DIY Nano Protein Skimmer Aquapod 12

[Snaz]

I built this tonight in about thirty minutes. It is a DIY nano protein skimmer that is designed to fit under the hood of an AquaPod 12 gallon all in one reef tank. The parts are a Fluval gravel cleaner, an air-pump, air-stone and some tubing.

One airline runs the air-stone at the bottom of the large tube and the other airline at the top is where the muck will run off. I just built it tonight so it will likely need a couple of days to see if it catches any goo.

Total price is less that $30 bucks so if it doesn't work it is no big loss.

At the bottom of this post is a video showing the skimmer mounted and bubbling away.

http://snaz.com/marine/diy_skimmer.jpg

http://youtu.be/Dq1oTE_VvWg

[Enigma]

Cool. Please keep us updated on how it works. :)

[Snaz]

The standard air-stone just was not creating any foam so I called all over Canada's fastest growing city to find a wooden one...thanks Roger's Pets!

The wooden air-stone is generating lots of foam so that I have had to reduce airflow by 50% I am confident I should get some skimate soon.

[gregzz4]

Genius
Hope it works well for ya

If it does I may steal the idea for my QT

[Paigee]

That's pretty ingenious to use a syphon head thing! I've gone back and forth as to whether or not I want to try a skimmer, if I do I'm definitely trying DIY!

[Snaz]

I guess it works. After three days with the wooden air diffusor I have collected 15ml of brown liquid.

http://snaz.com/marine/skim.jpg

[Enigma]

Nice!

[Snaz]

I created a better video that shows clearly how this nano skimmer is designed and operated.
Nano Skimmer Video (http://youtu.be/9-AaLwrnJoM?hd=1)

The video in the first post no longer exists... possible for an admin to edit that post with this video link?

[Acipenser]

how is this skimmer working out for you ? i am thinking of something similar for my biocube 14.

[Snaz]

how is this skimmer working out for you ? i am thinking of something similar for my biocube 14.

Good question. It is time I revisit this design. I have observed that the skim I am getting now is quite wet with only faint colour than when I first set it up. I have adjusted airflow lower in an attempt to get a drier skim but still the colour is pale.

Either my bio load is low or the skimmer is not performing well. I only have the two fish and my tank gets a water change every week so it might just be nothing to skim. I'll be looking closer now that kids are back to school. Stay tuned.

[Enigma]

What colour is the water you remove from the system when you do your water changes?

I've discovered that in tanks I'm not skimming, the water I remove is kind of yellow. In the system I skim, the water I remove is colourless.

[Snaz]

What colour is the water you remove from the system when you do your water changes?

I've discovered that in tanks I'm not skimming, the water I remove is kind of yellow. In the system I skim, the water I remove is colourless.

It's pretty clear.

[Snaz]

I think the problem is water is not getting into the skimmer very easily so it is just skimming same 50ml of water over and over. I need to add some holes up the side of the reaction chamber below the surface to allow water to flow through easily but I fear the micro bubbles will just escape.

In a conventional air operated skimmer how do you get new water into the reaction chamber?

[nanoreefnewbie]

Are you still using this skimmer? Did you drill the hole higher if so what happened lol?great idea