Complete tank skimmer? Pics included

[Avast Marine]

Alright so I just wanted to get your alls feedback on this one. I plumbed a venturi into my closed loop. This will make it possible to do a massive in tank skim say once a month. Good idea or bad? All comments welcomed.

All is calm..

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153712178/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/49/153712178_b7d182714b_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="surface" /></a>

Venturi...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153712179/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/59/153712179_c9ce4f8bbf_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="venturi" /></a>

Venturi opened...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153712176/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/76/153712176_7f2cadad80_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="frontbubble" /></a>

This CL is OceansMotions powered so the bubble effect is rotated around 360 degrees.

This is what the external overflow looks like after about 1 minute.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153712177/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/153712177_09addc07b6_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="overflow" /></a>

Surface...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153712175/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/78/153712175_c2fb72d8a8_o.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="bubble" /></a>

Did I mention this is fresh water not salt? Bubble size will be much smaller during normal operation.

[Kaiser Tang]

So you plan to turn that on with livestock in there? Wouldn't that create a lot of stress? I don't think skimming one a month is going to do it. Too much build up.

[mthedude]

I'm just guessing but I don't think livestock can breath air bubbles, might stress them when you try to skim. Might work though.

[castor]

I didn't think skimming worked with fresh water.

[whiirly]

How about some pics of that reef look awsome

[Avast Marine]

My overflow drains to the skimmer sump for daily work. This would just be a "purge" once a month to collect DOC's that are just too stubborn to rise to the top with normal water flow.

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7443580#post7443580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by castor
I didn't think skimming worked with fresh water.

It appears that the myth is busted! Although I am not sure I would want to put 1000gph into a FW tank just to skim it.

[HippieSmell]

I'm interested to see if it works, but I'm not sure the inhabitants will like it very much. Also, have fun with the salt spray.

[Jeremy Blaze]

Salt spray will be a problem.

Fish can die from too much gas in the water as well

[xtrstangx]

Have fun with salt spray.

IMO, unless you can get ALL of the skimmate out, its kind of a waste. Dissolved organic compounds are removed by skimming, but once they are removed and turned into basically skimmate, then its more difficult to remove them by skimming. May not be a big deal, but any residue/junk left in the overflow box will recontaminate the water... Over time, this could probably add up and add to nutrient problems (then again, you will be doing water changes, I hope).

Moral of the story: Stick with a good skimmer. ASM, Euroreef, MRC, PM, or some of the higher end ones (Deltec, H&S, etc). Much more automated and cleaner.

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7443913#post7443913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtrstangx
Have fun with salt spray.

IMO, unless you can get ALL of the skimmate out, its kind of a waste. Dissolved organic compounds are removed by skimming, but once they are removed and turned into basically skimmate, then its more difficult to remove them by skimming. May not be a big deal, but any residue/junk left in the overflow box will recontaminate the water... Over time, this could probably add up and add to nutrient problems (then again, you will be doing water changes, I hope).

Moral of the story: Stick with a good skimmer. ASM, Euroreef, MRC, PM, or some of the higher end ones (Deltec, H&S, etc). Much more automated and cleaner.

Why dont you actually read his posts. He said he IS going to run a skimmer. THis is not goign to be his only means of skimming.

I've seen a couple of tanks do this, and from what I've seen it seems to work pretty well. It doesnt bother the animals, and it seems to pull a lot of crap from between the rocks that usually doesnt come out in other ways.

[mbbuna]

this thread might help you out

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8942

[Avast Marine]

That is what I think Rich, but I did say ALL comments welcomed. I have three bulkheads for the external overflow. One is for the main drain, one is for the backup drain and the third is just capped. All I would have to do is put a ball valve on that third one, shut down the main pump and presto chango I have a skimmer collection cup that is already attached to the tank and can be drained.
My main concern with this is impact on livestock. Glad to hear some people chime in on that. I think the fish will hide. Impact on the mainly LPS species dominated tank would be more of a concern to me. That being said I am not sure of a more effective way to introduce a large amount of o2 in the tank at zero cost (well about $1.39 in pvc). Some of this will surely disolve into the water column. Some wont. Time will tell.
Salt spray? You better believe it! I can see a mist about 4" above the surface. I am ging to have an open canopy, so I figure I can just put a piece of plexi on top of the tank for this "skim" treatment.
Once again this is only a 1 time per month proceedure. Daily skimming will be done by a dedicated "high end" skimmer.
Keep the comments, concerns, and questions rolling.

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444229#post7444229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
this thread might help you out

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8942

The form wont let me register, cut and paste a summery please.

[Avast Marine]

Or tell me where the thread is at, I can look but, since not registered I cannot go to your link.

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444251#post7444251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
That is what I think Rich, but I did say ALL comments welcomed.

Right, his oppinion is welcome.


Its just you clearly said you werent using this instead of regular skimming after 3 or 4 people posted exactly the same thing as him.

Read the thread before you post people.

I will do exactly what you're proposing (well, I hook airlines up to my SEIOs), after I stir up a lot of junk in the tank (moving rocks around,etc), and it definitely helps get it all down to the skimmer quickly. The livestock really doesnt seem to care.

[mbbuna]

from the thread


Every 4 hours for 20 minutes a large capacity recirculation pump turns on and mixes all the waste off of the bottom so it overflows into the filter bags. For about a minute while the pump is running automatically an air stone is turned on which puts fine bubbles into the pump inlet.

This makes for a brief period of white foam froth through out the tank, like a heavy wave action would do. The bubbles attach themselves to the stirred up waste and float it to the top to be overflowed. Also, I was pleasently surprised to see what the bubbles did to the SPS, alot of the SPS slime is removed by the bubbles and floats over the top. ( I have a heavy fish load...15 fish in a 50 gal tank)

[Avast Marine]

I like that idea. Basically you could just put on a JG fitting somewhere in the intake of the pump and automatically do the same thing. I managed to register (not FireFox friendly) and looked at his results......Impressive! I was not planning on doing this quite that frequently, but who can argue with the results?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153796047/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/153796047_2f32f8a73b_o.jpg" width="202" height="269" alt="PICT0015.jpg-thumb_202_269" /></a>

[Avast Marine]

in action...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153797138/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/66/153797138_2b622ac9b3_o.jpg" width="202" height="269" alt="PICT0016.jpg-thumb_202_269" /></a>

[Avast Marine]

Monti Digitata Before....
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153798285/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/57/153798285_8be4d0d612_o.jpg" width="269" height="179" alt="before" /></a>

and 2 months later....

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/153798287/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/153798287_7772f28f2b_o.jpg" width="269" height="178" alt="after" /></a>

[mbbuna]

i dont know about every 4 hours but i think once a day would be enough

[Avast Marine]

The only concern I would have about going that route is that while skimming the tank there would really be no direct export of the skimmate. It would flow through the system and then the main skimmer would have to recollect the gunk. By doing it manually I would have the ability to flush the skimmate directly from my overflow to the floor drain.

[mbbuna]

i dont know if you read the whole thread but he has it go into a bag that he dose' vodka too and the bacteria eat it

[RichConley]

Why not just run a drain fed skimmer. It'll pull all the stuff out that this is sending to the overflows.

[Avast Marine]

Yep I read it, I am just to lazy to clean a filter sock as frequently as it should be done so I wont use one. Vodka dosing is not for me either. So while I see what works for him I can only apply some of the principles to my situation. BTW you 180 is awesome!

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444710#post7444710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Why not just run a drain fed skimmer. It'll pull all the stuff out that this is sending to the overflows.

Hmmmm. I already run a resticted overflow to sump #1 then another restricted overflow from sump#1 to sump#2 so running a skimmer feed from the main tank is not an option for me. My tank runs SILENT with no bubbles in the system and no bubble baffles taking up space (thanks herbie).

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444723#post7444723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
BTW you 180 is awesome!

if your talking about me, thanks a lot:beer:

[lakebound]

Hmmm, interesting idea. You get that much skimmate from the amount of bubbles applied?
I agree dandy, his 180 is quite nice. I did notice in that pic that there is no tv in sight, and for good reason!

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444859#post7444859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lakebound
Hmmm, interesting idea. You get that much skimmate from the amount of bubbles applied?
I agree dandy, his 180 is quite nice. I did notice in that pic that there is no tv in sight, and for good reason!

I actually have no idea whats in that skimmate, it is my tap water. TDS reads 385...scary.

[omni2226]

I know diddly squat about skimmers, but bubbles...I have swam in the Gulf of Mexico, the pacific off California coast, and the Atlantic off Florida, South and North Carolina and I have yet to see seawtaer that didnt have bubbles in it.
I cant recall any tv shows or movies of diving/snorkeling where the water didnt have bubbles.
And I know shallow reefs that get pounded with waves have tons of bubbles.

I think the only animal life that bubbles bother are the twolegged creatures peering in from the outside.

[Cody Ray]

I kind of do this with a seio in my 29 gallon. It is close enough to the surface that it sucks in air about once every 2 hours and creates a huge swarm of microbubbles.

[xtrstangx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7444005#post7444005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Why dont you actually read his posts. He said he IS going to run a skimmer. THis is not goign to be his only means of skimming.


I apologize.. I was on pain medications and sometimes skip a sentence or two. No reason to be so critical. :rolleyes:

It seems like a decent idea, you've got it figured out as far as the venturi and the overflow. The only problem I see is the salt creep, but if you are willing to deal with that, your good to go.