LOWEST PRICE FOR ROUND CAST ACRYLIC ?
- Thread starter 427HISS
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kschweer
Moderator
@cromag08 or @Pepcrylic may be able to help you out
Pepcrylic
Active Member
I am not sure where to get it for the best price. But I do know you will pay an arm and a leg where ever you find it. I ordered an extra large skimmer cup for my lifereef skimmer. 10'' diam by 12'' tall was an additional $200. Was there some markup there? of course.
Your best bet is to google it. IMO you will be able to find it cheaper somewhere other than Tapp Plastics.
Your best bet is to google it. IMO you will be able to find it cheaper somewhere other than Tapp Plastics.
OP
OP
427HISS
2500 Club Member
$200 !
That's insane !
Back in the 90's when I built my 6" x 5' tall skimmer, I had a local shop build the skimmer cup, about the same size as yours in clear, and it was $80. dang, maybe I won't be able to build one again.
I still have the skimmer, it's been under the deck all these years, minus the collection cup. It fell over in the house and broke.
That's insane !
Back in the 90's when I built my 6" x 5' tall skimmer, I had a local shop build the skimmer cup, about the same size as yours in clear, and it was $80. dang, maybe I won't be able to build one again.
I still have the skimmer, it's been under the deck all these years, minus the collection cup. It fell over in the house and broke.
Vpham
Well-Known Member
http://www.usplastic.com/mobile/item.aspx?itemid=23517&categoryid=440
That's cheapest site I found online where I bought 4" tube to diy reactors.
lemonyx
Active Member
Paul B
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That's why for my skimmer I used PVC except for the top 6" so I could see the bubbles. The thing is 5' tall and I didn't want to spend $200.00 for plastic.
OP
OP
427HISS
2500 Club Member
I'll get back to you others, but for now, freckleface has some good prices, but for say the 3/16 x 10 x 30, you have to buy what's listed. I called them asking if they could cut down the 30" length to 12", but they will not. Bummer......
OP
OP
427HISS
2500 Club Member
Paul, I have seen your skimmer before. I wouldn't have to, but I'd like to have a foot of the reaction chamber clear, so I could see the amount and thickness of bubbles. While you're here, tell me about your construction, products used, pros & cons of yours and if theres any changes you would change.
Also, I need to do skimmer DIY skimmer thread builds, but do you have any paticular thread links ?
Is yours air or venturi driven ?
Also, I need to do skimmer DIY skimmer thread builds, but do you have any paticular thread links ?
Is yours air or venturi driven ?
Paul B
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My skimmer is a venturi model run with ozone. It requires two pumps to operate, one supplies water and one circulates water through the venturi.
I only used 6" of acrylic because that's the piece I had laying around. I can see the bubbles fine in that and it keeps the rest of the unit dark so algae doesn't grow inside.
The top reaction tube is easily removable to clean. It has a plastic compression fitting from a sink drain. I give it a half a turn and the top comes off. There is also a tube to the collection cup that drains into a five gallon bucket. When I remove the reaction tube to clean I squirt some bleach into the cup to keep it clean and the tube from growing algae.
It is important to have the water enter on an angle so it swirls around and doesn't just crash into the other side of the skimmer.
The effluent goes into the bucket that has a DIY overflow switch on it. It overflowed once when 24 urchins spawned at the same time.
The overflow switch is easy. I took two wires from the GFCI protected receptacle that runs the pumps of the skimmer and put them into a plastic container that has holes in it hanging near the top of the bucket. If the water level in the bucket hits that plastic container, the GFCI trips off stopping the skimmer and preventing water from going on the floor and my wife going nuts.
I use that same switch all over my house to shut off things if there is a leak.
The skimmer is probably 20 years old and I never had a problem with it. It does have a small air pump on it because it is so tall the venturi is not capable of providing enough suction to draw air so far down.
To adjust the water level in the skimmer I built a valve on the outflow. The valve is not capable of shutting off the water completely but it can make fine adjustments. It is basically an elbow with a big, flat head nylon screw threaded into it. (it is actually a screw that holds the seat on a toilet bowl) To adjust the valve, I turn the end of the screw that is sticking out of the elbow. That moves the large flat head of the screw towards or away from the output opening of the elbow. (The screw head is about 3/4" wide)
The large adjustment on the skimmer is a regular PVC valve on the input but that doesn't give me the fine adjustment I need.
I also have a 3/8" clear acrylic tube on the outside of the skimmer that is the sight glass and allows me to see the exact water level in the skimmer because due to it being PVC I can't see the top of the water level in the unit.
I adjust it so the water level is just near the bottom of the reaction tube.
The bottom of the skimmer has a gate valve that I use to remove water from the tank.
I only used 6" of acrylic because that's the piece I had laying around. I can see the bubbles fine in that and it keeps the rest of the unit dark so algae doesn't grow inside.
The top reaction tube is easily removable to clean. It has a plastic compression fitting from a sink drain. I give it a half a turn and the top comes off. There is also a tube to the collection cup that drains into a five gallon bucket. When I remove the reaction tube to clean I squirt some bleach into the cup to keep it clean and the tube from growing algae.
It is important to have the water enter on an angle so it swirls around and doesn't just crash into the other side of the skimmer.
The effluent goes into the bucket that has a DIY overflow switch on it. It overflowed once when 24 urchins spawned at the same time.
The overflow switch is easy. I took two wires from the GFCI protected receptacle that runs the pumps of the skimmer and put them into a plastic container that has holes in it hanging near the top of the bucket. If the water level in the bucket hits that plastic container, the GFCI trips off stopping the skimmer and preventing water from going on the floor and my wife going nuts.
I use that same switch all over my house to shut off things if there is a leak.
The skimmer is probably 20 years old and I never had a problem with it. It does have a small air pump on it because it is so tall the venturi is not capable of providing enough suction to draw air so far down.
To adjust the water level in the skimmer I built a valve on the outflow. The valve is not capable of shutting off the water completely but it can make fine adjustments. It is basically an elbow with a big, flat head nylon screw threaded into it. (it is actually a screw that holds the seat on a toilet bowl) To adjust the valve, I turn the end of the screw that is sticking out of the elbow. That moves the large flat head of the screw towards or away from the output opening of the elbow. (The screw head is about 3/4" wide)
The large adjustment on the skimmer is a regular PVC valve on the input but that doesn't give me the fine adjustment I need.
I also have a 3/8" clear acrylic tube on the outside of the skimmer that is the sight glass and allows me to see the exact water level in the skimmer because due to it being PVC I can't see the top of the water level in the unit.
I adjust it so the water level is just near the bottom of the reaction tube.
The bottom of the skimmer has a gate valve that I use to remove water from the tank.
Paul B
10K Club member
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Reef Of The Month
Article Contributor
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
I use Goop Glue for everything aquarium related. It is very thick and dries fast. Those green things I get from a florist. They use them to put carnations in a lapel
Which is why I recommend tap. Cut per ft.
http://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic_rods_tubes_shapes/clear_cast_by_ft/653
http://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic_rods_tubes_shapes/clear_cast_by_ft/653
TaylorPilot
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Google Laird Plastic and contact them. They have pretty good pricing even for 1 off stuff. Just be sure you call first to see if they have any, cause they usually don't carry stuff like that and it takes a few days to get it in. I think they sale it by the foot, but it is considerably cheaper in 5-6 foot lengths.
OP
OP
427HISS
2500 Club Member
Thanks Taylor. I'll contact you again about your overflow. I've just been very busy and the tank system has changed a bit.
I assume this is their website. I don't see any round tubing.
http://www.lairdplastics.com/product/materials
I assume this is their website. I don't see any round tubing.
http://www.lairdplastics.com/product/materials
Last edited:
TaylorPilot
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Call them...they can get anything...I have gotten pricing from them before on tubing...
