Plz Help with Skimmer (AquaC Knockoff)

[sw65galma]

When I bought my 300, it had a Aqua C Knockoff with it.
it was never put together, but it looks like it may be missing some stuff.
On the Intake on the inside, the pipe goes to a 90 then a small straight then another 90, pointing the flow up.
So it would look like it going to shoot straight up into the collections chamber.
Should I point it down? diagnal?, Add another piece of pipe to entend it closer to the bottom of the base?
Most i've seen have baffles in the base, this one doesn't appear to have one.
Any help would be great!

 

[robchuck]

Do you have any pics of the skimmer for us to help identify what's going on with the skimmer? Plus, I'm a little curious, because I've never heard of an AquaC knockoff and I think it would be difficult to DIY their spray-injection technology to work properly.
For what it's worth, the plumbing inside of the skimmer sounds excessive and would likely create alot of back pressure on the pump. I would forgo all that plumbing and just let the air/water mixture shoot straight down into the mixing chamber. That's how alot of Beckett skimmers are built, though some of them have an angled baffle (like the AquaC).

 

[sw65galma]

Thanks, I'll post a pic tonight.

 

[sw65galma]

Here is the whole thing.
There are 3 Barbed opening, for ???? I don't know.

 

[sw65galma]

Here is the inside. Intake on the left.
On the right is the output with a 90 and a small lenght of pipe.
That looks ok.
it's the intake that looks wrong.

 

[sw65galma]

bump

 

[sw65galma]

bump

 

[slowest is fastest]

The barbed fitting on the top of the collection cup(top red circle) needs to be connected to the venturi(the white PVC barbed fitting in the pipe on top of the blue box...bottom red circle) on the skimmer. This is the intake or imput of the skimmer. The other barbed fitting on the lower side of the collection cup(middle red circle) is to connect the skimmer to a larger collection container so that you do not have to empty the collection cup on the skimmer. You should still remove the collection cup regularly for cleaning.
The Gate valve is the output or return...use it to control the height of the water inside the skimmer. This will determine how wet/dry the skimmate is.
So if i am looking at the picture correctly the Left side is the output/return and the pvc is pointing down to reduce the number of micro-bubbles entering the tank/sump and the Right side is the imput from the pump driving the skimmer. It is pointed up to direct the micro-bubbles towards the collection cup.
SiF

 

[sw65galma]

Originally posted by slowest is fastest
The barbed fitting on the top of the collection cup(top red circle) needs to be connected to the venturi(the white PVC barbed fitting in the pipe on top of the blue box...bottom red circle) on the skimmer. This is the intake or imput of the skimmer. The other barbed fitting on the lower side of the collection cup(middle red circle) is to connect the skimmer to a larger collection container so that you do not have to empty the collection cup on the skimmer. You should still remove the collection cup regularly for cleaning.
The Gate valve is the output or return...use it to control the height of the water inside the skimmer. This will determine how wet/dry the skimmate is.
So if i am looking at the picture correctly the Left side is the output/return and the pvc is pointing down to reduce the number of micro-bubbles entering the tank/sump and the Right side is the imput from the pump driving the skimmer. It is pointed up to direct the micro-bubbles towards the collection cup.
SiF
Thanks,
But wounldn't the input facing up shoot it straight up into the collection cup?

 

[slowest is fastest]

I think they probably have it facing up to try and reduce the amount of micro-bubbles returning to the sump/tank. You should be able to control the water level in the skimmer neck with the gate valve. If the water shoots up into the collection cup then you are probably running to strong of a pump. If you turn the input elbow down without putting a shield inside the skimmer then not only will you get a huge number of micro-bubbles returned from the skimmer but it may even cavitate reducing the efficiency and increasing the noise of the skimmer.
SiF

 

[sw65galma]

Originally posted by slowest is fastest
I think they probably have it facing up to try and reduce the amount of micro-bubbles returning to the sump/tank. You should be able to control the water level in the skimmer neck with the gate valve. If the water shoots up into the collection cup then you are probably running to strong of a pump. If you turn the input elbow down without putting a shield inside the skimmer then not only will you get a huge number of micro-bubbles returned from the skimmer but it may even cavitate reducing the efficiency and increasing the noise of the skimmer.
SiF
It recommends a Mag9 for the skimmer, which is 900gph, i'd assume it could send the up pretty far.
I'll try it I guess. What about if it pointed at one of the sides inside?

 

[sw65galma]

I still haven't played with this yet, anyone else with an idea?