DIY Protein skimmer
- Thread starter fishkid13
- Start date
windlasher
Member
Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3096817
First off I would like to say that I am not going to make my own protien skimmer.
Has anyone done this before? Is it as good and/or better then brand names ones? If someone did make it what would be the best way to make it?
Thanks.
-Tom
basic ones are pretty easy actually. you can do it with an airstone and some PVC. the problem is that most of our systems require a bit more power than that would produce. It's all about water volume vs air capacity vs size of bubbles.
http:///forum/post/3096817
First off I would like to say that I am not going to make my own protien skimmer.
Has anyone done this before? Is it as good and/or better then brand names ones? If someone did make it what would be the best way to make it?
Thanks.
-Tom
basic ones are pretty easy actually. you can do it with an airstone and some PVC. the problem is that most of our systems require a bit more power than that would produce. It's all about water volume vs air capacity vs size of bubbles.
fishkid13
Active Member
Originally Posted by windlasher
http:///forum/post/3097045
basic ones are pretty easy actually. you can do it with an airstone and some PVC. the problem is that most of our systems require a bit more power than that would produce. It's all about water volume vs air capacity vs size of bubbles.
So it we were looking for water volume air capacity and size of bubbles couldn't we make a protein skimmer out of a 5 gal bucket?
http:///forum/post/3097045
basic ones are pretty easy actually. you can do it with an airstone and some PVC. the problem is that most of our systems require a bit more power than that would produce. It's all about water volume vs air capacity vs size of bubbles.
So it we were looking for water volume air capacity and size of bubbles couldn't we make a protein skimmer out of a 5 gal bucket?
scsinet
Active Member
You can make a protein skimmer out of all sorts of things.
Physically larger size does not necessarily make for better performance. I've seen top end recirculators that outperform venturi units of much larger size.
What skimmer design is best is a matter of subjectivism, and when doing a DIY system, quality of construction makes a huge difference. I myself have built a couple spray injection systems that have worked very well, but nowadays I run commercially made recirculators.
So the short answer is that there is no best or worst way to do it.
Physically larger size does not necessarily make for better performance. I've seen top end recirculators that outperform venturi units of much larger size.
What skimmer design is best is a matter of subjectivism, and when doing a DIY system, quality of construction makes a huge difference. I myself have built a couple spray injection systems that have worked very well, but nowadays I run commercially made recirculators.
So the short answer is that there is no best or worst way to do it.
windlasher
Member
Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3097135
So it we were looking for water volume air capacity and size of bubbles couldn't we make a protein skimmer out of a 5 gal bucket?
it has been done. search DIY protein skimmer on you tube.
http:///forum/post/3097135
So it we were looking for water volume air capacity and size of bubbles couldn't we make a protein skimmer out of a 5 gal bucket?
it has been done. search DIY protein skimmer on you tube.
windlasher
Member
Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3097372
SCSInet Good point. If you were to make one what would be your design?
Thanks.
Put it this way, I have a full tool shop, every freakin tool known to mankind, I am pretty good with plexiglass, and quite frankly pretty damned handy all around. I just spent $800 on a Dual Beckett Skimmer.
I thought about building one, even ordered the plexi. But when it came down to it, designing it, getting the performance I wanted, time to make, tweak, and test, it really wasn't worth it.
If you are short on funds, there are several low end ones out there. If you need high performance, or just want something that goes balls out, spend the money. Hell I have 4 pretty decent ones sitting on a shelf since my upgrades. The reason I have 4 is because I didnt bite the bullet the first three times. DONT MAKE YERSELF KRAZY.
As for the plexi, I am going to make an object D'art out of it.
