DIY Deltec Based Skimmer

[Tanggy]

Hi bros. After promising results by adding a modified powerhead to the weipro (more skimate then usual). Decided to make a deltec based skimmer from materials I have laying around.

The reaction chamber is made out of 6" acrylic and is SQUARE in shape instead of the uausl round tube, This is cos no time to go buy acrylic tube and I have used acryl;ic laying around. The Riser will be made by a 3inch pvc pipe with a square collection cup.

There will be 2 pumps running the skimmer. A pump to pump the water in and a recirculation pump. Both are surplus pumps that's not being used. The impellers has been modified to resemble the needle wheel with a home made venturi providing the bubbles to the pump.

Will be posting pics of work in progress later cos charging digi cam batt. The reaction chamber has been mostly completed and now working on the collection cup. Wish me luck.

[Golden Tooth]

Good luck in ur skimmer mods.. Keep us updates.

[Tanggy]

Thanks bro. Cos the acrylic is self cut using acrylic knive, the joints are re-enforce with silicone to prevent leaking. So can only do a wet run tomorrow after the silicone has set. Ai. self cut not smooth enough. ke ke.....

[Tanggy]

The original schematic from deltec.

[Tanggy]

Here's the pics.

[Tanggy]

Another

[Tanggy]

The would be riser and collection cup.

[Tanggy]

Forgive the skimmer. I know it's ugly! And the worn out acrylic doesn't help the looks! ke ke... But hope to get valuable measurements and experience before doing anoither one. That is planned for 8inch reaction chamber. with either 2 or 3 recirculation pumps and the water input to be directly from the overflow.

[ben]

ugly? nothing is uggly. only not convenient to see whats happening inside the pvc pipe as grey coloured. but its cheap and who cares. nice trying bro.

[BarraCudaTM]

looking good .. just wondering how you seal the pipes connected to the circulation powerhead?

[Tango_Liverock]

good one, bro. Can show pic of the needle wheel and ph. how its done? Are you using those O-ring? where to get those?

[Tanggy]

Cos plan to put in sump. so the joints are not glued. use teflon tape to ensure seal.. The bulks haeds are using gasket.

As for the power head, the pvc pipe is slightly smaller and burn to expand for tight fit using 3/4 inch pipe. and anothe 1/2 pipe with a washer inside make up the venturi.

[Achilles Tang]

Wow! A square skimmer! First time I'm seeing one!

I can't be sure... but I think there's a real reason why square skimmers may not work as well as round ones.

Something to do with turbulence, bubble movement, tensile strength of the body or costs of materials/extra work.

Alvy, our resident DIY guru may be able to shed some light!

But hey... good effort! It might work well! Looking forward to a product review!

AT

[FuEl]

A skimmer's column is normally rounded to enable the bubbles to swirl, increasing the contact time the bubbles have with the surrounding water and organics.

[Tanggy]

That only applies for counter current design. As you can see. this design is not. the bubbles is not meant to go in circle. but up. Lotsa models around that is square. like the spray injection AquaC remora, deltec also got, bak pak. I have done lotsa reading and asking liaoz.

Click HEREto find out more.

They only make round for model like h&s, euroreef cos lower production cost. think of it this way, a 6inch sqaure got more area than a 6inch circle.

[Tanggy]

Pic of the impeller.

[Tanggy]

the would be collection cup. Not complete yet. But I will still go for the Round design later coz look better!! ke ke... and much easier to make and no changce of leaking!! ke ke..

[Tanggy]

The collection cup and riser.

[BarraCudaTM]

The round version is harder to build, can you imagine what hard it is to get a water tight seal with the PVC pipes sticking out of the cylinder? not easy!

[Tanggy]

I know that part. Just have to sand the fitting to fit the arc liao lor and use silicon to seal. What I meant was that you dont have to worry bout the square edges not glue properly.

[Tanggy]

For those of you who interested in making one. try this thread. DIY Deltec. And can you believe he is running this monster on a < 20gallon tank with a 15 gallon sump!!

[ervine]

Interesting!!! Care to share how you intend to make the venturi intake and what pump you are using? (can't see from the pic)

[Tanggy]

I have already done the venturi. But didnt take the pic of the progress. It is basically a 3/4 pipe connected to the input of the powerhead with a hole drill into it for the hoose adaptor, with a 1/2 pipe connected into it with a washer before the hoose adaptor to create the venturi effect. The hoose must be reduce in size or you will not get enough bubbles into the pump.

[Ian]

Good job Tanggy, cannot wait to see it action!

[ervine]

Don't quite understand but do u mean something like this?