any DIY skimmer folks with an opinion

keith gray

keith gray

Member
I have a wet/dry I have converted to live rubble rock with chaeto and taken out the bioballs over time.
I am happy with it except for the piece of crap skimmer that came with the system. It pulls out very little and I can not get it to bubble much out of the top.
It sits about an inch off of the bottom of the chamber. I have even increased the motor size in it trying to get it to increase pressure in the chamber. but I am still not happy with it.
Does anyone think if I lower the unit itself so that it sits on the bottom more that this might increase pressure and therefore bubble better.
Without starting over and building a bigger sump and buying a new skimmer, I don't know what else to do.
My fundage won't allow for that right now, so help someone!!!
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
I don't even know what brand it is SPanko. It came with the wet/dry I bought years ago. It just sits in the first chamber of the wet/dry. I rigged a piece at the bottom of it, with a pvc cap with a hole in the end becasue the bottomw was just wide open. This created some more pressure, but still not enough. With the end on it, it hovers about an 1" from the bottom of chamber 1. That's why I wondered if I could lower it to rest on the bottom of the chamber if it might create more pressure. I am trying to adjust the pressure by opening the air valve, but it still seems to not push bubbles all the way to the top. This is so frustrating !
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Is your water level fluctuating in the chamber it is in? Can you post a picture of the skimmer in the chamber?
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
No the water stays the same level. That first chamber is where the water comes into the system from the tank.
I am at work but will get a pic and post on Monday. But basically it is a tube with a powerhead hooked in the side. At the bottom I have a rubber boot to hold on a piece of pvc with a hole in the end of the pvc cap. And it is about an inch or so off of the bottom. I have a little hose with an adjustable cap coming out of the side of the powerhead(if I remember right a maxijet 1200). I can adjust flow with this little air tube.
I find it hard to believe that my system's water is so perfect that it only skims a few bubble every few days, that would be nice but I don't think so.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3182891
Is your water level fluctuating in the chamber it is in? Can you post a picture of the skimmer in the chamber?
Keith I am with Henry on this. even with a top off system you are going to get water level fluctuation in your wet/dry. The water level can greatly influence your skimming
 
keith gray

keith gray

Member
I will have to look closer. The water from the tank comes into this first chamber and fills up to the wall where it falls into the 2nd chamber, so I don't know how it could vary that much. If it were too low it would not fill up enuff to fall over to chamber 2. Does that make sense or am I missing what you are saying ?
 
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