DIY nanoskimmer
 

Well, I decided my 5g bowfront needed a skimmer. Strangely there just aren't many off the shelf skimmers for nano tanks - none that would fit in the AC300 where I wanted to hide it away.

So I did what any good DIY'er would do - I stole someone elses idea :) Design is losely based on a prizm (actually from a "cd case skimmer" posted on nano-reef). Skimmer box is 6"x3"x2". Here it is in testing.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...diyskimmer.jpg

If you're wondering about the 'hack job' pump install - I originally wanted to run a 60gph PH I had lying around, but, as is the fun of DIY'ing - its venturi wouldn't draw air properly once connected to the skimmerbox. So I dug out this old 120gph, added a few more exit holes - and added a hardline to the intake, to feed air.

Getting a nice 1.5" of foam up the dryer not including the submersed area shown) so it looks like it should be quite effective once its broken in. Now I just have to make this new powerhead mount properly.

Andy

Andy, don't think of it as stealing, think of it as borrowing with the intent of improving your tanks inhabitants.

I havn't seen that diy on nano-reef. I ended up building the UTR skimmer and it's working like a hot damn. Do you have any other photos of the collection cup. I'm assuming that its that round tube at the top right hand side.

LOL, ok, it's borrowing an existing design :mrgreen:

I wanted to do the UTR/wetworx, but it just won't fit within the AC300, saw this one, realized that I could built it to fit inside the aquaclear.

The collection cup is as yet uninstalled - the tube (actually an ac300 intake) is installed, but the collection cup wont be installed until the skimmer breaks in and I get a better idea where it needs to go - it will however be quite simple, just a medicine bottle with a drain.

Just can't leave good enough alone - Here's where I'm thinking of going with the skimmer... While she works great in the 65, in the 5 for some reason, the bubbles increase 10fold, and they run throughout the box, resulting in horrible microbubbles in the tank.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1293skim2.jpg

I'm thinking this new version should increase contact time dramatically - increasing efficiency, and hopefully getting rid of some of the microbubbles problem.

Anyone have some thoughts?

Andy

While waiting for glue to dry I went to scavenge some parts... Then decided - I should take a picture!

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...immate-med.jpg

It can't even be fully broken in yet!

Andy

I think if you have this much fun building gadgets for a tank you should come over to my place and help me streamline my system!

I have been known to work for beer and frags :mrgreen:

BEERS, damn it cost me Jack.
If I had only known you were that cheap. :biggrin:

Yeah, sorry early morning post - don't drink much beer - more of a fan of my good friend jack (sorry, no tekillya or my not so good friend sammy). Anything aged 20+ years with glen in the name works also :mrgreen: but Pauls project wasn't so big - so I couldn't really expect him to provide that - afterall the scotch would cost more than his whole system :mrgreen: