Ok, THere is a lot of hype around cone skimmers but one that is often over looked is the bk mini. Not a cone. Some recent test have actually shown a bk mini 160 pulling more dissolved organic carbon than a alpha 170. These were not my tests but by people that are actually pretty smart.....
Anyways, I have owned a bk mini 160 and 180. Great skimmers and the easiest collection cup removal in the industry. Just grab and go. I have been talking with Troylee and we may build two of these. Havent worked out all the details yet. However, I have built a 2 similar skimmers in the past but with external pumps. This will be a really similar skimmer to the bk mini 160. The only difference will be the bk uses a askol pump and has a 1.75 in transistion to the neck.
The DIY 160 will use a 2 in transition and the New Sicce PSK 1000 pump. link to pump...
Sicce Professional Protein Skimmer Pump
So far I have purchased the Skimmer body. 6" id Cell cast tube. 3ft section. $54.17 shipped
the pump (on sale) 98.98 shipped. they had $10 off last week
material for the bubble plate ~$10
I still have some material for the neck but its pretty cheap for extruded but cell cast will be more. I might buy the cell cast so i take no short cuts here.
I am hoping to tune the pump with the venturi I make for it. I plan on making a couple to see what will work best. PRobably somewhere between 700 lph and 1000 lph will be where it will work best.
All said and done I would guess that I can build this for about $300.
The only tool that most wont be able to get a hold of is a lathe to turn down the neck transition. but other than that all of this should be easily done.
Well tag alone as I am sure this will be something that is going to take a month to get fully finished. I want this skimmer to come out perfect. As the parts come in I ll take pics and Ill have to do some pump testing as well.
Stay tuned. More to come.....
Mojo~
Anyways, I have owned a bk mini 160 and 180. Great skimmers and the easiest collection cup removal in the industry. Just grab and go. I have been talking with Troylee and we may build two of these. Havent worked out all the details yet. However, I have built a 2 similar skimmers in the past but with external pumps. This will be a really similar skimmer to the bk mini 160. The only difference will be the bk uses a askol pump and has a 1.75 in transistion to the neck.
The DIY 160 will use a 2 in transition and the New Sicce PSK 1000 pump. link to pump...
Sicce Professional Protein Skimmer Pump
So far I have purchased the Skimmer body. 6" id Cell cast tube. 3ft section. $54.17 shipped
the pump (on sale) 98.98 shipped. they had $10 off last week
material for the bubble plate ~$10
I still have some material for the neck but its pretty cheap for extruded but cell cast will be more. I might buy the cell cast so i take no short cuts here.
I am hoping to tune the pump with the venturi I make for it. I plan on making a couple to see what will work best. PRobably somewhere between 700 lph and 1000 lph will be where it will work best.
All said and done I would guess that I can build this for about $300.
The only tool that most wont be able to get a hold of is a lathe to turn down the neck transition. but other than that all of this should be easily done.
Well tag alone as I am sure this will be something that is going to take a month to get fully finished. I want this skimmer to come out perfect. As the parts come in I ll take pics and Ill have to do some pump testing as well.
Stay tuned. More to come.....
Mojo~