DIY yourself protein skimmer

MonsiuerPercy1

I made a protein skimmer out of a 2 liter bottle, some PVC and an air stone. Very primitive, but I believe the design will work. I am starting to see micro bubbles accumulate at the top of the 2 liter, after a time period of only 15 minutes. How long will it take for the bubbles to really accumulate?

nomel

...if you have an old powerhead that you're not using...could try putting the bubble stone near the intake to get the impeller to chop the bubbles and make them finer. If you do try...tell me! Wanna know if it works! :D

Pasfur

I used a quickly made 2 liter protein skimmer to cure my live rock. http://www.fishforum.com/saltwater-f...f-build-21979/

You could start to see a thicker skimate within a couple of days. The darker the better. If it looks like thick coffee, then you have a good skimmer. It if looks like ice tea, then you need to modify the skimmer neck.

Where did you place the skimmer? Is it in the sump? Is it venturi or air stone? Do you have pics?

MonsiuerPercy1

I am just beginning saltwater, and I am just curing live rock in a 30 gallon. What is skimate? The product of the skimmer? I'm sorry I am a saltwater noob. The skimmer is placed in the tank, about 3/4 of it below the water, and I am using an air stone. The mass of bubbles is now around 3 inches thick. (1 hr through) I will get some pictures. I just found the design on line. It only has the bottle, a cup to catch the foam in when it runs out of the neck, and an air stone. Do I need any modifications?

MonsiuerPercy1

Here are some of the pictures of my skimmer and "skimate". Here they are...

Attached Images

	DSC02351.jpg (140.8 KB, 52 views)
	DSC02354.jpg (115.5 KB, 49 views)
	DSC02355.jpg (137.2 KB, 50 views)

Pasfur

The quality of your skimate is very nice. Good job. The real test will be watching your Nitrate and alkalinity levels.

MonsiuerPercy1

yeah currently there is just live rock in there. I'm not sure if I already mentioned that.

Pasfur

If you only have live rock, then your rock is probably still curing. Otherwise you would probably not have that high level of skimate. How far along are you? Have you tested ammonia and nitrite?

MonsiuerPercy1

I am only a week through curing the rock. I know it is still curing and I heard that a skimmer would help so the live rock is actually the reason for the skimmer. I have not tested the tank at all yet. Should I?