Danoreefs' Blog

Here’s a video of my Hand Made PVC Protein Skimmer;

Here’s a video featuring two feather dusters that appeared out of nowhere. and my auto top off system. And a few full tank shots…

Follow me on twitter for a chance to min my Hand Made Protein Skimmer. Visit my twitter page. One person out of the next 25 followers will win. read more on the skimmer here and at; Hand Made Protein Skimmer.

This is a homemade counter current Protein Skimmer designed by me. I have done tons of research about these types of skimmers and have built about twenty of them. I have decided that this design is the best.

I know everyone wants to see the bubbles, but the ever increasing costs of clear PVC makes it hard for the average joe to afford. I have designed what I think is a gorgeous and Extremely effective counter current protein skimmer. You will not believe the skimmate that it produces. This Skimmer matches up to the most expensive skimmers on the market. You can spend $500.00 to $1000 on a protein skimmer, but I have been using a skimmer like this for four years on my 120 gallon reef tank and it is hard to believe that another skimmer could pull out more skimmate. For under $100 this skimmer is a steal.

I DO NOT include an air pump or a water pump. You can buy an air pump for around $20.00. The water pump should pump around 200 GPH (gallons per hour) that will cost about $40.00. You will need a lime wood air stone, which will cost about $4.00. All three of these items can be found any local fish store that features reef aquariums. They can also be found online.

My skimmer is made from standard 4 inch PVC that you can buy in any hardware store. In some cases, you can even see the manufacturers barcodes and descriptions on the PVC.

This is the absolute perfect solution for a reef aquarium hobbiest on a budget!!!

Skimmer Specs:

• •The Skimmer is 4 inches in diameter.
• The reaction chamber is 17 inches tall.
• Total height is 27 inches tall.
• 2 ball valves (1 in, and 1 out) for fine tuning water flow.
• Removable lid and removable collection cup.
• 2 clear vinyl hoses 5 feet long.
• 5 feet clear air line tubing.
• Will handle reef tanks up to 120 Gallons
• For aquariums up to 120 Gallons

This skimmer is easy to use:

1. 1.Just hook the air pump to the air hose.
2. 2.Put the tubing for the inlet valve to the water pump.
3. 3.Route the tubing from the outlet valve back to your tank, wet dry filter or sump.

You may need to make a small adjustment on the inlet or outlet valves and that’s it!!

Upon Request:

I will also build this particular size upon request. If you are interested, please contact me

or visit http://danoreef.com/Hand_made_Skimmer.html

I will only ship within the continental United States
(no Alaska or Hawaii, sorry).

PVC Skimmer

Removable collection cup

Cap with air line hole and breather holes

I decided to try a float valve, with a battery operated air pump to top off the aquarium. Since I top off approx. 1 gallon of water a week I need a larger reservoir, so I had to come up with a different  plan from the the last top off I posted here. Here are some pictures of the top off that I am trying now.

Battery Operated air pump

Inside the air pump

Air pump wired to float valve

I cut the wire that was on the positive terminals and spliced the wires from the float valve. Now it will act like a simple on off switch.

Float valve wired to the air pump

bracket made by bending acrylic

I made the brackets from acrylic that I cut to size then heated and bent them as needed. I used acrylic glue weld-on to glue the brackets to the tank.

Float valve

return line bracket made by heating and bending acrylic

With the return bracket I had to make a small tunnel out of the acrylic to hold the hose line steady. the friction from the hose pushing against the bracket is all it needs to hold it in place.

Airline tubing is water return line

I pick up a new digital thermometer from my Local Fish Store. It was relatively inexpensive, so I hope it works good. With algae growing all over the glass thermometer I couldn’t even see the numbers. So far I love the look (very clean) and its very simple, only one little wire with a small probe on the end goes into the tank. I don’t think I’ll be going back to the glass suction cup type again

New Thermometer

New Thempmeter Wire

two things I have in the works for this little tank are a larger ATO system, one that can be stored below the desk, and can hold at least a gallon of water maybe more.
The other thing is a small protein skimmer. Maybe a soda bottle size. with the amount of water changes I do its not something I need but I would like to hook up a small skimmer and see what it pulls out of this little tank even with the water changes.

I have a request for some full tank shots… So here they are, along with some new corals;

FTS

FTS

New Orange Ricordia Mushroom

New Rics

New Zoanthids

New Zoanthids