DIY Protein Skimmer

Moderators: B.Scott, vippymini, Gazza, Manky Sanke

mekoi
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:23 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

DIY Protein Skimmer

Post by mekoi »

Hi all,

Built my own protein skimmer back in Oct '05 from bits and pieces lying around in my shed. Here is the finished product 8)
[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/PSkimmer.jpg[/img]

This shows the test run and you already see the sticky bubbles coming out of exit pipe
[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/PSF.jpg[/img]

And here is the first collection after running it for 24hrs....yukkkkk :shock:
[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/ ... ercopy.jpg[/img]

If you're planing to make one, it should cost you more than $50AUSD, not sure how much is that in pounds :oops:

Any comments bad or good are welcome :)
User avatar
kimr
Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Posts: 662
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:35 pm
Location: Maidstone KENT

Post by kimr »

Hi Jon
I have been thinking about how I could build my own protien skimmer and this one looks good. But being a woman I need more information on how it work's. Could you please explain it to me so I can maybe copy your idea.
Thank you
mekoi
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:23 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by mekoi »

Sooooo you're a woman, lucky my wife is not around, just kidding :lol: :lol: :lol:

Okay. What happens is the pressure created by the bubbles from the airstones pushing the water/bubbles up to the PET section. It is then tappered to smaller exit pipes pushing only sticky water/bubbles and get discharge, the rest goes to return pipe. You may have to play around the height of the PS to get good result. If you getting water instead of bubbles then you PS is too low, lift it up a little and so forth. Does these make sense :wink:

If you need more info let us know and I'll be glad to help out :)
kayoss
Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Posts: 617
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:17 pm
Location: Bedfordshire

Post by kayoss »

Hi Kim

send me your email address and I'll send you a diagram of one I built myself (very similar to mekoi's) with bits from a local plumbers merchant.

Better still, if anyone knows how to post a word document, I'll happily send it to them and they can post it on here for everyone!

Cheers

Bob
User avatar
Cashybai
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:34 pm
Location: Oakham, Rutland

Post by Cashybai »

Kim,
This is the one I've built, from the original article from koi chat. [url]http://www.madaboutkoi.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/ ... 9&archive=[/url]
No photos, but does what it sez on the tin. They're all using the same principle, just slightly different bits...
User avatar
vippymini
architeuthis moderator
architeuthis moderator
Posts: 851
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:00 pm
Location: hertfordshire

Post by vippymini »

bob , send it over ill see if i can post it for you

janeevans@dsl.pipex.com
kayoss
Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Posts: 617
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:17 pm
Location: Bedfordshire

Post by kayoss »

That's the one Neil.

I spent about half an hour looking for that one in the archives but couldn't find it - then remembered I'd saved the diagram on my hard drive.

Much better with the photos as well though!

Cheers

Bob
User avatar
Cashybai
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:34 pm
Location: Oakham, Rutland

Post by Cashybai »

No probs Bob,
I had that saved for ages before I finally got round to making one this spring, and by crikey doesn't it work!

Cheers,
fatherted
Black Tip Reef Shark
Black Tip Reef Shark
Posts: 178
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:23 pm
Location: Chesterfield

Post by fatherted »

Not seen one of these Blue Peter'ed before so I want to understand it.

There is no pumping of water - it is just the rising air doing all the work?

And you just sit it in a section of the filter?
mekoi
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:23 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by mekoi »

fatherted wrote:Not seen one of these Blue Peter'ed before so I want to understand it.

There is no pumping of water - it is just the rising air doing all the work?

And you just sit it in a section of the filter?
Hi Ted,

Well technically the air pumps the water by the force of bubble. Yes the rising air does all the work. I place mine in one of my chamber coz I got no where else to place it that will sit still. Some ppl have them in the pond but I don't like the idea coz the koi can hurt themselves.
mekoi
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:23 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by mekoi »

kimr wrote:Hi Jon
I have been thinking about how I could build my own protien skimmer and this one looks good. But being a woman I need more information on how it work's. Could you please explain it to me so I can maybe copy your idea.
Thank you
Hi Kim,

Here is a simple diagram :)
Attachments
DIYPS.JPG
DIYPS.JPG (14.58 KiB) Viewed 49304 times
User avatar
Cashybai
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:34 pm
Location: Oakham, Rutland

Post by Cashybai »

Thats exactly it Jon, I'll get some photos of mine when I get home, only difference on mine is some slit hose around the bottom of the 4" pipe, to protect the cut edges. The sludge exit pipe has been cut to the right length to fit nice 'n tight over my side wall, and I hold that in place with a pair of pipe clips.

Regards,
mekoi
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:23 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by mekoi »

Hi Neil,

It doesn't matter if they're different so long it works for us. Don't you love this unit 8) Yes pls, share your version to us :D
Big John
Nurse Shark
Nurse Shark
Posts: 93
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:00 pm
Location: Bucks

Post by Big John »

Ok. I understand how this works (I use air bubbles to power my undergravel filter in my aquarium) but what is the purpose of this?
What is the gunge being kicked out?
User avatar
GERRY5
Great White Shark
Great White Shark
Posts: 903
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:54 pm
Location: feurteventura canary islands spain

Post by GERRY5 »

hi john ...the gunge which sticks to the bubbles is pure protein , save the goo and feed your plants with it, excess protein left in the water can lead to water going cloudy or green etc if you can get rid of it so much the better water clarity.
Post Reply