Diy Skimmer from Avast

[jlaudiofreak]

Well my mother bought me this kit for xmas from my kids. Justin from Avast was very heplfull and making sure I got the kit in time for xmas.

here is the kit
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/002-5.jpg

Got the parts glued together
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/005-1.jpg

Here is the skimmer all glued up
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/006.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/008-2.jpg

Letting all the glue dry , then vinager bath tomorrow. Then it gets wrapped up for me to open .

[buy_baff]

A friend in our local club built one of these and it skims like a champ.

[harber79]

I've been eye-balling this same skimmer! Interested in performance, please keep us updated!

[jlaudiofreak]

harber79
I will

[hllywd]

That's a nice looking skimmer. I watched the assembly video and it all looked easy enough. I too am intested in how well it works.

Is anyone using the self cleaning head for it?

Keep us posted on the operation!

Merry Christmas!
Tim

[jlaudiofreak]

So far I am very happy with this skimmer
Here is the skimmer installed in my temp sump
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/010-1.jpg

It does make some very fine bubbles
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/004-4.jpg

Here is was I got after only 6 hrs of being on. Just to let everyone know my tank is new and the only thing in my tank is sand and dry base rock . So i was suprised on getting what I got out of the skimmer
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/028-1.jpg
Here is my 120 DT
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/jlaudiofreak/012-1.jpg

[Avast Marine]

well done!

[javickrey]

Wow that's a killer deal on those. I wish they had those before I bought my octopus cone

[Fishamatank]

Looks good. I bought a Swabbie from them for my SRO XP skimmer. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase more from Avast, products seem to be top notch as does customer service. Hope they keep it up.

[harber79]

Looks like a solid setup! Thanks for the follow up!

[skh]

Hey jlaudiofreak, really nice review, thanks. Can you give us some more details about the volute and the reducer on the PSK-2500? I understand that those pumps can have startup problems unless the volute is symmetrical (so that it doesn't matter which direction the impeller spins). If you have pictures of the volute and the reducer, that would be awesome.

[jlaudiofreak]

When I take the temp sump out and replace it with the new one I will get pictures for you. I have unpluged and pluged the pump in serveral time to see if there was any start up issues and there are none. Seem like Avast has got it right with this pump.

[skh]

Awesome, thanks. I found this picture on the Avast website, which seems like it's probably what you have on your pump.
http://www.avastmarine.com/cb/2010/08/custom-sicce-volutes/

As part of the upcoming launch of the CS1 Cone Skimmer Kit, we are releasing our newly developed venturi and modified volute for the Sicce PSK-2500 pinwheel pump, which is an optional component of the kit. This custom venturi was designed by us in-house, optimized for the cone body that comes with the kit, and made of polished acrylic. It’s interesting to watch the interaction of the air and water as it mixes upon contact with the pinwheel. Airflow and waterflow details coming soon.

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/images/store/psk2500_venturi_md.jpg

[jlaudiofreak]

that is the same thing that came with mine

[skh]

that is the same thing that came with mine

Cool, that takes care of the venturi and reducer. But if you'd be willing to post pictures of your volute, that would be awesome.

[skh]

From the looks of it, the Avast CS1 is paired with the standard PSK-2500 asymmetrical volute and needle wheel. I guess it's only the venturi/reducer that's custom.
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/waterpumps/SICCE-PSK2500-MOD

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/images/store/sicce-psk2500-mod_md.jpg

[jlaudiofreak]

SKH
is there a big difference between the needle wheel that came with the pump and the purple needle wheel I have seen for sale for these pumps?

[Gangous]

R they cheaper if u build it ?

[jlaudiofreak]

Im sure they are cheaper if you build it. Its realy not hard at all It is not hard at all to build plus its nice where your done knowing you put it together

[Avast Marine]

The PSK 2500 is a darn good and very reliable pump if you modify it correctly and don't try and push the pump beyond it's limits.

I would say this pump has more aftermarket accessories than any other pump before it, trying to get just a little more air to skim a bigger tank or fill up a bigger skimmer body has destroyed the reputation of the pump to a large degree.

The white pinwheel we use is actually from Jon Warner's K2 skimmer (original), we bought them a year ago when he changed to the Red Demon and found that it had the right balance of weight, number of pins, size of pins and diameter to accomplish our goal: To create a RELIABLE Sicce pump without the LPH bragging rights. 800LPH is what it pulls and it does so day in and out without start up issues, we matched the skimmer body (7.5" base) and neck (3.75") to the pumps capabilities rather than trying to beef up the pump to put on a larger body skimmer (like the K2). More air, means bigger pins, larger diameter wheel, etc which pushes the pump past it's safe trouble free operating range. AVAST's core philosophy is to provide reasonably priced and reliable equipment, not win SCFH trophies :-)

The only modification done to the volute is to machine out the water intake on the cover, install the air intake and to add the right size reducer to tune the air to the 800LPH mark.

[jlaudiofreak]

Dan
Thank you very much I am very happy with the skimmer. The one thing I didnt want was a skimmer that needed to be modded straight out of the box. After reading what you wrote about the pinwheel I intend to stay with the stock white wheel

[jlaudiofreak]

Here is a quick video of the skimmer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TRS9Z8ih-qI

[Avast Marine]

Dan
Thank you very much I am very happy with the skimmer. The one thing I didnt want was a skimmer that needed to be modded straight out of the box. After reading what you wrote about the pinwheel I intend to stay with the stock white wheel

I love that you bought a DIY skimmer kit with over 50 parts so you wouldn't have to "mod" it :-)

That video is fantastic, thank you for the kind words :thumbsup:

[skh]

The PSK 2500 is a darn good and very reliable pump if you modify it correctly and don't try and push the pump beyond it's limits.

I would say this pump has more aftermarket accessories than any other pump before it, trying to get just a little more air to skim a bigger tank or fill up a bigger skimmer body has destroyed the reputation of the pump to a large degree.

The white pinwheel we use is actually from Jon Warner's K2 skimmer (original), we bought them a year ago when he changed to the Red Demon and found that it had the right balance of weight, number of pins, size of pins and diameter to accomplish our goal: To create a RELIABLE Sicce pump without the LPH bragging rights. 800LPH is what it pulls and it does so day in and out without start up issues, we matched the skimmer body (7.5" base) and neck (3.75") to the pumps capabilities rather than trying to beef up the pump to put on a larger body skimmer (like the K2). More air, means bigger pins, larger diameter wheel, etc which pushes the pump past it's safe trouble free operating range. AVAST's core philosophy is to provide reasonably priced and reliable equipment, not win SCFH trophies :-)

The only modification done to the volute is to machine out the water intake on the cover, install the air intake and to add the right size reducer to tune the air to the 800LPH mark.

Hey Dan, thanks for the clarification. 800 lph is a solid air draw -- the same as the ATB 840 with the "mini airstar" PSK 2500, if I'm not mistaken. The only thing I wonder about is the asymmetrical volute, which I understand results in reduced performance whenever the pump starts in the reverse direction. It's not a huge deal, but it's obviously something other manufacturers have seen fit to change with a custom volute (e.g., ATB with mini airstar v1.5 and Tunze with the hydrofoamer). Is that not an issue with your version of the PSK-2500?

[skh]

SKH
is there a big difference between the needle wheel that came with the pump and the purple needle wheel I have seen for sale for these pumps?

I don't know much about the Avast pinwheel, but I've heard that the purple pinwheel can have startup and wear issues precisely for the reasons Dan has said -- a too large diameter spindle that the PSK 2500 simply is not meant to run. If this version really pulls 800 lph then that seems like more than enough for this size skimmer body (based on comparison to other well-regarded skimmers with similar body/neck diameters and air draw).

[Rwinfrey]

Are school project is getting one of these but we are going to be using the sicce 1000 when it gets up and running I will get some pics and a possible video.The psk is a great pump I would even say that pump possibly changed the price we pay and the way we skim are tanks now (refering to the first ATI skimmers)

[Aristarchus]

After reading this review and seeing the level of support Avast provides I have made up my mind which skimmer I will be purchasing in the near future. I was initially leaning towards the SRO but for the price and the apparent quality I don't think I'll be able to beat the Avast kit. Thanks for the build thread, can't wait to order my kit!

[bla403]

What are the tank size recommendations for this skimmer? Up to 200 gallons?

[Avast Marine]

What are the tank size recommendations for this skimmer? Up to 200 gallons?

200g is the max suggested rating for this skimmer.

150g display with 50g sump LPS/Soft coral tank
or
90g display 30g sump high bio-load SPS tank.

[bla403]

Any plans for a larger version? I was planning on building a 150-180 gallon SPS tank and really like the DIY skimmer. Allows for a big cost savings and I hear the performance is great.

[Avast Marine]

There is a possibility of a bigger one in the future, this has been a popular item so we know the demand is there. Probably wouldn't be until summer at the earliest though.

[Nuka_Cola]

Very Nice, I'm digging the swabbies they offer as well.