Diy Skimmer

[Matthew5664]

This is the plan for the skimmer havent worked out sizes yet but you get the jist

And this is the skimmer in the system.

Think this is how i should have it in the system?? The drain off from the collection cup goes to a tray of sorts for emptying. Should i add gate valves into the system to alter the flow between the main tank and the sump/skimmer??

Also is a overflow( Hang on the back kind ), Weir ( side of the tank drilled kind ) or stand pipe ( drill the bottom of the tank kind ) best for the system??


I've posted somthing like this in the DIY section but haven't had many replys so I've tryed here.

 

[Opcn]

why dont you put the water in spout higher up, so you get reverse flow, as it is I think most of the water with bubbles in it would be pushed into your tank and bypass the riser.

 

[Matthew5664]

Do you meen something like this?

???

 

[andywg]

No

Where the in line turns and points down, have it carry on accross and enter the top of the reaction chamber.

Also try Skimmer design

HIH

Andy

 

[Matthew5664]

Thanks Andy edited it a bit and this is what I think you meen, Proberly got it wrong again

Is it ok to use the venturi valve insted of an airstone and pump??

As for the plumbing in what do you think on the design? I think there should be gate valves to ajust the flow rates between the main tank, skimmer and sump?

 

[superman]

It would be easier to place the skimmer in the sump, put a pump on the skimmer that has a needle wheel (I use a Sedra) and just pull water from inside the sump. If you absolutely can not put the skimmer in the sump, then do a recirculating skimmer with a needlwheel pump (venturi still attached to the needlwheel pump) and direct your overflow water directly into the body of thes skimmer, of course controlling this with a bleed line before the skimmer (discharging in sump) and using a gate valve on the output of the skimmer to control water height within the skimmer body. I would drill the back or side of the main tank and add a stand pipe oveflow to drain to the sump. Many tanks are tempered on the bottom, so I would not risk drilling the bottom of the tank.

 

[Matthew5664]

Thanks Superman once again you come to the rescue! I'll try and edit the drawing that I've done and post it at some time over the weekend.


If the skimmer is in the sump and the water has enough fall i don't think that i will need a pump to draw in air from the venturi valve? Also should i have a bypass on the main tank out let that cuts out the skimmer???

 

[Matthew5664]

like this?

 

[superman]

like this?

If placing the skimmer int the sump, DO NOT use a bleed line on the overflow pipe coming from the show tank to cut out the skimmmer. I haev tried to do what you are trying to do, run a venturi off of a tanks overflow pipe, do yourself a favor and just use a pump to run the skimmer. I can elaborate on the ins and outs of trying to run a skimmer off of overflow pressure if you like, but the short story is that it would take A LOT of pllumbing, testing, and replumbing, and also very large diameter overflow piping.

 

[Matthew5664]

So i sould stick with that last design. What about a bypass on the overflow to cut out the skimmer???

 

[superman]

Your bypass is what I reffered to as a bleed line, do not use a bypass. Do not put a baffle between the overflow water and your skimmer, in fact place the skimmer pump directly under your overflow pipe outlet, this way less proteins will end up floating right over and past your protein skimmer pump.

 

[Matthew5664]

sorry superman sometimes i can be a little thick. When you said bleed line i thought of an air line Don't know y???

I've taken heed of what you've posted and cume up with hopfuly the last design.

This has the overflow outlet straight down onto the skimmer pump. The inlet to the reaction chamber is going to be higher than the water level so won't need a air lind in the venturi valve. the second ares in the sump is for the heater, however could i use it for some other kine of filtration??? Mech/LR??

Thanks for all your help and time I'm not easy to teach!!


Oh! just came to me, how or will i be able to incorparate an auto top-up system??

 

[superman]

sorry superman sometimes i can be a little thick. When you said bleed line i thought of an air line Don't know y???

I've taken heed of what you've posted and cume up with hopfuly the last design.

This has the overflow outlet straight down onto the skimmer pump. The inlet to the reaction chamber is going to be higher than the water level so won't need a air lind in the venturi valve. the second ares in the sump is for the heater, however could i use it for some other kine of filtration??? Mech/LR??

Thanks for all your help and time I'm not easy to teach!!


Oh! just came to me, how or will i be able to incorparate an auto top-up system??

The air bubbles induced by a venturi placed after the pump will be much too large to get good skimmate (though you would get some) instead go with a needlewheel pump (like a sedra or ocean runner) that has the venturi on the input of the pump and you will get some crazy fine bubbles, exactly what you are looking for.

 

[fishyguy43]

im thinking about making a sump like this. my skimmer will be in the sump. The sump will be made out of a 20 gallon long glass tank. it will be filtering my 55 gallon reef tank should i put bio balls or sponges inside the sump somwhere? or will live plants,live rock and live sand be enough to filter my tank? sorry for jumping into ur conversation

 

[Matthew5664]

NP. fishyguy43

I was under the impression that the live rock in the main tank will supply the bio filtration you need the sand in the main tank will be seeded by it. The sumps refugium has miracle mud in to replenish the trace elements taken out by the skimmer. The Plans in the refugium use the waste PO4,NO3 and 4 and turn it in to plant matter also alge growth aiding the filtration. One could use some sort of other media in the sump to polish the water or remove medication (carbon) I think the idea of a sump in to increase the volume of water so to dilute the contaminates However don't believe everything I've said B/C I haven't even got a Marine tank yet.