/data/500/551NewSkimmer-TEsting4-med.jpg

[Mckitrick]

Hey Mike. Nice one! It started pulling crap out right away! Can you give us a little detail on your beckett housing?

Use Weldon 16 (Model glue consistency) to make up for less than perfect cuts/matches in your acrylic...

[Michael_Lambert]

Paul the becket hosing was given to me from the guys i bought my new tank off me.. THEO, im sure he is reading maybe he can help you more on that..

I was using the menthonal chroine? And then i think it was weldon 30.. Found it impossible to work with.. was hardening allmost right away.. Very hard..

The skimmer was the first try.. and turned out to be a very leaky skimmer:)

as for the Becket .. i really dont like the way it working.. I mean its producing tons of LARGE bubbles.. Not like the Venturi does where it turns the water nice and milky...

im going to wait till the new year.. and try and track down some 6 or 8 inch tubing and make another one this time much more tubing.. thinking 2 feet and much less box like maybe 2 inches high.. and run it with a Venturi with my 2200GPH pump..

I mena i really rushed this one..

Put it together in about an hour and a 1/2 and was testing it right away.. not curing time.. and well as im sure i was using the wrong glue.. very hard to work with... more like a semi dried Rubber cement compound.. not like modling Glue.

paul,

do yo have some shots of your running?

[tyrisis]

well you could fix the leaks with some regular silly cone... :)

Tyson

[Michael_Lambert]

i was thinking that.. But silicone does not stick well to Acrylic to begin with.. and with the amount of pressure in the Box part of the skimmer im not sure it would hold?

its ok.. lol

this skimmer im calling SCRAPY!.. just becouse it was made of all scrap acrylic.. lol.. Some 1/4 inch thick.. some 5/8ths.. lol and scratched up ..

the Next one i try.. Im going to use colored acrylic for the box and make it much smaller.. About 2 inches high.. and looking to use 6 inch tubing and make it 2 feet instead of this 8 inches i have now.. and run a 2200GPH pound pump on it through a 1/2 Kent Venturi.

[ian cooper]

Paul, where can I get Weldon 15 or 35 here in Ontario. Local hardware stores don't stock it. Where did you get yours? Thanks.
Ian

[Michael_Lambert]

Ian...

I was told i could get from a place called Warehouse of plastic in scarborough...

416-465-3591 I have not called them yet though!!http://img.yellowpages.ca/images/customer/267/2670867b.gif

[Mckitrick]

I got my Weldon 16 in Cambridge. I know a few others here that use Warehoused Plastic Sales for Acrylic Tubing, glue, etc. and they're probably closer to you so you might want to go with those guys.

The guys I used were:
Central Plastic Sales
127 Sheldon Drive, Unit 2
Cambridge, ON
519-622-3855

A 5oz Tube cost me $14.75 plus tax.

[Michael_Lambert]

Hey paul

What kind of router and bit did you guys use to finish your skimmer? for around the trim and stuff.. I think if i use my demel with a nice router bit i could clean it up around the edges and reseal it all..

[ian cooper]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll stop by Scarborough and pick up some 15 and 35. Godd information, I've been looking for awhile.
Ian

[stephane]

If you work with extrude tubing like I see on the picture you best glue will be weld on two part #40

The number 16 can cause some minor crack

if you use cast no problem for the # 16

to fisnish the joint when you cut tubing only fix a sand paper on a flat piece and turn your tubing on it util it is nice

this way you will not need any thick glue


beter use a gate valve also cause the ball valve you use is not goos to adjust skimmer level

hope this will help

[Hark]

i used warehouse plastics for all my tubing and glue......prices were great and the guy that owns the store was a big help...he cut some of the acrylic for me on his saw free of charge.

paully you had to order that glue though right? I need some more to finish off a project, likely another tube...

Hark

I agree with stephane too on the gate valve...I tried to save a few bucks and go with a ball valve....but it is a real PITA to adjust hte water levels

[ScottM]

"as for the Becket .. i really dont like the way it working.. I mean its producing tons of LARGE bubbles.. Not like the Venturi does where it turns the water nice and milky... "

The Beckett injector has the ability to do a remarkable job producing very fine bubbles. The best method involves a pressure rated pump and nearly closing the air intake valve that supplies air to the injector. The more open the valve is, the larger the bubbles are - same thing if you don't have enough pressure forcing the water past the venturi within the beckett.

Scott

[Mckitrick]

TooLoud - All of our parts were cut with a CNC machine so I have no idea how it was cut... ??

Hark - Yep. I had to order the glue in advance. Just give them a ring.. .They're nice people and the owner knows a couple of people at RIM.

[Michael_Lambert]

well.. I went looking for some more acrylic tubing.. and for the cost of the stuff i wanted.. I was able to snag a new skimmer :)

Check out my new Monster thread :)

[Michael_Lambert]

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