DIY SKIMMER. AIR STONE OR VENTURI ?

[427HISS]

Back in the 90's, I built my first DIY skimmer. 6" dia x 5' tall. The only piece I had made was the 10" dia x 10" tall collection cup for $85. It will be much more expensive to buy the acrylic today, so I'm searching for the lowest price I can find.

I started up the reef hobby about a year ago and have tried several brands of skimmers, but not happy with most of them. I realize that people want short skimmers to fit under the tank in a sump (or next to it) but I'm another guy that believes these just don't have the dwell time in the reaction chamber portion and the water flow is too high.

I have a few tanks with short skimmers, but I'm in the process of putting a 125g back into a wall, with access to a unused bedroom that will be again, the fishroom. So, a tall pvc skimmer outside of the sump is no issue.

My 90's skimmer worked awesome. I beleive it was better than most today. I would buy a
2" x 10" x 12" inchs long of basswood and cut each into a air stone. I drilled and tapped each one about 3/4" down and screwed a air nipple in. Each would last about a month, longer if I cleaned it every two weeks or so, to keep the tiny pores open.

The question is, do you think a wood air driven stone,..... or a newer 2016 technology venturi & water pump would work better ? I know a venturi and pump would cost more to buy.

 

[Pepcrylic]

I am a huge fan of the venturi an high pressure pump. Check out your local Pool/spa store for a choice on the venturi

 

[427HISS]

Do you have a favorite brand ?

 

[billaras]

after many different patents about a DIY skimmer i conclude the a used one is always cheaper and works better

 

[427HISS]

A used DIY skimmer or name brand ?

 

[billaras]

a name brand

 

[gar732]

If you don't care too much about looks you can make one out of pvc or abs to keep costs down. You can model it off of a life reef and use a mazzei Venturi. No need to reinvent the wheel just go with what is tried and true. For a diy skimmer this is probably your best bet. I've built a few different skimmers to include cone skimmers and after all is said and done you don't save much if anything by building it yourself. I always enjoyed the build which is what kept me trying again but none of those skimmers are currently in use.

 

[427HISS]

I agree, I enjoy building as a sense of pride. I can get the tube PVC at a low cost, it's the clear acrylic that's very expensive.
I may have to lessen the length of the acrylic to 6"-8", but I really like to see how long the reaction chamber is and how dense. That's important, as I can adjust the water flow and or the amount of bubbles to make it as efficient as possible.

Although it will be in the fish room, I still want to make it fairly visually appearing, and although it can be very low in cost, I don't want to use pop bottles, funnels etc....

I still believe a tall reaction chamber is best over the short mass produced skimmer's that are designed to fit under our sumps.

Other than mazzei Venturi's, what are some of the other best ?

 

[427HISS]

Bump....

 

[Sm51498]

I've always found airstone to be better at producing lots of fine bubbles than a venturi. However, they are also a giant hassle. I use a small in sump skimmer and it seems to work just as well as my enormous counter current skimmer that I built in college.

Airstone skimmers need a good air pump to be effective. a good air pump can be as expensive as a good pump.

 

[427HISS]

Since this Coralife Super Luft Air Pump is noisy, I'd like to put the air pump in the basement then run a airline up stairs to the fish room. Is this pump capable of producing enough head of apx. 12' to 15' to pump upstairs and still have enough air to run the air stone in the skimmer ?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3669+12912+14684&pcatid=14684

 

[Sm51498]

I know nothing about hose length on an air pump. I wouldn't think it is like a water pump in that way as friction and density are much lower with air. a version of that pump is what I used. Great pump.

 

[427HISS]

It's been so long that I used the pump I had, but it produced enough from the basement that it worked very well. I just don't know what the heck I did with it ? lol... This is only a thought over a venture, but ya know......