- Location
- Hicksville
Hello MR,
Before I start explaining abut this project, I would like to tell a little about my system, I have 350 gallon display tank with 275 gallon sump and I am adding additional 250 gallon tank that will be my fuge with plants, mangroves, cheato, culerpa etc. Currently I am using Reeflo 250 Orca Pro recirculating protein skimmer that is keeping up with bio load and has served me well for my current set up and sets up from the past. I was looking into MRC Orca Pro II or III, But due to price I could not convince my self to spend that much on protein skimmer, Price is very fair for what they have designed but it is out of my reach, So I decided to build mine out of PVC. Please see the pictures below of the skimmer that I have put together and It has been running from 5 days already and I am done making adjustments to the drain etc, I wanted to have the option to feed my recirculating bio pellets output directly into the skimmer and I wanted to be able to seed Ozone through the venturi so that Ozone has enough time to react with water and length of the skimmer is to give more time for air to react with aquarium water. I had no intentions to build skimmer this tall but then I though what the hell, So here are the pictures of the final product and I have listed all the parts and tools I had to buy to calculate the final cost of the skimmer. Design I very basic design from any of the recirculating protein skimmer but I saw few pictures of Commercial protein skimmers from MRC and other brands.
1. 12" Diameter PVC ebay - 125 shipped
2. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 18"x18" - 2 pcs
3. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 18"x18"x12" - 2 pcs
4. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 16 3/4" x 16 3/4" - 2pcs total cost for all pieces 125 shipped from ebay
5. 10" pvc 1 foot section 20 shipped
6. Reeflo Snapper with needle wheel -250 shipped brand new
7. Bubble Defuser plate ebay custom cut to fit inside 10" pvc - 25.00 shipped
8. 1/4" tapping kit with drill - 10.00
9. 1/4" stainless steel screws - 25.00
10. 2" Venturi bought from ebay from past for 25.00
11. Unions, PVC pipe, Couplings, Gate valve more or less 60.00
12. Iron Grip 100% GE silicone 2 tubes 16.00
13" Collection Cup - Free from MTC protein skimmer from past,
Total time to put it together 1 Week - few hrs every day,
Other tools, drill bits, drills I have decent collection in my tool box- 0 cost
Total cost - 672.00
Before I start explaining abut this project, I would like to tell a little about my system, I have 350 gallon display tank with 275 gallon sump and I am adding additional 250 gallon tank that will be my fuge with plants, mangroves, cheato, culerpa etc. Currently I am using Reeflo 250 Orca Pro recirculating protein skimmer that is keeping up with bio load and has served me well for my current set up and sets up from the past. I was looking into MRC Orca Pro II or III, But due to price I could not convince my self to spend that much on protein skimmer, Price is very fair for what they have designed but it is out of my reach, So I decided to build mine out of PVC. Please see the pictures below of the skimmer that I have put together and It has been running from 5 days already and I am done making adjustments to the drain etc, I wanted to have the option to feed my recirculating bio pellets output directly into the skimmer and I wanted to be able to seed Ozone through the venturi so that Ozone has enough time to react with water and length of the skimmer is to give more time for air to react with aquarium water. I had no intentions to build skimmer this tall but then I though what the hell, So here are the pictures of the final product and I have listed all the parts and tools I had to buy to calculate the final cost of the skimmer. Design I very basic design from any of the recirculating protein skimmer but I saw few pictures of Commercial protein skimmers from MRC and other brands.
1. 12" Diameter PVC ebay - 125 shipped
2. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 18"x18" - 2 pcs
3. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 18"x18"x12" - 2 pcs
4. Grey 3/4" pvc panels 16 3/4" x 16 3/4" - 2pcs total cost for all pieces 125 shipped from ebay
5. 10" pvc 1 foot section 20 shipped
6. Reeflo Snapper with needle wheel -250 shipped brand new
7. Bubble Defuser plate ebay custom cut to fit inside 10" pvc - 25.00 shipped
8. 1/4" tapping kit with drill - 10.00
9. 1/4" stainless steel screws - 25.00
10. 2" Venturi bought from ebay from past for 25.00
11. Unions, PVC pipe, Couplings, Gate valve more or less 60.00
12. Iron Grip 100% GE silicone 2 tubes 16.00
13" Collection Cup - Free from MTC protein skimmer from past,
Total time to put it together 1 Week - few hrs every day,
Other tools, drill bits, drills I have decent collection in my tool box- 0 cost
Total cost - 672.00
