7faces
08-13-2008, 11:21 PM
Anyone have any plans for a DIY Auto shutoff waste collector for skimmer gunk?
The ones they sell seem really expensive, when a 5 gallon salt bucket would do the same thing with the right fittings,,,but what do i need and where do i get em?
Fishieness
08-14-2008, 12:35 PM
It really would be easy. All you would need is a the bucket with a sealable top with two holes in it. One hole would be where the skimmate enters, so you would need a hose and a hose adapter for that. Then the other hole, all you would need is to fit a piece of PCV down there with two reducers on the end. And then place a ping-pong ball in the center. As the water level fills up, the pingpong ball will rise to the top and prevent any air from escaping. If you put a rubber gasket around it, it will help with the seal. And then putting carbon around there would not be difficult, just attach a larger piece of PVC with some screening over the hole and around the outside and fill it with carbon. However, with a bucket that big, you will probably not even need it, as you are going to want to clean your skimmer more than that if you want to get maximume efficiency. But I can see if you are worried about it sucking pure water and creating a flood.
Also, I'm assuming you have a closed off skimmer like the downdrafts or most of the large beckets? If it isn't sealed, then it wouldn't shut it off. If it was sucking water, it would just come back up the tube and eventually flood the floor, if it had enough power to do that in the first place. But depending on the setup, there might not be enough water to do that. And i can see 5 gallons of water that isn't on the floor is always a good thing...
And sorry for rambling...
7faces
08-14-2008, 10:03 PM
Hmm, I'll see what i come up with...
if its nice, ill post a step by step...
has anyone made one of these?...pics and ideas would be a help...