Turning my avast CS-1 into an external resirc

[chaostactics]

Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have ultra limited space under my 54 gallon.

I want the benifit of a resirc skimmer and the space saving advantages of an external skimmer.


Alright so I bought the resirc upgrade for the avast CS-1 skimmer. I want to make the skimmer external though. So any help would be great. esp if anyone else has this skimmer you'll have better insight hopefully.
Stock in these first two pics

Heres what it looks like stock underneath the base plate, it doesn't fit well or at all under my stand.

With thin sched 40 I can re-route the output behind a support leg which reduces the foot print and allows it to fit in a good place under the stand,
Next the output riser was too short, so I again sched 40 an make the riser higher

Before I glue everything I'm going to use grey sched 40 instead of white.

 

[chaostactics]

This is the space where it needs to fit... TINY!

But with a reduced foot print, it fits! Wooo

Now avast cs-1 owners how do I make it water proof? What I can see being the issues is the black input barb which is a not tapped(threaded) hole, (can I get a tap that big, should I glue it?) same with the two long black threaded rods that hold the bubble concentrating chamber on, they're not threaded though the base plate. How can I make them water proof. I've already figured out how to make the flange water proof.

Look it fits! Woo

 

[chaostactics]

Found this
McMaster-Carr
I just need to figure out what rod to get, the site confuses the H-E-double hockey sticks out of me, but I'll tap larger holes, use this and have everything straightened out I think

Wish me luck, futher input greatly appreciated

 

[five O]

any updates?

 

[luke33]

Having your output that high is going to cause that skimmer to overflow. The top of your output is going to be the minimum water line internally. Its why the output was so much shorter. It won't work. You'll have to lower it back down quite a bit and put it on a stand to make it over and back into your sump.

 

[AVAST Marine]

Having your output that high is going to cause that skimmer to overflow. The top of your output is going to be the minimum water line internally. Its why the output was so much shorter. It won't work. You'll have to lower it back down quite a bit and put it on a stand to make it over and back into your sump.

I agree. Jason, since you have pretty much committed to this I would go all the way and pop a 1" uniseal in that sump so the output tube can run through instead of up and over. Put a union in there so you can remove for maintenance.

 

[chaostactics]

I agree. Jason, since you have pretty much committed to this I would go all the way and pop a 1" uniseal in that sump so the output tube can run through instead of up and over. Put a union in there so you can remove for maintenance.

I hacked it a bit shorter so now the riser is below the level of the skimmer neck, will this be ok, or do I still need to reduce the riser pipe further?

The riser pipes on the old turboflotor came right to the skimmer neck.


Here's an updated pic, am I good now?

 

[chaostactics]

Sooo weeee! 4 holes tapped and 5/16 now replaces the 1/4 stock. The base plate is now threaded and ready for a good seal. As soon as I get grey for the riser pipe, glue and silicone everything together I'll start wet testing.
Difference in size

Sched 40 feed for the riser pipe, now I just need the riser pipe to be grey.

 

[Troylee]

Your still gonna find the skimmer overflowing as Luke mentioned... Your drain is way to high it won't allow for any adjustment... Do as avast suggested and drill a hole with a uniseal like a 1" under the waterline in the sump when running and plumb the drain pipe from the skimmer into it... Hth

 

[AVAST Marine]

The riser pipes on the old turboflotor came right to the skimmer neck.

Hardly a fair comparison :crossedlips:

How about if we send you a free 1" uniseal, a 1" union and a section of 1" flex sch40? I just want to see you do it right.

 

[Saulsa]

Whoa talk about service

 

[nixer]

Whoa talk about service

no doubt

 

[chaostactics]

Hardly a fair comparison :crossedlips:

How about if we send you a free 1" uniseal, a 1" union and a section of 1" flex sch40? I just want to see you do it right.

That is certianly an offer I can't refuse as long as it fits. I can't wait to get my skimmate locker

 

[chaostactics]

Whoa talk about service

I've found crazy good service even with my diy hack jobs such as this dating all the way back to the days when I had the first CS-1 and wanted to turn it into a recirc

 

[chaostactics]

Done its water proof (well not leaking) going to test this week end under working conditions

 

[chaostactics]

Well it holds, leaks slightly but I think I can get that fixed. Look at the before and after bubble production.
Bad butt

Creamy whiteout

The output height works perfectly as is, woo!

Now the problem

The airline silencer floods when the power is cut, how do I fix this?