DIY recirculating skimmer

So im not sure yet but i think i might try to mod my css 65 to be a recirculating skimmer.

the one thing i noticed is the pump supplied pumps a decent amount of water but does a crap job of making bubbles. so i got a maxi jet 1200 laying around that im thinking of using to add as a recirculation pump. looks fairly easy. and the only problem i see is the maxi jet will not suck air that low. ill mod the maxi tonight and test it at some diff. depths . then i might try to drill out the skimmer and get plumbing parts tomarrow.;D

what do you all think of this idea. is it dumb.!?
i have seen it done on octopus skimmers recently.

 

I am always interested in seeing a good diy project it gives me new ideas to try on my own stuff, i have a diy skimmer i was thinking on doing this to, keep us updated on how it gos

 

i got a baby sitter for the next 24 hours so i will def be busy trying to get this thing running. i will be sure to post pics along the way!

 

ok so i could not wait any longer and had to start.1) I started with building the recirculation pump setup. I found some spare plumbing parts that were a perfect fit.( i have a huge tote of spare filter parts and PH parts)lol I drilled a hole for a air line, added a control valve to the air line. and tested it in fresh water to see if it would suck air and how deep. well to my surprize it sucked a lot of air. even all the way down to the bottom of a 5 gal bucket about 12" +.
(ro salt water is being made now. to do a salt water bubble/foam test.)
here are pics of the pump setup so far, and my skimmer as it is now producing nothing.lol




next step i will sand out the holes tomarrow with a pointed dremel sanding bit. and cement the 2 slip fits into the skimmer body so the pump can just slip on and off. then will be the real test!

 

Interesting.
I really like the sump by the way.

 

wow busy day but i got it done.i got home from work at 12.30 and drained the sump to get the skimmer body out.

then i started to sand away, and the sanding bit cut threw the acrylic like butter, perfect smooth holes in a couple min. (very thin acrylic). then i used hold fast epoxy to cement the 2 slip pieces in, then i just slide the pump on, put the whole sump back together, and turn it on(cross fingers).

well i have to say i dont have the problem of not enough bubbles anymore, its like i slapped a turbo charger on it.!!

now the true test comes to see how it preforms over the week, compared to what i used to skim.

 

Wow--Cool--That is definitely more bubbles (I have the same skimmer). I will say though, My skimmer produces quite a few bubbles with the original ph. Is yours the needle wheel version? My skimmer produces plenty of skimmate (Dark Black).I'll be following this though, always room for improvement!!!!

 

wow it shore looks like its going to make a big difference ,you better keep a close eye on it for a few days so it doesn't run over. ;D i think i might have to experiment with this idea to.

 

its in the sump so small leaks or overflows are not too big a deal. but i check my stuff couple times a day (habit).

and yeah i got the needle wheel.?

 

Keep us posted--I can't sleep until I see the results LOL