DIY Protein Skimmer: How to Build a Protein Skimmer

Coral reef fish and invertebrate animals, such as star fish and corals, produce metabolic waste on an ongoing basis. This waste breaks down and lowers the water quality within the confines of an average aquarium. Marine aquarium water therefore needs to be filtered correctly, and benefits greatly from protein skimming or foam fractionation. The thousands of ultra-fine bubbles produced by a protein skimmer attract molecules of organic waste and remove this material from the aquarium water by pushing a thick foam into a collection cup.

Things You'll Need

  • 120-gallon aquarium
  • 25-gallon sump
  • Plastic bottle, 1.5-gallon
  • Plastic soft drink bottle, 1-quart
  • 4-inch long, 1.5-inch piece of plastic pipe
  • 1 tube non-toxic 100 percent silicone sealer
  • Carpet knife
  • Vibrator air pump
  • 1 large wooden air stone
  • 3-feet air tubing (0.25-inch diameter)
  • 2 plastic cable ties, 6-inches long
  • Thin piece of plastic, 2-inch by 2-inch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut off the neck of the 1.5-gallon plastic bottle, at its widest point. Set the top part of the bottle aside for future use.

    • 2

      Cut three, 1.5-inch diameter holes, approximately 1-inch up from the bottom of the bottle. Cut the holes equal distances from each other around the circumference of the bottle. Use a sharp carpet knife to cut the holes.

    • 3

      Place one of the 6-inch long cable ties around the one end of the 4-inch long, 1.5-inch diameter piece of plastic pipe. Tighten the cable tie, but do not cut off the end.

    • 4

      Place the second 6-inch long cable tie immediately below the first cable tie on the 4-inch long, 1.5-inch diameter piece of plastic pipe. Tighten it, but ensure that the end points in the opposite direction to the end of the first cable tie. Do not cut this end off.

    • 5

      Fold the two ends of the cable ties towards the pipe and place the pipe vertically into the 1.5-gallon bottle, with the cable ties at the top. Position the 4-inch long piece of pipe approximately 2-inches up from the bottom of the bottle and gently release the folded cable ties. These will spring back against the sides of the bottle and hold the 4-inch long pipe in place, in the center of the bottle.

    • 6

      Place the top part of the 1.5-gallon bottle back onto the bottom half and use one tablespoon of silicone sealer to secure the two halves together. Leave the bottle to cure for twenty four hours.

    • 7

      Cut off the neck of the 1-pint plastic bottle, at its widest point. Discard the bottom half of the bottle.

    • 8

      Invert the neck section of the 1-pint plastic bottle and place the spout into the spout of the 1.5-gallon bottle. Use a teaspoon of silicone to seal the two together. Allow the silicone to cure for twenty four hours.

    • 9

      Attach the one end of the 3-foot long air tubing (0.25-inch diameter) to the air stone. Push the air stone into one of the 1.5-inch diameter holes near the bottom of the bottle. Position the air stone underneath the vertical 4-inch long piece of pipe.

    • 10

      Roll the 2-inch by 2-inch thin piece of plastic into a tube. Gently push this tube into the inverted spout of the 1-pint plastic bottle.

    • 11

      Place the bottle in a vertical position, in the aquarium sump, which is the remote reservoir positioned below the aquarium, connected to it via piping. Water will flow into the bottle through the holes near the bottom and weigh the bottle down.

    • 12

      Attach the other end of the 3-foot long air tubing to the vibrator pump. Position the pump above the water level of the sump.

    • 13

      Push the plug from the pump into a wall power supply and turn it on.