MARS Protein Skimmer DIY

[Brian Prestwood]

Let's do it again!!!

When: Saturday, February 3rd, 11 AM to ~6 PM
Where: My Place
Max Occupancy: 10

Respond to this post to reserve a spot.

The parts, excluding the pump(s), cost around $75. For a 50 - 100 gal tank use a MAG 7 ($125 total). For 100 - 200 gal tanks use a MAG 9 pump ($150 total). For a 200-300 gal tank use two MAG 7s ($175 total). FYI - Well tap everyones for two pumps so you can expand to two pumps later if you want.

The housing is basically the same design as the calcium reactor, except we use clear PVC instead of acrylic.

This skimmer is a recirculating aspirating venturi design with tangential injection. You will need a 2nd small pump, or T off your main circ loop, to pump water through the skimmer.

It can hang on, free standing or in sump. If you choose to have it hang on between the tank and the wall be aware that you need 5" clearance between the tank and the wall. The 2 pump model needs 8".

The minimum height is approx 20".

I'll be posting the block diagram and parts list soon.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Hi Brian, I'm in for this great DIY project. If there is anything I can bring please let me know.

-- Edit --

BTW is it possible to use something like an Iwaki instead of the Mag. with your design? I had a bad experience with an external Mag. and I plan on using it out of the sump.

 

[funman1]

I'm in and need a mag 7. Do I supply this or just bring cash?

 

[Reefugee]

Brian,

I am interested in helping out, but not build one for myself. I don't need a skimmer.

Minh

 

[goslugsgo]

Put the word out if you need helpers.

 

[boviac]

I'm In via remote location. Put me in for parts if they are in a group buy. Maybe I can get items or the list of items this weekend? Yeah! I'm happy we're building DIY stuff.

Thanks Brian!

 

[jacmyoung]

I am in need of an external skimmer due to space in sump, how safe is your skimmer for external use? I am concerned of cup overflow. I have a spare MAG9. Anyone has a picture? What is the maximum height of the skimmer? Can the skimmer handle 600gph waterflow throughput? How about noise?

Can I trade my two used Euro G3s (in sump) for one of yours?

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey John

I'll order all the parts and have them shipped to my house. We'll probably do a potluck this time.

Yes, you can use an Iwaki and that does eliminate the sump deployment option. It may also increase the clearance requirements for hang on deployment. Also, when the skimmer is empty larger pumps like yours tend to topple the skimmer. You may have to attach the top to something.

I use a GenX MAK4 on mine. Works great.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Steve

I'll talley up all the DIYers next Friday, provide an exact total and order the parts for everyone who is still in. Bring a cash or check to the DIY session. We may even have a PayPal option by then

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Minh

Member's who are building for themselves have priority but that probably won't be an issue.

We'll be building some extras for the raffle table if you want to build one but not buy it you can. Or you can just help. Or you could take pics for the construction manual and/or website.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Chris (GoSlugsGo)

Love to have you over again. See my reponse to Minh directly above.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Chris (boviac)

Ordering an extra set of parts isn't a problem. They should be here by the meeting this month. If you come over this weekend I'll show you the design.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey jacmyoung

This skimmer includes a hose barb on the collection cup to attach a hose to a remote collection container. The remote collection container should go in the sump. When (every skimmer does occasionally) the skimmer overflows the collection container in the sump the skimmate won't go onto the floor.

If your skimmer doesn't have a collection cup hose barb we can probably add one.

As far as overflow frequency is concerned, turning your skimmer on and off is the biggest factor. Skimmers usually overflow when you turn them on. After that, how you tune it is biggest factor.

If you want to minimize overflows leave it on all the time and watch it for a few minutes when you turn it back on after servicing it.

I put my $0.02 worth on skimmer tuning to minimize flooding in another thread here on our forum. Take a look at it.

The maximum height of this skimmer depends on the pump. If you use your MAG 9 it is 36". If you use a bigger pump you can go higher.

As for noise, we baffle in the air intake which is typically the noisiest part of most skimmers. That makes the pump the noisiest part. I think you'll find your MAG 9 will be very quite.


Here's a picture of the prototype with a Mag7 installed...

 

[jacmyoung]

WOW, this is a real nicely made skimmer. Am I correct that with your skimmer there is no need to clean the cup? From the picture I could not even see the cup.

One more question you did not touch on, can the skimmer be made large enough to handle 500 to 600gph water flow? My tank turnover is in that range, I'd pass all the return through the skimmer if I could.

 

[Reefugee]

Hey Brian,

I totally understand. I wouldn't want to take up space of someone who wants to actually build one for personal use. I was thinking more of going around and helping people with whatever they need - not actually build one.

Minh

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8911438#post8911438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brian Prestwood
Member's who are building for themselves have priority but that probably won't be an issue.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

jacmyoung

>no need to clean the cup?
It will drain on its own but the throat will get a build up just like any other skimmer.

>can the skimmer be made large enough to handle 500 to 600gph water flow?
It would be better to "T" off your main circ loop. In any case, we normally use a 1/2" ID tube for intake line from the tank to the skimmer. You'll probably have to increase that to 3/4" ID tubing which isn't as flexible.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Minh

Like I said, we'll probably have room. However, if you want to reserve the photographer space now its yours.

Brian

 

[Perry T]

I'd love to join the group if there is room. I would want to build the smaller version.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

So far I have six of the ten slots taken...

Builders...
John (CaliforniaDreamer)
Steve (funman1)
Perry T

Helpers...
Chris (GoSlugsGo)
Minh (Reefugee)
Larry (Larry Robison)

Parts Only...
Chris (boviac)

A 7th slot is tenative...
jacmyyoung

That leaves three or four more slots.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

For those of you who built protein skimmers in the past, we're going to use Tee Eliminators instead of tapping the holes. If your taps are leaking or broken bring your skimmers by and we can replace the taps with Tee Elimators for $0.60 each.

Tee Eliminator