Hob Skimmer Plumbing questions

Curtis Rose

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I have an aquamax hob 1.5 skimmer that I will be using on my tank. The plumbing is very congested in the second chamber of the aio section. This is how my skimmer looks in its stock configuration
17462DB6-8AE0-4BD6-ACF1-DECEF2C2FE1A.jpeg

Why does the output have an opening? Is this to allow the water to drain freely? I understand the 90 on the end is to help with micro bubbles and it really doesn’t fit very well I can lower it by adding tubing but here is my fix...do u think this will work the same? It would move the output to the return chamber where I have much more room.
B287AD80-8011-4D72-838F-552806D66BE3.jpeg

If I got this route I would like to paint the fitting. Is this doable and what kinda paint can I use on the pvc? it may come into contact with water that is why I ask. Thanks everyone.
 

sarcophytonIndy

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I have an aquamax hob 1.5 skimmer that I will be using on my tank. The plumbing is very congested in the second chamber of the aio section. This is how my skimmer looks in its stock configuration
17462DB6-8AE0-4BD6-ACF1-DECEF2C2FE1A.jpeg

Why does the output have an opening? Is this to allow the water to drain freely? I understand the 90 on the end is to help with micro bubbles and it really doesn’t fit very well I can lower it by adding tubing but here is my fix...do u think this will work the same? It would move the output to the return chamber where I have much more room.
B287AD80-8011-4D72-838F-552806D66BE3.jpeg

If I got this route I would like to paint the fitting. Is this doable and what kinda paint can I use on the pvc? it may come into contact with water that is why I ask. Thanks everyone.
It’s hard to say. Just try it out and hopefully you can adjust it to work. You should be able to try it before you make it permanent
 
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Curtis Rose

Curtis Rose

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Yea for sure that’s the plan just curious if I can mess with the way it’s plumbed without any effect in performance. Really wonder why its open at the top haha
 
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Curtis Rose

Curtis Rose

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My main thinking with this is that my input and output would be so close together. I’m thinking that I could be sucking up water that has already been processed, ultimately effecting efficiency.
 

sarcophytonIndy

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My main thinking with this is that my input and output would be so close together. I’m thinking that I could be sucking up water that has already been processed, ultimately effecting efficiency.
Why not put the input in compartment #1 ?
 

sarcophytonIndy

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There will be a media caddy in there
I would put the heater and skimmer input in 1, and the media caddy and skimmer output in 2. You may have to mod the media caddy a little, but maybe better than mod'ing the skimmer. Or, how about sending the skimmer output right into 3. The return pump won't mind, but you may get more micro-bubbles.
 
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Curtis Rose

Curtis Rose

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I would put the heater and skimmer input in 1, and the media caddy and skimmer output in 2. You may have to mod the media caddy a little, but maybe better than mod'ing the skimmer. Or, how about sending the skimmer output right into 3. The return pump won't mind, but you may get more micro-bubbles.
The plan is to send the output into chamber 3 I can’t mod the media caddy to fit into chamber 2 I’d have to cut it apart and make it smaller. And it would no longer be able to use filter floss. I think running filter floss in an aio is almost mandatory dirty rear chambers can create all kinds of problems.
 

Quietman

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If it fits as designed but only cramped, what's the issue? It's an AIO, cramped is what they do.

Having the output close to input really shouldn't have a huge impact, and if anything you'd get a better efficiency. Skimmers (while they do a good job) aren't more than 30% efficient at removing DOC. I'm sure my skimmer sitting in my sump is 're-skimming' water, and I'm fine with that. Many skimmers are set up in sumps with lower turnover rates than skimmer I/O rates.

I tend to default to "as designed" by manufacturer whenever possible. Especially with a well-known company that has engineers checking how to optimize. True there are hacks to make things work better occassionally, but that's not the norm usually.
 

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