Converting ETSS skimmer to a pinwheel skimmer

[zach_discus]

Has anyone tried this? Using Google to look for info has brought up little to nothing. I like to build things, hence my career choice of machinist. Its also part of why I like reef tanks, lots oh fun gadgets. Also trying to keep my budget for my 450 gallon build moderate so my wife doesn't kill me

I started looking into this due to two factors:
1. I picked up a ETSS 1400XR for $80
2. I have a Reeflo Dart Gold with a Orca impeller setting here

So what I was thinking of doing is:
1. Shorten the down draft tubes and remove the bio-balls.
2. Turn into a recirculating, buy turning the original output into the input for the pump.
3. Add a 3/4"uniseal too the skimmer body for in feed and another 1" bulkhead to the skimmer box for return.
4. Add a slanted piece of acrylic in front of the pump input and aquarium return to create a bit of a bubble trap

So onto the questions:
Has anyone else tried this or something similar?
Anyone have any ideas or input?

 

[reefwiser]

Why do this and ETSS skimmer work very well You would do better to make a skimmer designed for a pin wheel skimmer. The down draft tubes of and ETSS is designed to produce more air bubbles than a pinwheel skimmer.

 

[zach_discus]

Why do this and ETSS skimmer work very well You would do better to make a skimmer designed for a pin wheel skimmer. The down draft tubes of and ETSS is designed to produce more air bubbles than a pinwheel skimmer.

The ETSS skimmers are a little loud and at 4ft tall will not fit under my stand. Would sell outright, lol.

 

[reefwiser]

Well the inside of the skimmer wouldn't work with any other design. I remember when they first came out. Old Friend Tony Vargas brought them to market. I made one out of 4 inch pvc after 12 hours of running what a head of foam it had. Yes they made shorter tube models for people wanting to install them under a stand eventually.

 

[zach_discus]

Not sure why you say that? Internally it looks just like my MRC Beckett skimmer and very similar to my old life reef ventura skimmer.

 

[Pepcrylic]

Zach
Dont doooo ittt. You will not get the proformance out of the skimmer as it is intended. Sell it off and get a LifeReef external. Your monster tank deserves a monster skimmer. If ya need to build a cabinet around the ext. skimmer. LOL

 

[reefwiser]

I say this because I know the designer of the ETSS skimmer. [emoji3] An having used and built skimmers since 1984. [emoji3]

 

[Sir Chris]

My current diy skimmer I run at night and I've made a new 1 for 75g sump with a drain on cup so it doesn't overfill or have 2 clean often. And this thing skims more then my friends tunze or skimz hob and break in is 20 mins for wood 2 saturate as I let it soak out of tank 2 not lose its "prime". I love a 9$ total skimmer do more then a lot of my friends 180+$ skimmers and all I did was make it wider vs taller.

 

[Sir Chris]

Slim mate after 45 mins setup b4 I go 2 sleep. It's a 30g no sump. Was workn on a HOB for friends 2 buy but now I'm goin sump so not worth it unless I feel the need 2 build it