DIY skimmers
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10007
Printed Date: January 08 2026 at 3:32am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: DIY skimmers
Posted By: RockStarFish
Subject: DIY skimmers
Date Posted: January 15 2006 at 11:08pm
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has anyone in the club ever built there own skimmer ? If so is it worth it to builb one rather than than buy one. If any of you have built one can you post a pic. so I can get some ideas if it's worth it. thanks mike |
Replies:
Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: January 15 2006 at 11:17pm
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very well worth it... the actual work behind any skimmer is proper reaction chamber time/reaction and how the air/water is injected. Do a google on DIY skimmers. ------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 12:22am
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I've build a few. Do a search here (in the DIY forum). ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: RockStarFish
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 9:49am
| none of you guys have some picks ?What is the advantige to haveing a cylinder rather than a cube skimmer |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 10:03am
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Here's a thread on a venturi skimmer I built: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=570 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=570 Here's one on a beckett head: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1413 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1413 There's a picture of the beckett I'm currently using in this thread: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9807&PN=4 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9807& PN=4 I don't know if there are any advantages to using a cylinder other then acrylic extruded acrylic tube is not very expensive and the added work of making a box just isn't worth it (unless you're plan involves tube larger then 6" diameter). ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: RockStarFish
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 10:21am
| thank you jfinch I think you have made up my mine to make one. How much have you ended up spending on your skimmer ? |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 10:52am
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The expensive parts are the venturi, bulkhead and outlet valve. The cheapest venturi is the Beckett Foamhead which costs around $20. The outlet bulkhead will be $10-15 and the outlet valve (gate valve, not ball) will be about $15-25. I think the 6" tube is around $7 a foot and the acrylic sheet can be had very cheap if you can find the right sized pieces in the offcuts bin at Regional Supply. Otherwise you'll be buying a sheet at about $115 (a sheet would build 3-5 large skimmers). ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: RockStarFish
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 11:28am
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do you have a parts list and posably a step by step if not I can probbly figure it out myself but with someyhing to go by would help thanks mike |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 16 2006 at 12:25pm
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One of those threads has a drawing of the skimmer (autocad or pdf). ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: January 18 2006 at 3:17pm
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I too am interested in building a protein skimmer but when I looked on ebay I found... http://cgi.ebay.com/New-150-Gallon-JEBO-Protein-Skimmer-Reef-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ7737329791QQcategoryZ46313QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - http://cgi.ebay.com/New-150-Gallon-JEBO-Protein-Skimmer-Reef -Aquarium_W0QQitemZ7737329791QQcategoryZ46313QQrdZ1QQcmdZVie wItem With a few modifications would it be a good skimmer? John |
Posted By: stephan
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 12:03am
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I have that one you found on ebay. I've never had any other skimmer, but it seems like it's doing what it's supposed to. Stinky brown foam collects in it. Occasionally the air mixture or whatever gets wierd but I think that's because of changing water level where I keep it. ------------- Stephan Lovstedt Camarillo, CA 65 Gallon Glass |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 9:12am
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Stephan, Thanks for the reply. Why is is so cheap? John |
Posted By: stephan
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 9:40am
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I wondered the same thing, but couldn't afford anything else so I thought I'd
try it. I don't know if more costrly skimmers get a lot more junk out or will last longer or are easier to set up or what. Probably have to ask somebody else those questions. ------------- Stephan Lovstedt Camarillo, CA 65 Gallon Glass |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 9:52am
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Thanks for your honest answer. I have three (two on my 120) hang on the back CPRs that are fairly inefficient, so I wanted something that would replace the two but be more efficient. As my earlier post states I am willing to build my own but if I can get the base (especially for $30) I wouldn't mind retro fitting it to make it more efficient. Do you feed your corals? (or is it a fish only tank?) John |
Posted By: RockStarFish
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 1:05pm
| So I went and baught a peice of tubing today but I think it is to wide I got a 2 foot peice of 6 inch tube with some 1/8 inch thick scrap. do you think that is to wide ? Oh and if I didn't menchin it's for a 150 and it will be 1 and a half feet |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 1:36pm
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6" tubing is what I use for larger skimmers, you should be just fine. You'll also want some smaller diameter for the neck. I wouldn't use 1/8" sheet thought. I'd say 1/4" minimum. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 2:36pm
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Jon, I thought you could give your opinion of the JEBO skimmer I mentioned above. I figured that I would add a venturi inlet in the tubing conecting the skimmer to the pump and either have both going or close off the factory inlet. I'm not sure all that I have to look at but for 30 some bucks I figured I could retrofit it to increase efficiency. I don't have all the tools needed to precision cut. (I still don't have a table saw John |
). For me, this would be the way to go though I would love to build one from scratch (maybe next year
)Posted By: RockStarFish
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 3:22pm
| so far it doen't seem like it's going to be to much money I got the most exspensive part and it was only 15 bucks |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 4:42pm
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I thought you could give your opinion of the JEBO skimmer I mentioned above. I'm not sure what it looks like, I can't get on Ebay from work. I'll try to remember to have a look when I get home. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 19 2006 at 6:53pm
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Ok, I hopped over to ebay and they don't really give much useful info (IMO) regarding that skimmer. But based on the picture (assumed size) and the fact that it's powered by a 23 watt power head, I'm pretty sure I would not be satisfied with it's performance on a 150 gallon tank... maybe 20 gallons. But I probably overskim... I would suggest you ask this question on other, larger message boards such as reefcentral. You're likely to find more people who own a JEBO. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jpiotrowski
Date Posted: January 20 2006 at 10:10am
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Jon, One more question. Would switching out the powerhead (I have a RIO2100) increase the efficiency? -or- What would it take (if possible) to get it ready for a 120g tank (150-160g system)? Thanks, John |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 20 2006 at 2:06pm
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I don't know. I don't know anything about that skimmer. Sorry. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Angel
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 9:57pm
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Jon, the PDF file for this project was taken down (temporary work server space). Did you or someone else happen to save that file? Did you cut the pieces yourself (cicrles and all)? Do you still like this skimmer or have you moved onto something else? ------------- Connie Tooele |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 10:38pm
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I didn't save it, sorry. But the *.dwg files are still there. Everything was cut in my shop, circles and all. I still like the beckett skimmer, but I got tired of it sitting outside my sump so when I changed my sump out last summer I also built a new skimmer (reused the collection cup and beckett from the older one). This one sits in my sump. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: taylorwaldron
Date Posted: March 30 2006 at 2:25pm
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on that jebo skimmer it says it fit inside the tank and is a hang on. Anyone know it if can be modified to hang on the bakc of the tank on the outside? |
Posted By: stephan
Date Posted: March 30 2006 at 4:39pm
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I suppose if you got the tubing worked out you could do that. The outside diameter of the outlet on powerhead that comes with it fits perfectly inside the inside diameter of the inlet to the skimmer. Neither is a convenient tube size, so gettting a good water tight path may be problematic. Also you'll decrease the powerheads output because you'll be adding turns and lengths of tube etc. I think my cheap little Jebo skimmer does a good job. ------------- Stephan Lovstedt Camarillo, CA 65 Gallon Glass |