DIY Skimmer, A new approach! Going Sumpless!

fishyfrenzy

fishyfrenzy

Member
Okay, I need some expert advice.
My set up is a 29 gallon, on a shelf, so there is no possible way of having a sump, I plan on upgrading to a 55 gallon in a few years with a stand and I will have a sump. Oh well.
I am trying to make it where the protein skimmers return can go straight back up into the tank, and not my imaginary sump (That can't hold water!).
I'm making a DIY skimmer, and I came up with a new way to combat how to get rid of all those nasty things in my tank.
Main Things I Think Will Be A Problem During The Operation Of This Skimmer:
-Micro Bubbles; Keep in mind this will be a very slow flow rate, (50 gph) so I don't think microbubbles will be a problem. But I could be wrong.
-Water getting forced into the collection cup; I believe this will be the main problem. To combat this, I'm making sure there are going to be lots of holes in the PVC.
Heres How She's Supposed To Work:
-Water Is entered into the tank by a pump(Give me some reccomendations please!), and entered into the protein skimmer. There are 2 basswood airstones in the skimmer, creating millions of micro-bubbles. There is a thin tube, with numerous holes in it, that will allow the water to be forced into the tubed and shot back into the tank.
Modifications That I Think Will Help Improve Performace:
-On the return tube, Drill a smaller amount of large holes near the bottom of the tube, resulting in less microbubbles, and hopefully increasing the amount of flow that can go through the tube.
-Drilling a large hole in the PVC where the red circle is located, allowing the air in the tube to be realeased, where the air won't hole the flow back.
-Drilling a hole in the collection cup, and adding some vinyl flexible tubing and draining into a milk jug.
-On the return line, where the second 90 degree connection is(I circled it in orange) Making two 45 degree elbows to help with the restricted flow.
Got any more mods to make this thing actually work?
Disclaimer: I have not bought materials or starting building this skimmer, so please give me all the suggestions you can to help improve performance!
 
yerboy

yerboy

Active Member
looks like something that could work however i believe there will be tons of micro bubbles coming back into your tank.
I would suggest to run your return water thru some type of sponge or filter media to remove the bubbles.
Im currently building my own skimmer or should i say duel skimmer. Im waiting on my airstones and airpump to arrive and ill have it up and running hopefully later this week. Keep a lookout on the DIY forum for pics if it works when im done lol .
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
I still think you can have a sump. It doesn't have to be directly below the tank it can be slightly to the left or right of the tank in a cabinet perhaps. I agree about the bubbles they'd be crazy. What pump are you going to use and where are you going to put it to draw water into the skimmer?
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Couple things. An airstone skimmer needs a large reaction chamber in order to skim what you want out of the tank. A small chamber will not allow enough dwell time for the proteins to stick to the bubbles.
Your return pipe should be external b/c you will pick out all the bubbles in the chamber and they will return back to the tank. You want to draw the return water from as close to the bottom of the reaction chamber as possible. Besides that you don't want anything in the chamber to possibly break up the bubbles head and the pipe will just become a pain to keep clean.
Just an idea. why not use a recirc design? Use a maxi jet 1200 (or something similar) with a venturi instead of the air pump. Then feed the skimmer with a mini-jet (slow-flow).
Here's a couple of pics of mine.

 
fishyfrenzy

fishyfrenzy

Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
I still think you can have a sump. It doesn't have to be directly below the tank it can be slightly to the left or right of the tank in a cabinet perhaps. I agree about the bubbles they'd be crazy. What pump are you going to use and where are you going to put it to draw water into the skimmer?
Its in a really tight spot, directly by my computer. I can't have any sump. Also, what would happen if i made my return like this:
The picture is from the side view, and the two yellow circles are where 45 degree elbows will be.
This would make it where the return of my skimmer is at the top. Thus, the micro bubbles wouldn't reach the rest of the aquarium, correct? And once again, a sponge could be fitted in there, since the flow is low. And micro bubbles aren't too much of a problem for me, as long as my tank doesn't look like the skimmer.
But really, a few are OK.
 
fishyfrenzy

fishyfrenzy

Member
Okay, everyone, I think I have an idea. I'm going to mod the seaclone. I'm going to get a strong air pump, tee it, and have 2 basswood airstones, that I'm going to make myself

It'll look better, and will be able to deal with my sumpless tank! I know no one will probably answer this, but I saw a skimmer called the D&D Typhoon. Nonone seems to know about it. Maybe I could use this instead of a seaclone?
Thanks
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
idk. i was just offering other choices. i don't know anything about them. i do however have an aquamedic turboflotor that is pretty sweet. but too big for a 29. that's why i suggested the miniflotor
 
fishyfrenzy

fishyfrenzy

Member
Originally Posted by Isistius
idk. i was just offering other choices. i don't know anything about them. i do however have an aquamedic turboflotor that is pretty sweet. but too big for a 29. that's why i suggested the miniflotor
What about modding the seaclone 150?
 
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