Here's a few pictures of the skimmer I built.  It uses a beckett foam head for airation.

Some specs:
Overall:  11" x 8" x 32"
6" dia x 13" long main column
3" dia x 15" injection tube that is channeled through a false floor and into a 3" dia x 10" long riser tube within the 6 inch main column.

I'm using a Little Giant 4 to power it (which is for sale, btw).  Most of the design was ripped off from the skimmers on this page:  http://www.barraquatic.com - http://www.barraquatic.com

Overall picture, with yard stick for reference:

Close up of the Beckett head:

The skimmer in operation:

Complaints:  My sump isn't big enough.  Actually it's ok, it just needs a little modifying.  But it's still tight.  I may have to build a little cabinet to house it in and move it outside the tank.  I'll post more as it ages...

No kidding!  That looks great Jon!

Impressive Jon!!!  The skimmer looks awsome!

Hey Jon looks great i have a question the air intake to the beckett is it loud?

and did you make a line for a ozone?

Jon,  Why would you want to use ozone? Just to give you an idea, The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still classifies ozone as a toxic gas, and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that workers not be exposed to average concentrations of more than 0.1 parts per million over an eight-hour period.

To see what the EPA has written on ozone, http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/ozon.pdf - http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/ozon.pdf   . Check out some of the disadvantages. In case you couldn't tell, I hate ozone. 

I don't use it, it was just a response to Firefish's question.

Many do use ozone.  The benefits include better skimming performance from your skimmer (if injected directly into the skimmer air stream).  Ozone can also be used to increase the ORP of the tank but making hypochloride and hypobromide species (bleach).  Some of these benefits can also be had by using a UV sterilizer.  The drawbacks are just what you posted... plus if not used properly, can lead to rotting fins on fish and even death. 

Just thought I'd update, here's a current picture:

It's working great so far (curing live rock only in tank).  As you can see, I moved it out of the sump, leaving more room in the sump for water (I'll build a cabinet for it to reside in).  I couldn't hear the air sucking when it was in the sump, but now out in the wide open, there is a definate air sucking sound, similar to the Mazzei I had before.  It does suck a lot of air.  I have the air valve only about 1/2 open to lessen the turbulance in the main column.  Another thing learned.  I'll never again make flanges from 1/4" material... it flexes too much and is harder to seal.  I'll use 3/8" next time.  All in all, I think it's the best skimmer I've made.

Good point!

In my usage above I meant activated carbon.  I missused the term.

Charcoal is coal or wood that's been burned in a low oxygen environment, but hasn't been "activated".  It'll adsorb organics like activated carbon, but at much much less capacity due to it's low surface area.  If you take charcoal or coal and then heat it up to around 1000�F in the presence of steam it becomes activated carbon.  You don't see charcoal around much anymore... if it's black it's probably activated carbon.

1st attempt at an air filter for the skimmer.

I didn't want the possibility of wet carbon dripping back down into the skimmer so the air goes up the center tube (drawn in) turns 180� and exits through the bottom.  Trouble is, I get foam all the way through the filter .  I think this will work on a collection cup (away from the foam).  BTW, before it became saturated, it was working.  The air from the vent had no smell at all.

I think I'd have foam all over the place wouldn't I?

NO PROBLEMS WITH MINE DOING THAT EITHER

Flaz,  that's the way I'm going to go... a separate collection container.  I think I'll incorporate an overflow protection device in it (ping pong ball float/check).

Waste collector with auto shutdown to prevent overflow.

Is there any chance you would post your detailed plans for this skimmer?  I have searched high and low for plans on the web without finding anything worth building.

Tim

Is there any chance you would post your detailed plans for this skimmer?  I have searched high and low for plans on the web without finding anything worth building.

As a matter of fact I do have plans drawn out in Autocad.  Do you have autocad?  I'm not sure if there's a reader or not?  I don't think I can save from within autocad to other formats?  Anyone here know?  Anyway, I'm more then willing to share if you can open and use them.  It might seem like overkill, but the drawings really helped me to locate flanges and tubes so they wouldn't hit each other... much better then trial and error.

Here's the latest pics...

I had 11 more inches of 6" tubing laying around so I built an extension to the skimmer.  Now the main column is 24" long!

And I built a box to hide it in:

Hey jon BTW where do you buy your maple veneer ply

The autocad files are at work, I'll check tomorrow.

It's actually birch ply from Home Depot or Lowes... can't remember.  They both carry it.

I've seen Dell computers used for many different things - but a skimmer stand is a new one!

That ain't the half of it... I'll start a new thread in the DIY section showing what it really is...
Here's the tread:  http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1629&PN=1 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1629& PN=1

If your ever looking for more try National Wood Products. Better prices, VAST selection, and if you want it cheaper call me first and I'll set you up with their discount. I've built a lot with veneer ply and know it can be Expensive!! Money better spent on more directly fishy stuff

cool we'll talk at the meeting more (you comin?)

I am excited to take a look at the plans!  The autodesk viewer installed just fine but it will only open .dwf files.  The plans you have provided are .dwg.  If you have an option to save the drawings as .dwf I think we can make the viewer work with the drawing.

Thanks again!
Tim

I was able to conver the files that Jon is sharing will all of us in a format I hope most of us can use.  PDF!  I've also included the DWF files incase you want the original autoCad format.  I've ZIPped them all together.

http://libtest.weber.edu/fish/beckettSkimmer.zip - http://libtest.weber.edu/fish/beckettSkimmer.zip

PS:  This is my work test server, if anyone has a place to host this file, please feel free to copy the file and post the location, thanks!

Thanks Spuma!

How did you convert the .dwg files to .dwf?

Another update.  A couple day's ago I came home from work and noticed the skimmer sounded strange.  Apparently while I was at work it went into skimmer overdrive producing a lot of wet foam.  What I was happy about is my skimate collection cup worked!  It shut the skimmer completely down.  Here's a couple pictures:

This is what it looked like when I removed the wood cover.  As you can see the cup is full.  And the water column in the skimmer has been forced down to the bottom.

Here's the full cup.  A ping pong ball saved my carpet!

"Here's the full cup.  A ping pong ball saved my carpet!"

Probably your marriage too.

Skimmer looks great!