Piero Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Have you guys seen some of the amazing DIY skimmers being built? These things look better than even the Deltecs. I'm all about saving money in a hobby where most of the equipment is technologically simple and way overpriced. Check these DIY skimmers out! Really makes me wish I had a workshop, lol. I've compiled a collection of the best in a post: link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Yah, this is the one that impresses me. This thing is amazing, uses less power than the deltec, costs less, and outperforms it!!! How can you go wrong? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=966407 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Makes me want to add a second needle wheel and pump to my skimmer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 How timely! I've almost finished my DIY skimmer. About $100, including pump... saving about $558 off the ludicrously priced Euroreef RC135 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piero Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 yeah that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Waytogo Andy!(clap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Very sweet work Andy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 so where would you get acrylic tubing around portland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 i checked tap's website and only saw 6 inch diameter, do they have wider tubing in the store? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 No, they top out at 6" US Plastics has bigger stuff but it gets hideously expensive PDQ EDIT: Though not as hideously expensive as the mongo-skimmers Deltec and Bubble-King sell. The minimum order is 5' lengths, so you'd need to get a group-buy going I think, unless you're looking to build a skimmer for Puget Sound ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 I was just hoping for something local that i could get some 12" diameter tubing from or if anyone wants to do a G B (not GB) for it to make some deltecs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronjunior Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Though not as hideously expensive as the mongo-skimmers Deltec and Bubble-King sell. The minimum order is 5' lengths' date=' so you'd need to get a group-buy going I think, unless you're looking to build a skimmer for Puget Sound ;-)[/quote'] How about a skimmer making party Might be worth it if someone had the plans to make one of these, buy parts in bulk and get our tools together and crank some out... I looked at some of those on RC listed above, but didn't see details and was getting overwhelmed. (maybe I'm weird, but I like instructions). I know my little airstone driven Redsea skimmer could do better by being replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 It's really pretty easy, not much more than drilling a few holes really. I don't think making a large skimmer would be much more difficult than a smaller one. I'd be happy to help out if I'd be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 i'd be up for that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Anyone have a drill press? I've got a table saw and shaper, but the Ni-cads on my drill crapped out :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I would love to do it too... just gotta get the time to do one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I buy all of the acrylic tubing from McMastercar.com I've found them to have some of the best prices especially if you are NOT looking for 6 ft of tubing. Also their shipping costs are very good. As for DIY skimmers they are a lot of fun to make but to get something up to Deltecs quality and performance it is NOT cheap. Here are 2 different one that I built and one is currently on my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 So, the reason that I say it's hard to match the performance of a deltec is: Good or great pump needed (Good = Ocean runner, Sedra, Gen-x, great = Ehiem, AquaBee, etc...) Good matched venturi needed transition cone neck needed for smooth bubble flow, well for large skimmer anyway But that is not to say that you cannot make a good skimmer though. In the last month or so that has been some really interesting break throws in pump impeller LINK I did that mod on my skimmer and the performance increase was amazing to say the least. Here is a video of my skimmer in action and the air it is pulling out now (around 1400 lph) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 embedded link did not work for me. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Hmm, not sure what to say it works for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robz Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 You want 12in. diameter tubing? I got 24in. sitting on my garage floor. It's called a water bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 That would be ONE huge skimmer. If anyone want to make a really cheap skimmer I have about 8 feet of 10" diameter PVC and around 10 feet of 12" diameter PVC. It would work great and be really cheap to make, but you cannot see through the body... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 For anyone else that it didnt work for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 thats a sweet skimmer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robz Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Ya Andy that is a sweet skimmer. You should post some detailed plans. Skimmer building for dummies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 any ideas about using polycarbonate instead of acrylic tubing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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