Mag 12 on a beckett

[hobogato]

hey everyone,

just wanted to post a pic of the skimmer i just finished and installed on my tank

did some reading and asked pete alot of questions (lucky he didn't decide to block my PM's - thanks again pete) and came up with this design.

it is 25" tall and the big tube is 5" dia

i used a beckett head and i am running it with a Mag 12 submerged in my sump. i actually have the flow from the mag 12 restricted about 1/3 because it was two much.

since friday when i put it on the tank, it has produced about a gallon of nice dark green skimmate. if you are interested in the specs or more details, let me know.

[::pete::]

It looks great!!

Im glad to see someone finally put a mag on one. I tested my dual spray with a mag18 which isnt all that different from a beckett. After reading so many different post and opinions I figured it wouldnt run a beckett and you have it turned back!!

[hobogato]

at full blast, it pushed the water right out the top, bubbles and all, no matter how much air i let in the air valve.

[::pete::]

More air (larger bubbles) will do that try fine bubbles and the level should drop and then you can open the pump more.

[hobogato]

i adjusted the pump with the air turned off

i have the air valve turned at about half open right now

[StephenA]

I run my skimmer on a mag 12 unrestricted.

[hobogato]

i think the mistake i made here is the outflow is the same size (1") as the input. this is probably why i cant turn the flow all the way up on the input.

at present, it is skimming well. if it starts slowing down, i will probably change the outflow so that it will drain easier and then i can probably turn up the input.

specs

5" riser tube and 3" collection tube
riser 13"
collection tube 6"
collection cup 4" (3" overlap with collection tube")

beckett fountain head (an exra from one of the ponds i have)
air chamber was a 2" compression fitting from Lowe's

the bottom box is 11" X 8" X 5" tall (smallest i could fit everything into)

the mag 12 is the pump im using because i wanted a submersable in the sump (not enough space inside the cabinet for the sump and skimmer with an external pump)

the flat parts are 1/4" plexiglass (used this because i got some for free)
the tubes are 1/8" thick acrylic tubes from a local supplier

this skimmer, pump ($80 online - new) and all cost me about $140 to make

[StephenA]

i think the mistake i made here is the outflow is the same size (1") as the input. this is probably why i cant turn the flow all the way up on the input.


Mine is a 3/4 input and a 2" output with a gate on it

[hobogato]

yep i will probably go with a 2" drain if/when i redo it.

[StephenA]

It's a great start! I always have to mod the stuff I build after the fact.

[Tim Marvin]

I'd switch to a 2 inch gatevalve for the out flow. It also looks like you have metal nuts and bolts on the flange, I would switch those to plastic ones from home depot before the corrode.

[Tim Marvin]

By the way, It looks great!

[hobogato]

i tried to find plastic bolts and nuts at lowes but no luck
those are stainless steel bolts nuts and washers, so maybe they will be ok since they are on the outside.

for the drain, im gonna stick with this set up for a while, but im sure i will change it out in the future.

[::pete::]

The plastic nuts and bolts at HD or Lowes are like 3-4 x what you can get them for online. If you want to switch them out they are in the "drawers" at each store. There is a whole section of them.