For All Skimmer/Skimmer-related Modifications

straydum · June 19, 2009

i'm hoping to start a thread that would eventually contain all the skimmer and skimmer pump modifications out there for our fellow reefers to learn from and carry out on their own.

the main purpose (which everyone would want) is to improve the performance of our skimmers and to attain as much skimmate as possible for every different skimmer.

hope everyone how there would contribute on the mods out there and from other forums

straydum · June 19, 2009

i'd start off first,

there's the needlewheel pump mod (mesh mod)

here's a write up by Leroy from http://www.newengland.reefbuilders.com/

Needle Wheel Mesh Mod, Sedra Pump for Euroreef Skimmer 100
I decided to mesh mod my needle wheel located in the Sedra 3500 pump that is used in my Euroreef Skimmer. This will work with larger and other needle wheel pumps as well. I was graciously given some Enkamat from Chuck Spyropulos a member on NERB, thanx Chuck. Link for the Enkamat, EnkamatÃ‚Â® Nylon, .25. Use the PF4A.

Pictures and explanation below as I went along:

Sedra 3500 pump for my Euroreef 100

Pump disassembled. CAUTION: Take extra care with the needle wheel shaft, it's ceramic and will break easy.

Shaft and needle wheel disassembled.

Mesh material or Enkamat.

Needles cut off with wire cutter then trimmed with utility knife and filed to clean up any nubs.

Three (3) pieces of mesh cut oversized of wheel. To be trimmed later.

straydum · June 19, 2009

Center mesh cut out for shaft bushing in the center of the wheel. I trimmed the center of the mesh now rather than on the wheel secured down.

Rather than drill 4 extra holes to secure mesh with tywraps I used the 50 existing 1/16 holes all over the wheel and sewed the mesh down with 12lb test fishing line. Careful not to get fishing line close to edges so when you trim the mesh you don't cut your line. Sewing it down took longer but held down secure.

Trim the edges of the mesh real close to the wheel and the center or else the mesh will rub internally and the wheel will not spin. Center bushing will not seat properly, also affects operation. (Sorry for the blurred pic)

Carefully reassemble the new mesh mod wheel into your pump and test the pump in a bucket of water. Watch out you don't get a shot of water in the face. (No it didn't happen to me, it hit the wall instead)

Ok, here's my skimmer in action, cup has been cleaned out so I can view my foam and so far I'm getting a ton of micro bubbles. I'll know better in a few days. Adjusting so I don't get a wet foam, I want it dry foam.

Hope that DIY for the needle wheel mesh mod has been of some help. Take your time, be carefull and happy reefing.

from what i know the mesh most commonly used and what has deemed to be the most effective is enkmat which produces the most turbulence and creating a whole lot of microbubbles which are driven into the skimmer. though such a mod can most probably only be used on needlewheel impellers. i've yet to heard of one applied on a normal water pump

straydum · June 19, 2009

another mod i heard of is the restriction of air entering the chamber mainly through the use of an air valve for skimmers that does not come with it. if i'm not wrong, higher grade skimmers have a way to control air to optimize skimmer performance

basically an air valve is attached to the air inlet and closed off almost completely so that the bubbles produced would be smaller and produce better skimmate. this however i limits air intake which may or may not eventually improve skimmer perfomance.

some bros here have done such a mod so hopefully they can shed more light on this

straydum · June 19, 2009

the third mod i came across on another forum is to drill a hole into the skimmer collection cup.

the person did so with the original intend to allow the skimmate to stop at the certain level in the cup and overflow into another container but what came about was even better skimmate. his theory is that air was able to enter from the top which somehow somehow made things better :unsure: and he wasn't the only one who tried that with success <_<

too bad i can't seem to find the link :pinch: has anyone heard or tried out something like this?

albinosage · June 22, 2009

My humble little contribution, skimmer cup modification for Tunze 9002 nano skimmer to fit JBJ 24G nanocube (or similar IOS covered tanks). Pics reposted from my tank thread. :paiseh:

The problem with most IOS nano tanks is that you can't get a decent skimmer that can fit inside the back compartment. From memory, the space of the largest compartment at the back is 15cm X 8cm.

I tried the Boyu 308 skimmer, but it produces a lot of heat and very diluted skimmate, might as well not use it at all

I read about the Tunze 9002 being one of the best commercially produced nano skimmers, and had a chance to buy it cheap 2nd hand, so i decided to get it, since the body fits inside the back compartment nicely. The collection cup is 13cm in diameter, so It can't fit in the tank with the canopy closed. SteveT from mediabaskets.com does a custom collection cup that fits in the back, but for $80 inclusive of shipping, it is a bit too much to pay for a few pieces of acrylic.

DIY cup next to the original one:

What you need:

1. Tupperware or any container that has a width or diameter of less than 8cm, as that is the size you have to deal with in the back compartment of the tank.

2. 1/2 tbs measuring spoon (those for cooking).

3. Silicone sealant

4. Dremel or any rotary tool.

Basically, you just need to chop up the original collection cup to get the shaft (the transparent tube), cut a hole in the bottom of the tupperware, then stick it through and seal up the gap with silicone. Drill 4 small holes in the cap, and for the bubble deflector, I glued on a chopped off measuring spoon.

I don't have any work in progress pictures, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking:

The bubble deflector is supposed to break up the foam and direct it into the bottom of the cup, as opposed to clustering on the cap as seen in the image below:

Bubble deflector glued onto the cap:

Foam produced after 1 hour:

Skim mate collected after 7 hours:

Pic of the skimmer with cup fitting into the back of the tank:

Total cost: $1 :yeah:

ivor · June 24, 2009

Hi all,

Would like to check hangon skimmer if i were to hang it outside the tank is it ok? Using those rubber suction caps.

It's powered by a powerhead (which goes into the tank) connected to the skimmer with a hose. And fr the skimmer back to the tank with a hose.

Now my main worry is would the rubber suction caps withstand the weight of the filled skimmer. As it would be hanging outside the tank. If it drops, all hell would break lose man! will end up with a flooded room!

(:

Jameshong · June 25, 2009

My humble little contribution, skimmer cup modification for Tunze 9002 nano skimmer to fit JBJ 24G nanocube (or similar IOS covered tanks). Pics reposted from my tank thread.

The problem with most IOS nano tanks is that you can't get a decent skimmer that can fit inside the back compartment. From memory, the space of the largest compartment at the back is 15cm X 8cm.

I tried the Boyu 308 skimmer, but it produces a lot of heat and very diluted skimmate, might as well not use it at all

I read about the Tunze 9002 being one of the best commercially produced nano skimmers, and had a chance to buy it cheap 2nd hand, so i decided to get it, since the body fits inside the back compartment nicely. The collection cup is 13cm in diameter, so It can't fit in the tank with the canopy closed. SteveT from mediabaskets.com does a custom collection cup that fits in the back, but for $80 inclusive of shipping, it is a bit too much to pay for a few pieces of acrylic.

DIY cup next to the original one:

What you need:

1. Tupperware or any container that has a width or diameter of less than 8cm, as that is the size you have to deal with in the back compartment of the tank.

2. 1/2 tbs measuring spoon (those for cooking).

3. Silicone sealant

4. Dremel or any rotary tool.

Basically, you just need to chop up the original collection cup to get the shaft (the transparent tube), cut a hole in the bottom of the tupperware, then stick it through and seal up the gap with silicone. Drill 4 small holes in the cap, and for the bubble deflector, I glued on a chopped off measuring spoon.

I don't have any work in progress pictures, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking:

The bubble deflector is supposed to break up the foam and direct it into the bottom of the cup, as opposed to clustering on the cap as seen in the image below:

Bubble deflector glued onto the cap:

Foam produced after 1 hour:

Skim mate collected after 7 hours:

Pic of the skimmer with cup fitting into the back of the tank:

Total cost: $1