DIY Protein Skimmer

[wizardslovak]

Hello

So i have been searching internet for some simple protein skimmers and i found this
http://reefbuilders.com/2009/06/08/mame-glass-skimmer-mame-design/

it looks cool so i though i will try to make one for me from stuff i have at home

here is sketch
Will it work? is water level good ? what can i do to "better it up"?

I actually made it already from 1/2" pipe . my tank is 10 gall but i dont have fish yet so i cannot try skimmer yet

any ideas welcomed
thank you

 

[mdb_talon]

It is hard to tell from your picture how you plan on getting water in and out of the skimmer, but I am going to assume that is being taken care of

As for the water level ideally you will have a system that you can adjust the water level. There are a number of ways to do this, but if using a narrow pvc pipe as your skimmer it becomes harder.

As for the airstone I personally never had any good results with even the best airstone I could find; I could not get fine enough air bubbles to really make it as effective as I wanted. I only do venturi pumps now. Not saying yours wont work I know many people have had luck with diy air stone skimmers, just not me.

As far as your design I would have the bubbles go over the top rather than the outlet on the side. If working properly you are going to have dry bubbles that will not easily "flow" out the side of the pipe they will keep building up the top of the tube to the top (where eventually you will have some solid build up and some "liquify" and drain back down into skimmer. I would have your air line coming in from the side somewhere (sealed around it of course) and have your skim come out the top.

 

[BadOleRoss]

Do protien skimmers work on freshwater tanks?