DIY Protein Skimmer

[kbuser92]

Here's the deal. I'm not spending $150 on a skimmer for my tank, so I need help making one. My options are the airstone type or a venturi, but my dilemma is making one.

I understand how the old fashion ones work, but I think the venturii (?) are the preferred method and the problem is that I just don't understand how they work. Can somebody explain one and help me build an in-tank version? Or am I better off just building a simple airstone design?

P.S. None of the google images helped explain anything, I need sentences and explanations! I'm lost!

 

[emmett0122]

i built mine and it works have plans if you would like

 

[emmett0122]

but mine is in sump

 

[kbuser92]

Yeah, can you email them to me? I could probably mod it a little to fit my needs, I just dont understand what I found.

 

[emmett0122]

look under my posts cuz i posted that witht the plans to my sump i built too

 

[emmett0122]

e-mail me with any questions i have seen the in tank ones too so im sure i can help you out with it cuz i have done diy skimmer sump and hob over flow

 

[emmett0122]

here it is

 

[emmett0122]

witch tank r u putting it in?

 

[MitchReef]

A venturi is actually a very simple device....it has water pulled through it....there is a constriction in the venturi throat to cause increased suction beyond that constriction....there is a separate tube coming into that low pressure area where it adds air to the low pressure area...thus, you get air dispersed throughout the water....You put the venturi in the pump suction line...if a needlewheel or mesh mod is used that further "chops" the air bubbles.....That's a good thing.....

 

[emmett0122]

i have seen alot of the skimmers going to the needle wheel

 

[emmett0122]

i have a lime wood stone in mine

 

[kbuser92]

So for a venturi, I would use a pump to push water through, say a 4"x2"dia pvc with a 2-.75" adapter, 2"x.75"dia, .75"-2" adapter, 2"x2"dia and a cup? Then a fitting in the 4"x2" sectipn to fasten an airhose and pump to? Then where does the water come out?

 

[MitchReef]

use that google drawing thing or search google for venturi protein skimmer design

 

[kbuser92]

Like this if that didn't make sense:

Now I just need to know where the output is, if that looks good.

 

[kbuser92]

Emmet, I was thinking even more basic than that, otherwise same thing. :)

And "I" comes before "E" except in the frickin word "protein". I know, dunno why I mispelled it.

 

[kbuser92]

To clarify the cup:

 

[emmett0122]

i didnt think it got any easier then that and i was never good at spelling lol but if you look around you can find pump that put the air in with out the need for a air pump

 

[emmett0122]

and with your u will need the water to come out before the bottle neck the foam should be the only thing going u want going up the bottle neck

 

[kbuser92]

So just add a little spout off the side of the adaptor? Which airline would I use? Into the actual skimmer base or into the pipe from the pump?

 

[emmett0122]

what kind of pump are you going to use