righttirefire Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I've been reading and watching a ton of information about the refugium mod and found a surface skimmer mod. I'll post pictures as I can. What I can tell you is 1/2" pvc 315 psi piping has a nice slip fit on the aquaclear tube. I had to buy a 10' stick of the pipe, 1 "t" & 90 degree elbow. I got change back on $3. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 General assembly Link to comment
Sailfish Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 General assembly I have seen these mods before, but all I can think of is the range of water levels that it will work as intended. Optimal scenario is of course when the water level in the tank is right over the level of the 90*, but what happens when the water level is higher or lower? In both those scenarios I would think that there will be no surface skimming Would love to hear an update from you after using it for a few days or so Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 I did some more work on it last night. Nothing conclusive. 3/16" down from the top of the 90 I drilled three 1/8" holes. So I would avoid the too low situation. I'm planing on a starting water level just above the 90 and considered slotting the holes. I'm hopeful. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 So, not very rewarding results this evening. The 90 was too high and the 1/8" holes didn't allow enough water through so I air hammer my pump motor. Not good. I cut 1/8" off the top of my 90 to make it about 3/16" below water level which I feel is reasonably close to my desired location. But this weekend will be my proving time. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 This idea might hit the back burner for a while. My tank is cycled and I'd like to get my chaeto out of my display and into the refugium maybe another few hours of work, it started as a time killer while my tank cycled to stay involved. 78 degrees, 1.023 salinity, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 ppm nitrate. I'd like to see my chaeto knock that down. But water change and should be starting Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Ok. So trial and error. Game back on with the surface skimmer. I missed the part about reducing the flow of the pump. So it works great. I'll post pictures. Running at about 1/3 capacity of the fuval Look at that vortex! Link to comment
Sailfish Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Ok. So trial and error. Game back on with the surface skimmer. I missed the part about reducing the flow of the pump. So it works great. I'll post pictures. Running at about 1/3 capacity of the fuval Look at that vortex! That looks pretty nice Maybe cutting teeth in the 90* would allow for a greater range of functioning water levels? Link to comment
russ722 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I did something similar on my ac110. Not shown in pic but I drilled a few holes in the 90 below where the water goes in.it helps a lot and also prevents it from sucking air in if it get low. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 That looks pretty nice Maybe cutting teeth in the 90* would allow for a greater range of functioning water levels? I have more into my 20h than I could have bought an established 75 bow for, lack of space. I'm new to saltwater and reef. But water is water nano has really grown on me, 2g freshwater live planted with paradise gourmi and julii cat. I'd love to have a kick ass 120+g reef but it's not in the cards right. I'm fighting the urge to add a chromis or zoa tomorrow. My tank is 2 weeks old. But it's cycled. Chaeto had got my nitrates to 0. I think another week of observation is key but my 2 hitchhiker Microstars are getting hard to watch. I'll post pictures of my finished surface skimmer tomorrow Link to comment
Sailfish Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 If it is cycled, I see no reason why you can't add a fish Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 All said and done. I drilled six 3/16" holes in my 90 and I'm running my filter at about 1/3 capacity. Pretty excited the diatoms are blooming and the hair algea is dancing in my mostly empty tank. Only 2 purple Microstars occupy the tank but I think it's time to start adding a cuc, Astraea snail to start Link to comment
russ722 Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Looks good, might wanna cover that 90 elbo up I had a snail go down into mine.made a very loud clicking noise while it was bouncing around in my filter. Link to comment
fishflood Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 I bought one. I was afraid the DIY because I couldn't figure out how to deal with the problem of water level. Sometimes i get too much evaporation before I'm able to catch it. The overflow I bought has some holes in it so the 50 refugium doesn't go dry. Link to comment
russ722 Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Cool post a pic of what you got. Link to comment
fishflood Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I can't really take a picture because it's obscured in the tank but here's a youtube video from the company. It assembled exactly the way he describes. Great product. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 I used the same screen I used in my refugium for the chaeto. Ill post new pictures and a final build spec next weekend depending on time Link to comment
abaro2 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 great concept! if I ever decide to go with a custom based HOB fuge for my IM Nano 20, I'll definitely have to take this idea into consideration! Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 I have seen these mods before, but all I can think of is the range of water levels that it will work as intended. Optimal scenario is of course when the water level in the tank is right over the level of the 90*, but what happens when the water level is higher or lower? In both those scenarios I would think that there will be no surface skimming Would love to hear an update from you after using it for a few days or so I ended up using #7 mesh plastic canvas for my chaeto basket and to build a cylinder to keep things out of my surface skimmer. All in vain. It's more than a couple days later, but Sailfish you're right, I'm generally not impressed and removed the surface skimmer. The water level wasn't a huge issue you could compensate for it but topping the water level off or adjusting the pump. I personally found that the cool vortex Was just that it, looked coo,l but the surface particles it did catch just swirled around in the 90, never seeming to make it to the filter. I believe I get better results from the standard pickup tube on my aquaclear 50. Cycles more water over my chaeto and the "water fall" pushes surface particles into the water column and the circulating fan blows them around to the pickup tube. Link to comment
amphipod Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Maybe if you attached the funny vacuum cleaner attachment without the bristles that looks like this. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41p8dh-Z9SL._SY355_.jpgon the PVC it would have the surface eating ability you desired otherwise your issue you had this time is what happens. Link to comment
Sailfish Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Maybe if you attached the funny vacuum cleaner attachment without the bristles that looks like this. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41p8dh-Z9SL._SY355_.jpgon the PVC it would have the surface eating ability you desired otherwise your issue you had this time is what happens. Good suggestion Still, I would maybe expect some noise from sucking in air? Link to comment
amphipod Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Good suggestion Still, I would maybe expect some noise from sucking in air? maybe some, a little adjusting may quiet the sound though. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Lol. This is halirious we're still talking about it. Amphipod I'll send you my ac50 refg. And the skimmer parts. You send me an ac110? Deal. Link to comment
lilmatty5dimes Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Maybe if you attached the funny vacuum cleaner attachment without the bristles that looks like this. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41p8dh-Z9SL._SY355_.jpgon the PVC it would have the surface eating ability you desired otherwise your issue you had this time is what happens. Link to comment
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