wanareef Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Been busy today building my skimmer for the new tank. The cone was made in the oven and it's extruded material vs cast. The extruded is eaiser to form than the cast - I tried several times and the cone just would not come up. The extruded one I got a nice "tall" cone. The neck is a friction fit made with three pieces of acrylic, 1/4" on the out sides and 3/8" on the inside. The first one I made (tried) was all 1/4" but the "O" ring would not go in, and it's suppose to be 1/4" material DOH! Just waiting for the pumps(Sedra's 9000 meshmod) to get here so I can finish the skimmer. Will be using Uni-Seals for the pumps and the outlet. This is a "little" big for a 79gal tank, but I made this for the future upgrade and won't have to build another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 nice! What are the deminsions? Neck diameter, body diameter, and how tall? Your going to use 2 sendra pumps? Why did you chose sendra? Looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 DOH! (nutty) The body is 10" cast, the neck is 6" cast as well as the flat pieces. The cone is the only non cast piece and it forms in the oven really nice. It's about 24" tall, fit under the stand and I choose Sedra's and I had used them before, they work great, the price is right $109 ea, free shipping for 2, 2yr warranty and parts are readily available anywhere. I wanted to use these Sicce's but these are new and made in Italy, parts are still filtering in and not everybody carries them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Hey Charles, that is comming along very nicely. I am trully impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com has the Sicce PSK-2500 for $125.99. If I were you I would run the Dart ORCA on your monster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Wow! You take this DIY thing seriously! Don't know too many folks who hand craft skimmer cones. Looks like a great project. How much is your cost on this compared with an equivalent (purchased) setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 The most $$ are the pumps, either the Sedra 9000 x2 @ $220.00 or the Orca NW @ $250.00 The tube was $50/ft @ 6ft length - so far maybe $125.00 up to this point. Maybe add another $15 in PVC and Uniseals $360.00 when done. The Deltic AP702 would be close to this DIY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Not bad Charles. Whatcha gonna do with the bottom? Bubble Plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 how much time have you invested in this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Not sure if I will have a Bubble Plate. Won't need a bubble plate if I hook up one of those Reeflo Orca's. (rock2) Time wise, probably 3 hrs here and there and about a good solid 2hrs for the friction neck and flanges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COReefer Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Wow awesome job. How is this coming along?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishKiler Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Could you describe how you made the cone in the oven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Fishkiller here's the link to RC for the cone. I used ply and when the acrylic got soft enough it took the shape of the plywood. DOH! Then I used MDF but that's not too good heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 nice job charles i want to see that skimmer in action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Nice work! I really like the friction-fit neck. For the cone, it's also possible to make one using a heat gun. I tried making one the BBQ, but quit when I almost set the MDF jig on fire :-D The heat gun worked, without the conflagration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Nice work! I really like the friction-fit neck. For the cone, it's also possible to make one using a heat gun. I tried making one the BBQ, but quit when I almost set the MDF jig on fire :-D The heat gun worked, without the conflagration. Wow Andy I had to look that one up Conflagration- Pronunciation: \ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən\ Function:noun Etymology:Latin conflagration-, conflagratio, from conflagrareDate:1600 1: fire ; especially : a large disastrous fire2: conflict, war Here are some videos too....................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Wednesdays are Vocabulary Day at PNWMAS ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 Wednesdays are Vocabulary Day at PNWMAS ;-) No, No, No more stinking Vokabyoularry days, I kan't spel as* it is (laugh) (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 The skimmer is finished, but just too big to fit the little space I left it so I made another one. DOH! It's the same size as the MSX160 but without the base Originally the gate valve came straight out making a 45 to the pump, but that was tooo wide and had to make a change with the 45 elbow. And also had to take the corner off the back so the skimmer would shift a little in the sump The pump intake is facing downward and there is about 1/2" or less of spacing between the bottom of the sump and the intake - no sucking bubbles here (nono) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 So what good is a skimmer without the collector It's about 15" tall and the tube is 6". I ran out of 3/8" material so I used some 1/4" black (which is too thin for a lid material) and ran an "O" ring groove in the (top) lid and the (bottom) flange since it was only 1/4" material. There is a ping pong ball in the bottom of the looong white tube, filter floss and charcoal above that, to keep the stink down. Now if only my tank would finish cycling (nutty)(sad)DOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 nice job you are a skilled plastics worker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 Thanks Roy , don't speak too soon DOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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