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diy skimmer questions

1K views 7 replies 2 participants last post by  Reefing Madness 
#1 ·
im going to be building this soon and i have a few questions
Aquaria Central > DIY > Protein Skimmer

now this is going to be used on my 125 and i want to make sure its going to be skimming what it should or be more.i have 3 3000cc air pumps floating around and 4 wood air stones.now in this diy it shows useing 4inch and 2 inch piping.i did some math and it would just pass for a 100 gallon set up with 1 wood air stone.now i want to kinda over kill this in cause i do up grade to a 200 gallon plus system.only problem is i dont kno what i would have to make bigger.so here is what i am thinking.move the pipe sizes up to 6 inch wide and 3 inch centers with all 4 air stones i have.does anyone think this will work or just be a wast of time.in my head im thinking bigger pipes means wore water flow and a better " motor/pump and more stones" will make for more reaktions and doing more of the job its intended to do.at this moment in time i dont have money on for a professionall skimmer cause i bought a light and dug a hole with the wife..anyway im limited to $60 to 80 for a diy set up thats gonna have to last some time.....any input is welcome but please dont tell me to buy a nice skimmer cause i wont/cant listen right now to it.thanks
 
#4 ·
Nope. You may get away with the DIY pvc itself, but the pump is the biggest part of a skimmer. I can steer you in a good direction of makin a good DIY skimmer pump, but its gonna be like $50. I figured out how to make a Reef Octopus pump knock off.
740 GPH Submersible Water Pump Powerhead Pond Aquarium Fountain Reef Coral CSA | eBay
You'll need a pump about like this one. Drill a hole just for the 1/4" air line, right above center. You don't want it dead center or you'll mess up the impellar shaft. Stick in the air line. Take the impellar out, and you'll need a dremel using a small cutting disk. You'll cut notches in the impellar blades, so it looks like a Needle Wheel Impellar. You'll cut 3 notches in each blade. Or you can try this DIY.

Technology Electronic device Wire
 
#5 ·
Nope. You may get away with the DIY pvc itself, but the pump is the biggest part of a skimmer. I can steer you in a good direction of makin a good DIY skimmer pump, but its gonna be like $50. I figured out how to make a Reef Octopus pump knock off.
740 GPH Submersible Water Pump Powerhead Pond Aquarium Fountain Reef Coral CSA | eBay
You'll need a pump about like this one. Drill a hole just for the 1/4" air line, right above center. You don't want it dead center or you'll mess up the impellar shaft. Stick in the air line. Take the impellar out, and you'll need a dremel using a small cutting disk. You'll cut notches in the impellar blades, so it looks like a Needle Wheel Impellar. You'll cut 3 notches in each blade. Or you can try this DIY.

View attachment 62631
i have a power head pump that actually has a valve on the spout that alows air in and create a crap ton of bubbles. will it work similar to the one you made?

i have this
Maxi Jet | Powerhead | Multi Use Water Pumps From Marineland
 
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