nano DIY protein skimmer.

[alexmir]

I have seen people that make DIY skimmers for larger tanks, but has anyone ever made a small nano skimmer? The only problem i see is that it might be hard to get a pump that would suffeciently run the skimmer but not pump too much water out of a 6 gallon tank.

 

[turningtim]

The water will not be a problem b/c its a closed system. I have thought about this for a while now and don't see why a small recirc (like my DIY) wouldn't work. I was thinking like a 2" reaction chamber and like a 1" neck. Maybe a maxi jet for recirc (w/ venturi).
I'm just not sure how to feed and drain it yet......
HTH
Tim

 

[reefkprz]

made one out of a soda bottle with a lime wood airstone once. just for giggles. worked. nothing spectacular though.

 

[reef noob]

Originally Posted by TurningTim
http:///forum/post/2594586
The water will not be a problem b/c its a closed system. I have thought about this for a while now and don't see why a small recirc (like my DIY) wouldn't work. I was thinking like a 2" reaction chamber and like a 1" neck. Maybe a maxi jet for recirc (w/ venturi).
I'm just not sure how to feed and drain it yet......
HTH
Tim
feed pump:

 

[alexmir]

Its a 5.5 gallon, im just worried that it may take too large of a pump to get it to work, i dont want 100 gph of turn over in that small of a system.
other than that i dont see why it wouldnt work though.

May try it soon!

 

[teresaq]

why not just buy a Fission Nano Skimmer. they are like 26 bucks
T

 

[alexmir]

everything that i have read says that the smaller skimmers arent worth the money, that they dont work.

 

[teresaq]

I have never used one, but maybe ask in the nano section. I am pretty sure some othe folks there do.
T

 

[turningtim]

Originally Posted by alexmir
http:///forum/post/2594661
Its a 5.5 gallon, I'm just worried that it may take too large of a pump to get it to work, I don't want 100 gph of turn over in that small of a system.
other than that i dont see why it wouldn't work though.

May try it soon!
See I think that would be the beauty of a recirc style! the main (big pump) would just be the recirc pump and you could feed it by over flow or a very small mini jet. Then have it drain back in the tank.
I run my skimmer of the OF (maybe 150GPH) and drain to a sump. No pumps at all. Just the OR2700 that is the recirc pump.
I may kick up my nano and give it a shot. W/o pumps I bet you could do it for $40 in PVC.....

 

[matt b]

I use to have a biocube skimmer and it worked great for the price. You just have to change the air stone every now and then.