DIY Beckett Skimmer - Page 3

sasquatch · 04-01-2008, 12:23 AM

looks like a wrap! youll be able to open another soup kitchen soon lol

SubRosa · 04-01-2008, 12:24 AM

Beautiful job and excellent coverage of it!As soon as we get into our new house and I can set up some real tanks of my own I have an ancient air driven skimmer that I've been sitting on 10 yrs or so that's 5' highx8" dia. acrylic that I've envisioned the same treatment for.Having all the specs in front of me is sweet!I may have some future questions for you if you don't mind Frankie.Thanks for a real service!

John

Frankie · 04-01-2008, 12:31 AM

Thats it Sas?! quitter!LOL

Thanks John, always here to answer questions. With your back round i am sure you will make a killer skimmer.

sasquatch · 04-01-2008, 01:16 AM

I didnt quit Frankie lol, just leavin a bit for the next guy, I did find putting a recirc pump between the burp box and the diffuser eliminated the hiccups completely

Frankie · 04-01-2008, 01:43 AM

I was just kidding with you Steve.

Why didn't you tell me you had a beckett skimmer! I had a ton of questions! Interesting idea with the recirculating pump. It is actually a thought i had a while ago. Could you post some pictures of your skimmer? Or direct me to them? You are very talented, I would love to see what you have done.

pinantanjohn · 04-01-2008, 02:58 AM

Far out...

That's a nice piece of work... Bravo.

I'll bet that acrylic really stunk when you were cutting it.

I'm a toolmaker and if I may, for anyone out there that is going to cut acrylic with power tools, use coolant. Especially with a "milling" operation as shown above with the drill press ( a router table works too and is a bit safer). Just flood the groove and have at 'er. Tablesaws or router tables are a little tough, in that case, a bit of bar soap on the blade or cutter will help immensely.
Water is fine but you will need to clean the tools carefully after. The coolant will reduce the burring of the cut and the galling (plugging up) of the tools. It's rather dangerous with high speed tools. If the tool galls (re melts to the tool) and the material grabs it WILL rip the work right out of your hand.

For acrylic... mix in proportion 1 liter water, 1 teaspoon dishsoap, 3 teaspoons mineral oil ( the oil will help reduce rust). should be a little "milky".

For aluminum... Believe it or not, WD40 is the best to use for alu. Don't need much, just a squirt. You will be amazed how well it works. I know that there probably won't be many that are cutting alu. but it can melt in a tablesaw or router really easily. It's fairly dangerous to have it grab the blade and spit the work back at you.

Drilling steel... a dab of motor oil (not the best but it works and most people have it). Let it smoke, that means it's pulling out the heat. When it stops smoking put in another dab.

boozeman · 04-01-2008, 05:25 AM

DIY lubrication

sasquatch · 04-01-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie

I was just kidding with you Steve.

Why didn't you tell me you had a beckett skimmer! I had a ton of questions! Interesting idea with the recirculating pump. It is actually a thought i had a while ago. Could you post some pictures of your skimmer? Or direct me to them? You are very talented, I would love to see what you have done.

I packed up the becketts long ago, I couldnt reconcile the volume of water thru the skimmer as compared to what tank turnover should be, on a large system yes! perfect but under 200g I find the nw way better both in cost and type, have you gone thru the beckett mod on RC? I tried it but the conclusion was you can only use so much foam, I could literally displace 5 gallons of salt water from the skimmer body with foam, cool, but useless, Ill have to see if I kept the pics of the old skimmer

Frankie · 04-01-2008, 11:32 PM

I hate the nw skimmer i am running now. I built this skimmer with a 300 gallon upgrade in mind. I agree it is for larger systems. I do not plan on useing it for the 120 but will test it out on it. Then it go's into storage for the new tank.
Now you have me thinking of building a new skimmer for the 120! Get ready, here it comes!

Frankie · 04-01-2008, 11:45 PM

From what i just read on Austin Oceans This skimmer i built can go from 175-1500 depending on bio load. I think i will just wait for the pump and see what it does.

JWarren · 04-01-2008, 11:51 PM

Is air injected into the line before the head or dose the head pick up surrounding air?

Can the mix be controlled by trottling it back with a valve?

sasquatch · 04-01-2008, 11:52 PM

thats a powerful weapon son, watch where ya point it lol. with the leftovers you have, you could do an insane stubby

Frankie · 04-01-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWarren

Is air injected into the line before the head or dose the head pick up surrounding air?

Can the mix be controlled by trottling it back with a valve?

The Beckett injectors have 4 holes around them. The water passes through and air is pulled into the injector where it is pulverized into tiny bubbles. Yes It can be throttled back so you can adjust the bubble size. I will take one apart tomorrow and snap some shots of it so you all can better understand how it works.

Sas, Maybe i will make a Bubble king with the extras? I personally think those skimmers are over rated with not much to them, but maybe that is what people here are wanting to build. NW skimmers...

JWarren · 04-02-2008, 12:11 AM

I was thinking about building a skimmer with 1 beckett for the 90. I guess I will just have to order one and see how it performs.

sasquatch · 04-02-2008, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie

The Beckett injectors have 4 holes around them. The water passes through and air is pulled into the injector where it is pulverized into tiny bubbles. Yes It can be throttled back so you can adjust the bubble size. I will take one apart tomorrow and snap some shots of it so you all can better understand how it works.

Sas, Maybe i will make a Bubble king with the extras? I personally think those skimmers are over rated with not much to them, but maybe that is what people here are wanting to build. NW skimmers...

The BK 200 is only rated for 175g, too small for you lol. The two biggest fears of the beckett skimmer owner, the pump separates from the skimmer or the air intake valve comes off when your not around

04-01-2008, 12:23 AM	#31 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer looks like a wrap! youll be able to open another soup kitchen soon lol

04-01-2008, 12:24 AM	#32 (permalink)
SubRosa Torch coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 563 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer Beautiful job and excellent coverage of it!As soon as we get into our new house and I can set up some real tanks of my own I have an ancient air driven skimmer that I've been sitting on 10 yrs or so that's 5' highx8" dia. acrylic that I've envisioned the same treatment for.Having all the specs in front of me is sweet!I may have some future questions for you if you don't mind Frankie.Thanks for a real service! John __________________ Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

04-01-2008, 01:16 AM	#34 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer I didnt quit Frankie lol, just leavin a bit for the next guy, I did find putting a recirc pump between the burp box and the diffuser eliminated the hiccups completely

04-01-2008, 02:58 AM	#36 (permalink)
pinantanjohn Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 64 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer Far out... That's a nice piece of work... Bravo. I'll bet that acrylic really stunk when you were cutting it. I'm a toolmaker and if I may, for anyone out there that is going to cut acrylic with power tools, use coolant. Especially with a "milling" operation as shown above with the drill press ( a router table works too and is a bit safer). Just flood the groove and have at 'er. Tablesaws or router tables are a little tough, in that case, a bit of bar soap on the blade or cutter will help immensely. Water is fine but you will need to clean the tools carefully after. The coolant will reduce the burring of the cut and the galling (plugging up) of the tools. It's rather dangerous with high speed tools. If the tool galls (re melts to the tool) and the material grabs it WILL rip the work right out of your hand. For acrylic... mix in proportion 1 liter water, 1 teaspoon dishsoap, 3 teaspoons mineral oil ( the oil will help reduce rust). should be a little "milky". For aluminum... Believe it or not, WD40 is the best to use for alu. Don't need much, just a squirt. You will be amazed how well it works. I know that there probably won't be many that are cutting alu. but it can melt in a tablesaw or router really easily. It's fairly dangerous to have it grab the blade and spit the work back at you. Drilling steel... a dab of motor oil (not the best but it works and most people have it). Let it smoke, that means it's pulling out the heat. When it stops smoking put in another dab.

04-01-2008, 05:25 AM	#37 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer DIY lubrication __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

04-01-2008, 11:51 PM	#41 (permalink)
JWarren Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida Posts: 1,426 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer Is air injected into the line before the head or dose the head pick up surrounding air? Can the mix be controlled by trottling it back with a valve? __________________ John Typhoon RO/DI filter unit. My Saltwater web site. Help build ReefPedia!

04-01-2008, 11:52 PM	#42 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer thats a powerful weapon son, watch where ya point it lol. with the leftovers you have, you could do an insane stubby

04-02-2008, 12:11 AM	#44 (permalink)
JWarren Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida Posts: 1,426 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: DIY Beckett Skimmer I was thinking about building a skimmer with 1 beckett for the 90. I guess I will just have to order one and see how it performs. __________________ John Typhoon RO/DI filter unit. My Saltwater web site. Help build ReefPedia!

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