DIY Protein skimmer

[cgray07]

So I really want to make this protein skimmer but I know when using a Beckett foam jet you need a pretty large pump to produce the foam required. I have a dp210 and I'm assuming it won't be large enough? does anyone have any insight on how to make this skimmer doable with an alternate method than the foam jet? Thank you in advance!!

 

[1234]

Have you thought of trying another type of skimmer using a DC pump with the needle wheel on it? The DC pump will recirculate the water in the skimmer and add bubbles, you just need a small mag to feed it or even manifold it off the return, if it's big enough

hth

 

[Rbs07fxstc]

My Aqua C Urchin skimmer runs with foam jets. I bought an Eheim compact 5000 & built a manifold to control flow to main return with a gate valve. Added valves off manifold to also control skimmer, pellet reactor & small refugium for my 56g tank. It worked really well. Its nice to knock out a few extra pumps & it lowered my tank temp a few degrees. Plus it gave extra room since 1 pump does all the work.

 

[cgray07]

I was thinking of making that skimmer but rather than the Beckett foam jets just substituting a needle wheel pump and I assume I would get the same results. Thoughts? The only thing I'm still stuck on is the size of the pump. I'm looking at 120g total water volume so do I go with a pump that will push 5 to 7 times that or is it a different idea since it's not a return pump?