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DIY Protein Skimmer

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:11 pm
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 :)

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:00 pm
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

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:30 pm
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 :)

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:33 pm
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

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:42 pm
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...

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:47 pm
by vippymini
bob , send it over ill see if i can post it for you

janeevans@dsl.pipex.com

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:52 pm
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

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:16 pm
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,

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:26 pm
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?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:48 pm
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.

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:01 am
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 :)

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:15 am
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,

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:15 am
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

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:13 pm
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?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:17 pm
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.