DIY Large skimmer... anyone interested in making one with me?

[Reef55]

I am going to start ordering parts for a 30" tall main body, 12" diameter skimmer. I have an extra 8" diameter cup too. The 12" diameter cast acrylic 1/8" wall tubing comes in 5 foot lengths, so it would be enough for two of these skimmers. If someone wanted the other half, it would be $175. The extra 8" diameter cup (bottom already in place, top open), you could have for $25.

My design will use a cone transition between the 12" body and a 4" riser tube. It will have a wet neck also. It will be set up as a recirculating skimmer using 3 Gen-x 6000 needlewheel pumps.

Basically, this will be the same dimensions as a Euroreef RC1000, but with a wet neck added, and a whole lot cheaper.

Who's with me?

 

[RichConley]

Hey Marc, with a 30" tall body, you may end up needing to use an airpump on those NW pumps. They have a hard time pulling air against that much head.

(you could always mount them up high, and have them pump down....)

 

[Reef55]

Rich, I can't tell you how many hours I have spent researching this skimmer... I have gone through so many iterations in my head I have lost track.

The pumps will be mounted part way up the skimmer. The beauty of how they will be plumbed is that I can move them up or down to see how it effects the output.

Thank you for the reminder

 

[ReeferMedic]

The G6 I'm getting is 4' tall. I think you just need to make sure you constrict the top some how of the cylinder. If you don't, it will be more like an ETSS and you'll have to use an Iwaki or something similiar. I could be a little off here. That's how I understand it though.

 

[Reef55]

The G6 I'm getting is 4' tall. I think you just need to make sure you constrict the top some how of the cylinder. If you don't, it will be more like an ETSS and you'll have to use an Iwaki or something similiar. I could be a little off here. That's how I understand it though.

Not quite sure what you mean... The body to rise tube transition is going to be a cone, like the ones used on a bubble king.

Don't know why constricting the top has anything to do with making this into a becket skimmer?

 

[NateHanson]

Sounds pretty sweet Mark! That's going to put our last skimmer build to shame. If I were doing it again (even for a small skimmer like the ones we did) I'd go with recirculating like your are.

 

[ReeferMedic]

The body to rise tube transition is going to be a cone, like the ones used on a bubble king.

Sounds like you have it covered. Sorry for the bad explaination.......

 

[Reef55]

Nate, well, I don't know about that... proof is in the pudding right?

No worries Reefermedic, I was slightly confused myself

 

[Pat H.]

Mark, I can help out with machining if you like. Maybe I can make one at the same time. How many gallons will this be good for?

 

[Reef55]

Patrick,
According to euroreef's same dimensions skimmer, around 1000 gallons.
Certainly would like to do two at the same time, much more fun that way

Mark

 

[NateHanson]

Hehe! 1000 gallons!

Kinda makes you feel all tingley doesn't it?

 

[Pat H.]

Wow, that's a beast!

I just did a little research on the pumps you plan to use. They're 130 watts each? That would be 390 watts to run this bad boy? I run a MTC HSA 500 becket skimmer now with a Blueline 30x(or something like that) using about 70watts. Going up to 390 watts is turning me off I've been trying to cut back on the electricity bill. Would there be a way to use this skimmer with less wattage?

Don't get me wrong, I can still help with machining, I just might wait for building one myself until I find a more efficient(run cost) design. I don't plan on my system ever being over 500 gallons.

 

[Clam Man]

I am going to start ordering parts for a 30" tall main body, 12" diameter skimmer. I have an extra 8" diameter cup too. The 12" diameter cast acrylic 1/8" wall tubing comes in 5 foot lengths, so it would be enough for two of these skimmers. If someone wanted the other half, it would be $175. The extra 8" diameter cup (bottom already in place, top open), you could have for $25.

My design will use a cone transition between the 12" body and a 4" riser tube. It will have a wet neck also. It will be set up as a recirculating skimmer using 3 Gen-x 6000 needlewheel pumps.

Basically, this will be the same dimensions as a Euroreef RC1000, but with a wet neck added, and a whole lot cheaper.

Who's with me?

My design will use a cone transition between the 12" body and a 4" riser
I may be missing somthing but could you tell me what your going to use for this transition,and how big is your tank.

 

[NateHanson]

According to this table the efficiency really drops off with the bigger pumps in this series. The pump one size smaller uses half as much electricity, yet maintains over 2/3rds of the flow.

How did you decide what size recirculating pumps to use for this? (I'm not asking because I have any idea otherwise, just curious if this is a standard amount of flow to run through a recirc skimmer this size).

 

[Reef55]

Based on the Euroreef RC1000 is where the pump came from. I hadn't looked at power used by them. I might go with 4 of the GX4100's instead. There are more efficient pumps... the sedra's or the Ocean Runners. Problem is they have a higher initial cost, and don't have standard fittings... you have to custom fab a way to plumb them for external use.

 

[NateHanson]

Have you checked the needlewheels Jeremy stocks at CRA? I have no idea how they rate on price or consumption, but that might be another option.

 

[G.T]

You could have a 60 inch reaction tube with coned head and cup and 2 simple ocean runner 3500's with needle wheels as recirculators. and another pump feeding the skimmer which enters the skimmer half way up the reaction tube. This is a tremendous skimmer reliable and cheap to run and easy to make.

 

[Reef55]

G.T. Is that a 6" diameter tube? How far down are the OR's? Could you post more pics please? Thanks

Mark

 

[NateHanson]

GT, could you post a detail shot of the neck and collection cup joints? How is all that attached, and how is the cup removed?

 

[Reef55]

Ok... did some more math.

Modeling after a Euroreef 750... takes Genx-4100 pumps (3 of them). Now, the values for wattage above are for the normal, non-needlewheel pumps. The needlewheels use considerably less energy, and from what I have read, it is around 45 watts for the gen-x 4100 needlewheel, so this would only mean around 135 watts. 12" diameter, 24" tall. I could buy a 6 foot piece, and 3 of us could make them. I can work on a total cost for each person, assuming people are interested.

Mark