Broken skimmer huge setback don't know what to do now...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Diogenes

Diogenes

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Oct 9, 2008
2,407
21
68
Birmingham, AL
So after nearly two years of delays I think my marine tank build has finally bitten the dust. Yesterday my father-in-law came up to help get the baby room ready and we decided to work on my sump/plumbing. Some how or another we managed to break the one part of the skimmer which doesn't appear to be replaceable. I've contacted the manufacturer and they say that I can just buy a skimmer body and hook up the stuff I have, but they're in China and it'll be another 24 hours before I know pricing or where I can order such a thing from. With the baby expected in 6-8 weeks (if not sooner) it doesn't look like I'll have the cash or time to spend on a new skimmer anytime soon.

I'm pretty bummed right now. I was so close to finally setting this damn thing up. Now I guess it'll be another year or longer. Does anybody on MFK have any ideas?

I do have one other idea. I have the return pump and sump and everything in good condition. I was considering turning the 30g into a wet dry and doing freshwater again. Anybody know any good builds for a sump filter based on a 30g aquarium?

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80$ plus shipping to replace the body of the skimmer. There goes a chunk of my live rock money...:cry:


Anybody know a way to convert a 30g tank into a wet/dry filter?
 
if it is acyrlic why not just get some weld-on, and repair it. it would be an easy fix. just unscrew the union and fit the two acrylic pieces back together with the weld-on. it should work and doesnt have to be pretty since it is an internal skimmer. The guys in the DIY section should be able to tell you what weld-on to buy. I would go that route before buying a whole new skimmer body.
 
welsher7 said:
if it is acyrlic why not just get some weld-on, and repair it. it would be an easy fix. just unscrew the union and fit the two acrylic pieces back together with the weld-on. it should work and doesnt have to be pretty since it is an internal skimmer. The guys in the DIY section should be able to tell you what weld-on to buy. I would go that route before buying a whole new skimmer body.
Click to expand...

1. The fact that the area is under pressure doesn't matter about the epoxy?

2. Wouldn't epoxy be bad for fish/corals?
 
As far as I know, Jb Weld is food-safe once cured, so should work for you. I would suggest using acrylic cement to join the parts together, and then give the outside a good coat of JB. Just don't use the type with the steel additive. Plain old JB, my buddy used it after contacting the company for his SW repairs.

Hope this helps.
 
Use weld-on. Its the same solvent used to make acrylic tanks. completely fish/coral safe, and once dried the repaired area will be as strong if not stronger than it was originally.

Post a thread in the DIY forum. Those guys will walk you through it.
 
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