Anyone have this DIY HOB Skimmer?

[FishAreFriends2]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708skimer2.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708skimer1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708zigzag1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708foamy.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708colletcup.JPG
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=520160

I saw this in the DIY section and this thing looks like a monster. Has anyone attempted to make one and use it for their tank?

[luke33]

Thats is the silliest thing i've ever seen. lol Instead of all those horizontal shelves he should have made one vertical one in there place. Would have much more reaction time. But if it works that s cool. Looks like a USS aquatics skimmer in there beginning stages.

[FishAreFriends2]

that skimmer does look like a pain to make but it seems to work well.

[luke33]

Try and clean it!

[luke33]

And FWIW, a seaclone can work well

[luke33]

If someone wants to make a hot skimmer work very well they need an internal pump that will produce 20-30scfh with a bubble plate in it.....that doesn't have syphon problems.

[FishAreFriends2]

I have no idea how you can clean that. But this guy did make something like a seaphoon
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708fullshot.jpg

[luke33]

Take that design your seeing and turn it into a recirc and have the output have a gate valve at the end to control water level. On the input side you want the feeder pump to feed the middle of the skimmer. You would have a very nice hot skimmer if you did that. I'd make it 6-8" cast diameter. Around 24" tall total, and able to skim 150-250g tanks.

[FishAreFriends2]

This guy has some really cool hob skimmers that he made
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708recircskimmer1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42708recircskimmer2.jpg

[luke33]

Yea, i like that one. He does need to replace the ball valve on the output side with a gate valve if he wants to control the flow. I'll be looking around for that one once there's pics of it running.

[Drag Racer]

Where can I find a PVC gate valve, Non of the local hardware stores have any around here. Sorry to go off topic.

Thanks

[luke33]

Drag, here ya go

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Valves

If you use that ball valve on the output its going to either restrict your flow and maybe cause a flood or make it to difficult to control the water level. On the pump input a ball valve is the correct way to do it. And when you make a recirc don't be scarred to use a larger pump than normal as its not adding any water, just moving it around. I'm sure that skimmer could handle 500gph pump, especially if you used a t for the output to dillute the flow and air.

[Drag Racer]

Thanks Luke33 I didnt know they were that exspensive, holy crap.

[luke33]

Yea man, they suck compared to ball valve's. Just do a search for gate valve's as PA may not be the cheapest and shipping will be 7bux atleast. I'm lucky as menards has them for a few bux! lol I do like the skimmer. Let me know when you get it fired up.

[ThrowinRoost89]

dont bother with a sch 80


go to savco.com, they have cheap gate valves

FYI
their unions do not restrict flow, they are the same size as the ID of the pipe