DIY skimmer

[eskimoigloo]

This is my pride and joy, my perfectly working home-made skimmer... doesn't look much, but is very effective (as you can see from the foam in the top chamber):



The main body is made from the container that Maplins sell full of cable ties, the top section is made from the container that cichlid pellets come in, and the adjoining tube contained some plastic BBQ cutlery. Water is fed in at the top from a powerhead in the tank (flow controlled via a clamp on the tubing), and leaves the bottom via gravity. The foam is generated by 2 wooden airstones powered by the twin air pump which you see (if i want dry foam i just run 1 air stone). The top collection cup is then piped off to a coffee jar which is full of green/brown goo. It is roughly 20" overall height, and the main body is approx 4" diameter. The key to it is a 6mm hole in the top of the collection cup which allows the foam to rise at the desired rate (bigger hole for faster foam, smaller to slow it down). It's all held together and sealed with hot-melt glue.

If anyone wants to patent it for me they're quite welcome! ;)

Chris.

[eskimoigloo]

p.s. cost me the price of the airstones and glue to make (about 2 quid!)
everything else I had from when I kept tropicals (and obviously stuff from around the house)
Chris.

[Tangman]

Hi Chris. A very good job there m8, if it works why spend £200 on a shiny new one. Eric

[Gillybaby]

That is impressive. Your getting better foam out of that than I get from my APF600 :eek:

[eskimoigloo]

Been running since January with no major problems. Only downside against bought ones is it's not very adjustable... means it sometimes runs "dry" or sometime trys to empty the tank into the coffee jar (which is air tight to it can't ;))when the water level rises too high in the column!

Chris

[oakwell]

loks great ..well done

[Reefer]

Im gobsmacked, fair play for even attempting, yet alone getting it to work. wow!

[Pinkfish]

Nice one make cool.

[Kev]

I am always amazed by the resourcefulness of some folk within the hobby. Good one.

Kev

[Reefer]

Do you have any other marine inventions to share with us Mr Heath-Robinson?!