DIY Protein Skimmer

[ddombr00]

I am currently considering building my own protein skimmer. My design is based on the Reef Octopus 110 space saver design. Construction would be out of 4" PVC pipe with a 2" PVC neck leading into the collection cup. There would be a 2" pressure union between the base and the collection cup for ease of cleaning as well as removal of the collection cup.

I would have to cut a section out of the PVC base and mold an acrylic sheet to attach over the PVC for a viewing window.

The pump I'm looking at does 158 GPH the but I haven't quite figured out what I'm doing with the impeller yet.

Looking for input, suggestions, and criticism.

The total build should run around 90 dollars which is a 1/3 price of the Reef Octopus.

 

[ddombr00]

 

[uncleof6]

One thing you have to acknowledge is you do not have the research and development tools (including chromatography equipment) to determine how well your diy skimmer will work. Just about anything following basic design concepts will "work" whether or not it will work well, or even sufficiently for a given system, is completely unknown, and luck of the draw. So you end up saving purchase $$ for something that may not really be worth 10 cents.

On the other hand, if you take a "manufactured" skimmer, and copy it in minute detail, from bottom to top, you could wind up with an inexpensive skimmer that works very much like the original. As soon as you change one little thing, the deal is off.

That said, the best odds for building a DIY skimmer, is an air stone driven counter current skimmer. These skimmers can give any other modern design a run for their money, and even perform better than many available models. The reason being the air flow and water flow can be adjusted independently of each other, making fine tuning possible whereas with needle-wheel, mesh-wheel, venturi, downdraft, and Beckett type skimmers, this independence is not possible. The problem is an air stone counter current skimmer is going to be larger in physical size. Also to determine how well it is working, you would still need chromatography equipment, as visual observation says nothing about how the skimmer is actually performing in terms of either enrichment, or recovery, of dissolved organic compounds.

 

[Webmanny]

I know this is the last thing you'll want to hear right now, but save your time, money and headaches... Buy a skimmer. I tried a very similar design as yours and it worked, but not nearly as good as I imagined it would in my head. Then, I bought a cheap skimmer on Craigslist, which was also the wrong way to go. Recently I finally gave up and got what I should have gotten in the beginning and my tank has never been better.

You can spend $90 + your time and maybe end up with something that will do a 1/3 of a good job or spend $170.00 and get yourself a decent skimmer like this one. I got the D500 and I could not be happier.

coral_box_d500_dc_skimmer

 

[goofyreefer]

Many years ago I thought the same way. For the amount of time and money you will spend TRYING to make a skimmer you would look back and say you wasted your time and should have just bit the bullet and bought one. My advise if your on a budget is to look here in the classifieds or if there is a local reef club near you post a wanted ad for a skimmer. Craigslist is also a good spot but in any case you will have to be patient. I was looking at a ASM G3 skimmer for $50 a few days ago on RC. Just be patient and keep looking and if you find a deal jump on it.

 

[ddombr00]

Uncleof6 could I intrigrate the CC skimmer into the sump, if I were to T off of the line that enters my sump into the skimmer tube and then exit into the sump itself?

 

[uncleof6]

Uncleof6 could I intrigrate the CC skimmer into the sump, if I were to T off of the line that enters my sump into the skimmer tube and then exit into the sump itself?

You would want to power feed it with a line from the main return line. Do not mess with any drain lines to feed the skimmer. Better would be to use a seperate pump for it.

Be advised a good CC skimmer is going to be between 3' and 6' tall. The height will determine the "contact time" and there is a height where adding more height does not increase the performance, but subtracting height reduces performance. The only way to determine performance is with Chromatography, either Gas Chromatography, or High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

I have a tendency to agree that buying a skimmer in the long run would be a better idea. But you have a "chance" if DIYing a CC skimmer.

 

[banthonyb71]

Uncleof6 could I intrigrate the CC skimmer into the sump, if I were to T off of the line that enters my sump into the skimmer tube and then exit into the sump itself?

I've noticed you've posted this topic in the same sub-forum. My advice is to do a search on the forum of what you are trying to accomplish, find people who have done something similar in the past. That way you avoid all the people who only want to tell you to buy a new skimmer...in the diy section

 

[ddombr00]

I posted the first thread yesterday from my phone and it kept telling me that the thread wasn't available, so I reposted today with a better explanation on the design, is there a way to delete threads? Lol

 

[wolfblue]

the best odds for building a diy skimmer, is an air stone driven counter current skimmer. These skimmers can give any other modern design a run for their money, and even perform better than many available models.

Be advised a good cc skimmer is going to be between 3' and 6' tall.

+1

 

[wolfblue]

Oh, and air drive CC won't save money. A air pump that can move some air at 2PSI puts you way past a Craig's list Skimmer.

 

[karimwassef]

I made my own counter current recirculating Beckett style skimmer. The air injection is controlled with an air inlet valve. The through flow is controlled by the feeder pump. Recirculation flow is controlled by the circulating pump. I have it tuned my needs and clears through ~ 2000gph of dirty input water.

 

[uncleof6]

Oh, and air drive CC won't save money. A air pump that can move some air at 2PSI puts you way past a Craig's list Skimmer.

Nope it does not save money really. You have a water pump and air pump running.

 

[Rybren]

I posted the first thread yesterday from my phone and it kept telling me that the thread wasn't available, so I reposted today with a better explanation on the design, is there a way to delete threads? Lol

Push the red triangle at the bottom-left corner of your post and ask a mod to delete the thread.

 

[stinkyreef]

I built my own years ago. 6" pvc with a homemade collection cup. It was a beast but it was hard to adjust because you couldn't see thru it.

 

[ddombr00]

That's why I wanted to mold a piece of pvc over the pipe an cut out a section so I could see what's going on inside..

 

[karimwassef]

http://youtu.be/59Z5CXWUqL4

Still think a countercurrent recirculating dual injected Beckett is the way to go.

 

[hobbzz]

The total build should run around 90 dollars which is a 1/3 price of the Reef Octopus.

The used ones go for about 100-125 usually. Buying used is perfectly fine.

 

[ThRoewer]

... the best odds for building a DIY skimmer, is an air stone driven counter current skimmer. These skimmers can give any other modern design a run for their money, and even perform better than many available models. The reason being the air flow and water flow can be adjusted independently of each other, making fine tuning possible whereas with needle-wheel, mesh-wheel, venturi, downdraft, and Beckett type skimmers, this independence is not possible. The problem is an air stone counter current skimmer is going to be larger in physical size. Also to determine how well it is working, you would still need chromatography equipment, as visual observation says nothing about how the skimmer is actually performing in terms of either enrichment, or recovery, of dissolved organic compounds.

I would agree with most of this. Back in Germany I build my own ceramic airstone driven counter flow skimmers and they worked exceptionally well.

I made sure the water inflow into the reaction tube was tangential to create a circulation of the incoming "dirty" water around the rising loaded foam. This is really important as you don't want to disturb the rising air bubbles near where they enter the foam tube.
My reaction tubes had a diameter of 90 mm and were about 1000 mm long. The foam tubes were 40 mm in diameter (that way I could use standard Sander foam cups) and 300 mm long. The overall height was about 1.5 m.
If properly tuned I could get near solid skimmate out of them.

I'm currently planning to build a skimmer based on the Berlin style folded skimmer. This design allows you to significantly reduce the height of the skimmer without sacrificing performance.
The only thing I'm debating right now is if I use a skimmer pump with venturi and/or needle wheel or do it gravity fed and airstone operated. The latter is for sure easier and more energy efficient. It also doesn't introduce more heat which is an important point here in California.

Regarding the testing:
I seriously doubt many of the commercial skimmers are truly tested with chromatography equipment and scientific methods - the designs I see in stores with those hideous bubble plates are just way to bad to possibly fair well in such tests.

 

[Aquatron]

I will have one 4" x 36" counter current air driven skimmer on each end of my 300DT. They are feed from main tank and exit to be a secondary pump feed for my close loop system. Here are some pic's where I just put skimmer together for pictures.....
Here is how they are installed to side of DT...