DIY Chiong Skimmer Version 2.0

[Tanggy]

Hi Bros. Results from first skiimer way exceeded my exspectation. Kopi collected is concentrated, very black and disgusting. Foam produced is dry and stinks. So have move on to trying a round chamber and test my workmanship in attaching bulkhead to a cylinder (much harder).

Have constructed a second skimmer out of PVC. The chamber is 6inch diameter and 2ft hight. Full height with riser is almost 3ft high. Will be running on 1 recirculation pump first to try results with plans to add more pumbs later.

The pump is rated at 1600lt/hr and is removable for easy maintainence employing the use of unions. So just screw on or screw off. The body is sealed with PVC gluse to ensure water-tightest. The riser is removable for easy clean of collection cup. Will add a drip hose adaptor so can connect to waste container for easy waste removal.

It can be fed by either gravity through overflow or by pump. Will use pump first. If gravity fed, jus need to add ball-valve.

Now doing a wet run to test for leaks using fresh water and charging digi cam batteries. will post pics soon.

[ervine]

Enough already! Lets have those pics!!

[Tanggy]

Ke ke..... wah... such hostility!!! thought I will only hear that in a strip club!! " enough already, off with the blouse!!"" ke ke...

Wait a little while longer la. just put the cam to charge la.

[ervine]

Haha not hostile.. just excited... I'm also looking into building a skimmer using opaque PVC pipes (hell of a lot cheaper)... seems like the needle wheel thing might be a good way...

One thing though, do you use a recirculation pump to generate the bubbles with another pushing water in and out of the skimmer or do you just use one pump to do it all?

[Tanggy]

Here's the pics.

Front shot with weipro 2014 to let you gauge the size.

[Tanggy]

Full-shot of skimmer. Still pondering if I should cut it shorter so it'll fit in my sump.... but higher means better contact time of bubbles.

[Tanggy]

Close up of the pump connection.

[Tanggy]

Close up of the DIY venturi. Ai.... forgot to take pic when making it again. Now it is glued liao cannot take.

Much better made than the last one cos last one rushing.

[Tanggy]

Top view of the wet run with freshwater.

[ryz]

wow!! tanggy do so many skimemrs nowadays!! Can help me do a good one? Can pay you.. cause I think my skimmer is not enough for my tank... can??? thanks!

[Tanggy]

Well this one is also for trial. Coz plan to put out side and need a good looking one made out of acrylic tube and hope to make higher. can sell you after finished (if it work) and you just pay for materials la if yu wan lor.

[ryz]

yea I want! but dunno can fit into cabinet or not???

[Tanggy]

Well I did not seal the top part so can still make shorter.

[IanJ]

Tanggy

Looks good. The only problem with PVC is you cannot monitor the bubble flow and see when a reduction in bubbles occur.

The area that needle wheel skimmers need servicing is to clean the salt/muck build-up that occurs at the air inlet. Might want to think about a straight air inlet rather than the 90 degree bend. Its easier to push a small nail or drill through a straight inlet. Just a suggestion.

[IanJ]

Oh, one other thing, the air pipe end should be above the water level in case the pump fails.

[nutx]

Well I did not seal the top part so can still make shorter.

I think this design is more towards the H&S, right?

so the 'needle' pump is the most important parts.

This one looks very nice. Maybe you can just painted it in some nice bright colour plus some stickers, etc.......sure look better than transparant type.

[Tanggy]

I know the tube needs to be longer. it came with the pump so jus use first lor. Dont have spare tube liaoz...

As for the water level. what you say is true but can make do. I can just use acrylic riser tube. No need all acrylic. Anyway, the design is for the water to be just near the riser tube so just take out the rise and adjust the height to that point and adjust bit by bit.

I stiil need to attach the output and the input. But thats the easy part. The pump part is the hard part. lotsa work.

[Tanggy]

Hunting for 3inch acrylic tube rite now. but if too ex, will make do with PVC riser.

The most important part to ensure the water level is the height of the outlet pipe. which will set the base level. The ballvalve is just to fine tune. If place externally, can also judge the height from the top.

[Tanggy]

I think this design is more towards the H&S, right?

so the 'needle' pump is the most important parts.

This one looks very nice. Maybe you can just painted it in some nice bright colour plus some stickers, etc.......sure look better than transparant type. 

Actually, both the deltec and H&S are similar in design. as for who is the original one, I have no ideal.

Hmm.... paint. maybe can make a seriese with pics from sports illustrated swimwear edition!!.... ke ke...

[ervine]

The most important part to ensure the water level is the height of the outlet pipe. which will set the base level. The ballvalve is just to fine tune. If place externally, can also judge the height from the top.

A little confused... care to explain this point?

[Tanggy]

Was thinking os using 3 pump place semetrically so all the bubbles from the 3 pumps will collide to create even more contact with each other and the inlet to be placed higher pointing at the centre to create a counter current effect for better contact time. But will use one first cos bought brand new, not used pumps. so a bit ex to test on 3 new pumps....

[Tanggy]

The height of the outlet pipe is where the min height the water will be. cos only when the water level rise above the outlet pipe will it start to flow out of the skimmer. so if the water is lower than the pipe, water will not flow out of the skimmer.

[Tanggy]

an example will be the durso pipe. only when water rises above the durso will the water flow out.

[tigershark]

hi Tanggy, you could look for those 2nd hand cheapskate air bubble skimmer like AA or other brand.... the brand new cost ard $6.90 each, think the size should be ard 2"~3".... it is make from transparence acrylic...

[Tanggy]

Wont work well. need exact tight fit in order to be removable and not leak. if use those, need to glue permanently.