DIY Skimmer Air Filter

[Liam]

I was talking the other day with Shawn(shunter) about filtering the air going into our skimmers.
There are many airborne pollutants in the home,some people draw their skimmer air from outside to help keep ph up and since inside the skimmer is often how the pollutants are injected into our systems i feel it is a good idea to filter that air being drawn in.Especially seeing that some skimmers these days pull a ton of air
we discussed various ways of drawing the air through carbon and Shawn had the great idea of using some kind of home filter element.

From the idea i designed and built this filter box.It is 12x12x3 and made from acrylic.It houses a carbon filter used for removing stove fumes.
I routed the box so the filter slides in and out for easy replacement.
I also put a barbed fitting to connect the skimmer air hose to.
The key for a filter on a skimmer is not to restrict the airflow to the skimmer,so we decided a large surface area filter would work best.

what do you think?? are we nuts

 

[Liam]

here is a closer look at the groove.
I used a 3/8 router and made a groove 1/4 inch deep.I then flame polished the groove which removed a lot of the router marks(not all though)

 

[Liam]

here is another pic of the filter element in the groove

 

[Liam]

end view

 

[delta]

hat do you think?? are we nuts

LOL Definitely nuts

Nice idea though Skimmer keep the skimmer from putting stuff back into the system.

 

[smcnally]

Are you getting bored, Liam? You are nuts, but it is a good idea

 

[S Hunter]

Cant wait to see what that filter looks like in a months time..

 

[Leroy]

I like the idea. To think about what air borne is pulled in thru the air but yet we utilize carbon thru the water system.

There's a fine line between genius and insanity that makes us capable to create what has been invented and a part of our lives.

 

[Aquaman_68]

Cant wait to see what that filter looks like in a months time..

probably have dust..or lint like you would pull out of a cloths dryer filter....

 

[Dave McReeferson]

Might be a good idea to put an air gauge in line to the skimmer so you can gauge when it is time for replacing the element.

Nice work.

 

[Liam]

Might be a good idea to put an air gauge in line to the skimmer so you can gauge when it is time for replacing the element.

Nice work.

good idea Dave

 

[ReeferMedic]

Aren't we all a bit nuts? Looks like a great idea guys, so long as it doesn't restrict airflow as already mentioned.

 

[Liam]

Aren't we all a bit nuts? Looks like a great idea guys, so long as it doesn't restrict airflow as already mentioned.

i have'nt hooked it up yet don as i the glue is still giving of some fumes.


i did suck on it though,no resistance whatsover

 

[ReeferMedic]

i have'nt hooked it up yet don as i the glue is still giving of some fumes.


i did suck on it though,no resistance whatsover

Now that's a funny visual! Did you at least catch a buzz?

 

[S Hunter]

Now that's a funny visual! Did you at least catch a buzz?

I was waiting for that one...

 

[SaltCreep]

I let my skimmer pull through an 8 inch section of PVC that is packed loosley with carbon and a dessicant ( it gets OZONE too).

The is a little resistance.....but not much.

 

[Reef55]

That is one heck of a nice air filter for a skimmer in a house with no display tank

 

[Dave McReeferson]

That is one heck of a nice air filter for a skimmer in a house with no display tank

LOL!

 

[JohnK]

Yup totally nuts. Complete overkill.

I might just have to build a copy tommorow night

 

[Dave McReeferson]

This whole hobby is overkill, let's all just admit that up front. That skimmer filter is just a little crazy, especially when compared to "the big crazy" of reefing.