Pegasus Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Pies said: Sorry to have ruined your thread TM. The skimmer looks great man, did you design it yourself or copy something else or find plans online? 10/10 top notch. Such a real shame that you guys shoud completely ruin someone elses thread to satisfy your own egos. Posts with no reference to topic removed. Thread will be locked if this continues. Bill. Mod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tel Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 awesome looking job TM. it would be good to some other pics and details/results. the size in particular is outstanding and would justify some serious envy if it skims well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 I'm impressed TM! Very professional. Can't tell by looking, how is the air injected? If I was clever enough to do something like that, I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostface Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 im quite keen to build one of these - id like to go bigger [more diameter ideally, like 12-18 inch, but short enough that it still fits under tank] probably go with 2 pumps [like deltec 702 902 etc] as far as the cost goes, im sure i can make a better skimmer than my 850 for the price i could get selling it 2nd hand [thats a gonna start a fire :lol: :lol: ] let alone the satisfaction of having made it yourself.... TM, are there larger diameter pieces of tube available? if i do end up doing one of these, ill put it up against a deltec ap850 for a few weeks. could you let us know where you got the parts for this? particularly the acrylic tube, baseplate, neck and fittings hopefully they are available in auckland. i presume that the neck / reducing part of the skimmer was pre-made, is this the case? if so, what sizes are available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Interesting to see what it will cost once completed . a 12-18 inch tube will cost over $400 I got this skimmer made a few years ago and it cost over $3000 without labour cost. Was a good way to lose $1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostface Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 nice one. you dont sound very happy with it though, what was the problem? id probably follow the design of the ol deltecs but go a but fatter and shorter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 thats not cheap!! ad to it your labour cost, some profit , GST and suddenly your up there with the expensive skimmers. sorry forgot the advertising cost and marketing. :-? Labour costs nothing, don't want profit, don't have to do any marketing. cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Sorry to have ruined your thread TM. The skimmer looks great man, did you design it yourself or copy something else or find plans online? 10/10 top notch. Pie Thanks. its a pretty simple design, bit like the deltecs and others i have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 I'm impressed TM! Very professional. Can't tell by looking, how is the air injected? If I was clever enough to do something like that, I would. it has a sedra needle wheel, venturi on the intake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 nice one. you dont sound very happy with it though, what was the problem? id probably follow the design of the ol deltecs but go a but fatter and shorter Quite happy with it, will just wait a couple of weeks till it skims sweet then i will be really happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Check out the diy. more photos there. give me a minute though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 im quite keen to build one of these - id like to go bigger [more diameter ideally, like 12-18 inch, but short enough that it still fits under tank] probably go with 2 pumps [like deltec 702 902 etc] One thing to bear in mind is that shorter, is by definition, less efficient. The taller the skimmer, the longer it takes the bubble to get to the top. The longer the bubble spends getting to the top, the more time it has to collect crud from the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 thats right, but some people can only go so high in there cabnet. if you get the water going into the chamber the right way you will increase contact time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostface Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Quite happy with it, will just wait a couple of weeks till it skims sweet then i will be really happy with it. that one was for reef about his homejob, he didnt seem happy with the price he paid to put it together. im sure you are happy with yours, i would be id like to go wide n short, like bubble king kinda dimensions, but maybe tall would be the one. i figure that with a short one, if you can get the water circling around the chamber a bit then the contact time will be quite long given the height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/diy-skimmer-salt-vt11994.html more photos here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Nice skimmer TM, cost $450, Can you please make 100 and sell them for $450 and live of the proceeds so you can feed your family. , basically once you add your profit and R&D it will cost over $1000. So in reality it is not cheap either. Fish hobbyist think that aquarium stores/manufactures should work for free. but people in the other business are allowed to earn over $30 a hour very true, but also remember that making 100 of them would mean you would get a nice discount bulk buying parts, bringing overall cost down and pushing profit back up. swings in roundabouts. TM - i am impressed, very nice job. I wanted to make one myself also but was too worried I'd spend the money, make a skimmer and have it perform badly. Just based on the pictures of it, looks like you've done your homework. A definate 10/10. Well done. Question - do you have a ball valve on the skimmer outlet? Quite important if you want to adjust water level in the skimmer and optimising its efficiency. I couldnt see one in the photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 very true, but also remember that making 100 of them would mean you would get a nice discount bulk buying parts, bringing overall cost down and pushing profit back up. swings in roundabouts. TM - i am impressed, very nice job. I wanted to make one myself also but was too worried I'd spend the money, make a skimmer and have it perform badly. Just based on the pictures of it, looks like you've done your homework. A definate 10/10. Well done. Question - do you have a ball valve on the skimmer outlet? Quite important if you want to adjust water level in the skimmer and optimising its efficiency. I couldnt see one in the photo? Yes there is a ball valve, sucks though, hard to fine tune, either to high or to low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 .....but also remember that making 100 of them would mean you would get a nice discount bulk buying parts, bringing overall cost down and pushing profit back up. swings in roundabouts. Then remember to add on the cost of interest on the money to buy the components, the cost of a premises big enough to allow you to build 100 skimmers in bigger batches than one or two at a time, the cost of space to allow you to store sufficient components to make 100 skimmers and to store a large number of completed skimmers, the cost of an extractor system to deal with the large quantity of solvents involved in assembling 100 skimmers, the replacement / depreciation / maintenance on the tools used, the purchase of heavier duty tools, the cost of an accountant to do your books, the cost of packaging and shipping and the additional interest costs or use of money costs you would incur from unsold skimmers. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 for 100 skimmers? i dont think so. i wasnt talking about manufacturing thousands and distributing worldwide. Yes there is a ball valve, sucks though, hard to fine tune, either to high or to low. i think the outlet pipe seems too small. if it were larger with a larger ball valve, you would have better control. just basing that on the deltec design Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 for 100 skimmers? i dont think so. i wasnt talking about manufacturing thousands and distributing worldwide. i think the outlet pipe seems too small. if it were larger with a larger ball valve, you would have better control. just basing that on the deltec design What size pipe is it on the deltec? I would have though the control over the amount of water coming out would be very much the same, say if you were using 32mm compared to 40mm? you would still get to a point where you were either turning it to much or not enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 id probably follow the design of the ol deltecs but go a but fatter and shorter The skimmer that was built was 250mm tube. If you go with bigger diameter it will be big bucks. If you also use the nice grey piping for the skimmer then get a mortgage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 What size pipe is it on the deltec? My AP702 is 25mm in, 50mm out I would have though the control over the amount of water coming out would be very much the same, say if you were using 32mm compared to 40mm? you would still get to a point where you were either turning it to much or not enough Just checked your pic again I was looking at it wrong, the outlet is pretty big so looks like its all good. I also have trouble getting water level right in my Deltec, there is a large change for such a small adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slappers Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 AP702 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 And its just my opnion. DelTec make VERY EXPENSIVE skimmers, are they worth it? You obviously think so, I don't. Still though comments like yours must be good for the DelTec importers in the forum. Another few sales for JetSkiSteve, good work Puttputt you should be in marketing. By the way, I am using Aquamedic calcium reactor media at the moment, its its the VERY BEST money can buy. Worth every cent, and I doubt anything anyone could say would change my mind. Its worked like a dream since I first added it. Pies (JetSkiSteve, i'll take my commision in cash please) Have you got rid of your deltec skimmer now ?? Dude i thought u were happy with Deltec. Just on a simple note - if i had the choice of making my own that could turn out half as good as this one i would do. and to achieve that at this sort of price is great work in my mind. I can't understand the relevence of anyone commenting about this in terms of a commercial venture. Nice work TM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 My AP702 ap902?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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