DIY 4' Counter-Current Recirculating Skimmer?

[MatesonG]

Hey let me know what yall think of this. It is 4' tall with a 4" pipe.

Water will enter in the top left, the water then goes down as the micro bubbles pass over it. The bottom left pvc pipe is the inlet for the water to be recirculated (didnt put the air intake in the picture but it will be there) then to the pump and back up and then back into the skimmer. Right side is where the water exits (overflow/siphons-however you want to look at it) there I can control the water level inside the skimmer for more wet or dry skimmate.

<a href="http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k281/MatesonG/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&current=Screenshot2009-12-21at90609PM.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k281/MatesonG/Fish%20Tank/Screenshot2009-12-21at90609PM.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Mike31154]

Looks nifty, I also run a counter current skimmer but with wooden air diffusers to provide bubbles rather than a recirculating pump. It's less than 3 feet tall. How do you plan to feed the water to the intake, another pump or gravity from overflow?

I don't have a sump so a small powerhead in a pre skimmer box in the display feeds the water to the skimmer and an air pump provides the bubbles through two wooden air diffusers mounted to a manifold at the bottom of the skimmer. Air pump 3 watts, AquaClear 301 powerhead 8 watts, for a total of a whopping 11 watts of power to run the skimmer. Here's a photo.

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pLhg_dfDq2vCNxqVnca3bqrdTTMm6QvygDM3ShAcF6dFtGrfldZigqyL5olMAn-pjLcSlOhTeJQCd2AG39Y1yXw/P1010815d.jpg

[MatesonG]

right now i have mine set up as a counter current skimmer just like that one to run with a wooden air stone but i have been reading about the recirculating skimmers and I'm wanting to change it to a recirculating so there in no changing wood stones.

What wood stones do you use?
And what air pump are you using?

[MatesonG]

is that coraline growing in that skimmer or red algae?

[MatesonG]

anybody else..recirculating skimmer..does this seem like it should work?

Please :)

[aries70]

the basic desighn should work it's like mine but a little shorter, how are you gona make bubble's? Aspirating will be a pain unless you use a big pump to over come the head pressure of the skimmer body, and you may still have to use an airpump to force feed the pump, unless you moved the pump up higher on the body that could work also

[BeanAnimal]

I started out building an CC airstone skimmer but ended up with a recirculating NW.

http://beananimal.com/projects/6'-needle-wheel-protein-skimmer.aspx

http://beananimal.com/media/929/finished.jpg

[Mike31154]

right now i have mine set up as a counter current skimmer just like that one to run with a wooden air stone but i have been reading about the recirculating skimmers and I'm wanting to change it to a recirculating so there in no changing wood stones.

What wood stones do you use?
And what air pump are you using?

I use two 'stubby' (when I can get them) limewood air diffusers mounted to an acrylic manifold. When I'm unable to get the stubbies, I use the longer ones. I've been wanting to make my own 'monster' wooden air diffuser as described by 'snailman', but have never gotten around to it.

Air pump is a Stellar W-60, it's sitting on top of the skimmer in the picture.

[Mike31154]

is that coraline growing in that skimmer or red algae?

It is coraline. I did have some hair algae growing in there at one time as well, but I'm slowly getting my used system back in shape after switching to RODI from treated tap water. I don't think the previous owners used RODI either, so all of my rockwork is probably still in the 'purging' process from years of building up 'stuff'.

[MatesonG]

alright so i just got in the 1/2" venture, hooked it up to my mag drive 5 and i just filled a 5g bucket to just mess around with it. well it is sucking in too much air i think...what do i need to do? more water pressure? valve the air line? idk