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tcfab 
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Joined: October 18 2008
Location: North Ogden
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 Topic: DIY Alpha Cone. -WE HAVE FOAM-
Posted: February 06 2010 at 1:34pm |
I decided I would try my hand at building my own cone. I am not done quite yet I will post pics of it as I finish it and of it running  It is built out of 3/8" cell cast white acrylic. 10" collection cup, 11" base, 5.5" neck and is 26" tall. Uses an Askoll 1500 pump.
putting 45 degree bevels. This is how I route a channel for the tube Drilling holes adding 45 degree tapers to the bottom of the bubble plate here is the motor block base of cone neck and here is kinda a mockup
Edited by tcfab - February 13 2010 at 9:41pm
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FIRE SHRIMP
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Joined: August 20 2003
Location: midvale
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 1:39pm |
STUNNING!!!!! 
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<<<<<<<<<<< This is the only hobby where someone is cool for gluing animals to rocks
Eric@utahmarineaquatics.com
Eric@utahaquariumdoctors.com
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tcfab
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Joined: October 18 2008
Location: North Ogden
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 1:42pm |
Thank you 
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downhill_biker
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Joined: February 28 2009
Location: Avenues SLC, UT
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 2:37pm |
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Nice, that is truly amazing. I am anxious to see this thing up and running!
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The friendliest giant you'll ever meet.
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dew2loud1
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Location: cedar city
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 2:46pm |
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Looks great, is that the SWC cone?
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tcfab
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Location: North Ogden
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 3:50pm |
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No all pieces are hand made by me other then the grey volute, which I wanted to make but I already had it so I just ended up using it. The cone was kind of a PITA to make, I had to make a female and male mold to get it to work.
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sanddune600
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 3:53pm |
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now I am way impressed very nice work
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tcfab
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Joined: October 18 2008
Location: North Ogden
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 4:28pm |
I have had a few people message me about some questions, so here are some more pictures on some of the parts you asked about.
Here is the neck when its on
and here it is open, I have not routed the channel for the o-ring just yet
Here is the lid
Size comparison of the cup, not sure how much it holds yet 
and a full shot of the skimmer
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Nick801
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 4:41pm |
that's insane... nice work man
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tcfab
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 4:47pm |
Thanks Nick. 
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MadReefer
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 4:52pm |
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Wow! Very impressive.
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jbutler
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Posted: February 06 2010 at 5:16pm |
Sweet! Wish I had the tools and brains to pull that off. 
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Luckedout
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 12:10am |
 That is one of the most impressive DIY projects I've seen. You must have a ton of experience working with acrylic. That's something else. If you don't mind me asking what's your cost of material vs. cost of a manufactured cone skimmer? I imagine it's quite a bit cheaper, but you pulled off something impressive here so I imagine you didn't scrimp on quality material.
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-Ben
90g Mixed reef
www.body-balancechiropractic.com
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tcfab
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 3:32pm |
Thanks for the compliments Everything is cell cast acrylic vs. extruded. I really don't have to much experience in acrylic actually, but I do in wood working and some of the principals are the same really. I am into this skimmer about $300-$340 done vs the real Alpha cone 250 at about $1,200
Edited by tcfab - February 07 2010 at 3:34pm
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tcfab
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 3:35pm |
Hopefully I will have it done tomorrow night so I can test this beast
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thefu
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 6:57pm |
CRAZY! 
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leafeater
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 6:58pm |
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Wow! Incredible work.
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Jeffs_little_ocean
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 7:59pm |
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Can I offer you $350 for it? Hey 10 bucks is 10 bucks...
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Whoever told me this hobby is affordable should be shot.
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tcfab
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 8:11pm |
uummm, no
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jcoulter17
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Posted: February 07 2010 at 8:19pm |
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how did you make the cone if you don't care to tell
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