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Several designs of DIY skimmers were sourced on around the net. Best ones found were located on J. Charles Delbeeks's Site, Larry Jackson's Skimmer for Dummies and in Jeff Pfohl's archives. An initial design was drawn up based mostly on Larry Jackson's. The emphasis in the design is such that it can just be slipped together without any major alteration to the parts bought, and slip in seals so that will be guaranteed to be leak proof. This was followed by a visit to the local plumbing store, to check the availability of the listed parts. It was found that the majority of the parts indicated in Larry Jackson's design were unavailable so the design was adjusted accordingly. The clear throat was found to be available from a local plastics seller. The entire unit should cost around about $70-$100. The plans were sent to Larry for his comments and suggestions, he has been very helpful, thanks Larry.

The design was thought to be finalised, after a few alterations using suggestions from Larry Jackson, but a trip to the store to purchase the parts proved otherwise. Beware of the type of piping that is used, a 100mm waste pipe does not have the same outside diameter of 100mm pressure pipe. It was thought that piping manufactures would be practical people, with a 100mm pipe of any type having the same outside diameter. Unfortunately this is not so. The design then had to be modified again, using only the waste water piping, increasing the diameter of the internal piping from 25mm to 32mm. This increased the complexity of the skimmer, i.e. more bits were required, but the basic layout remained the same. As a down side the expense also went up, but still within budget.

Air stone protein skimmer diagram, requiring minimal tools/alterations.

The parts used for construction are as follows;

1500mm x 32mm Pipe

Possible may have to purchase more as usually sell in meter lengths. Just go back a few times and sometimes can find off cuts about the correct length.

1500mm x 100mm Pipe

Ditto as with the 32mm pipe, but a 2000mm length had to be bought in this case.

200mm x 80mm Clear Acrylic Pipe

Have to ensure that the pipe will actually fit into the waste water fittings, check the outside diameter to the inside diameter of the couple.

1 x 32mm Compact Ball Valve

Would have rather used a gate valve but none were in stock and the sales guy agreed that would be able to exchange if the ball valve was unsuitable.

2 x 32mm Threaded Male Couple

Ball valve is threaded to allow removal, so require couple to allow attachment.

2 x 32mm Threaded Female Couple

Allows the size reduction to 25mm required to take water to and from the skimmer.

2 x 32mm x 25mm Bushing

Reduces the 32mm thread to 25mm thread to allow 25mm barb to be used.

2 x 25mm Threaded Barb

Allows attachment of 25mm flexible hosing for water to and from skimmer.

1 x 100mm x 50mm x 50mm x 40mm Riser Junction

Simplest junction that could be found, just have to drill out the holes that are required, one is already there, 50mm, just another 50mm has to be made. Requires a couple to join to the invert taper as a female male fitting.

1 x 13mm Threaded and Barbed Elbow

For the foam drain from the collection cup. Have to remove the thread by filing so that a neat fit is achieved in the collection cup.

2.5m x 12.5mm Clear Tubing

Foam drain pipe from top of skimmer to collection bottle.

1 x 9mm Hose Clamp

To ensure a water tight fit of the drain tube to the barb.

2 x 32mm 88o Bend

For some reason there is only a 88o bend, not a 90o, in the 32mm waste piping. The bends have to be cut down in order to fit inside the riser junction. This is achieved by reducing the size of the couple that fits onto the pipe, around 10mm was found to be satisfactory. The entire couple end for the inlet elbow was remove to allow it to fit beside the outlet elbow.

1 x 32mm 85o Three Way Junction

Same as bend, no 90o tee junctions. This is used so that can have a siphon breaker incorporated into the design. If this is not done then there is a high probability that the water level within the skimmer will fluctuate as a siphon forms, empties the column, siphon breaks and column refills. This will allow more accurate control of the water level within, therefore the type of foam that it produces.

1 x 100mm Threaded Couple

Allow access to base of skimmer for cleaning.

1 x 100mm Threaded Cap

Access point for cleaning of base of skimmer.

2 x 100mm Couple

Needed for the invert taper to riser junction join and socket reducer to pipe for collection cup.

1 x 100mm x 80mm Level Invert Taper

Size reduction from the main contact pipe to the foam throat. A sloped fitting was used to allow easier cleaning and less hindered flow of the bubbles/foam. Drawback is that is a female male fitting, so an additional couple is needed to attach to the riser junction. The 80mm end can be cut down such that more of the clear piping is exposed, will allow to see more of what is going on inside.

1 x 100mm x 80mm Socket Reducer

The internal lip has to be removed such that the acrylic pipe can pass through this and form an annulus for the collection cup. May have to file the inside to allow the clear piping to pass through neatly. Can also cut down the 80mm end on this to allow more viewing area. A hole has to be drilled in this piece to allow insertion of the drain.

2 x 50mm x 32mm Socket Reducer

Internal lip also has to be removed such that the 32mm pipe can pass entirely through into the riser junction.

4 x 76 mm Limewood Air Stone

Limewood have small bubbles, last longer, but require a higher pressure to drive. Received four, as the packs contain one with fitting plus a spare.

4m x 4mm Rigid Irrigation Piping

Rigid piping is needed in order to hold the air stones at the base of the skimmer. Regular airline could be used, but would have to build a mounting to hold the stones at the base. This would make it harder to remove the stones for service. This is the type of stuff that is used for the garden irrigation kits. Was actually purchased in a 20m roll, so have lots left over.

4m x Airline Tubing

Typical airline tubing to run from the air pump to the rigid piping.

2 x Straight Airline Joiner

To join the rigid piping to the airline tubing.

2 x Y Airline Joiner

To reduce the 4 outlets present on the air pump to 2 airlines.

2 x Check Valve

To ensure that water does not get to the air pump.

One alteration was made to the design after construction to minimise on space, an elbow was added to the inlet line, between the bushing and barb. A elbow barb could also be used here. Assembly is self explanatory, some length might have to be adjusted such that a neat fit is obtained. PVC solvent glue was used to stick the piping and joints together, as a hint put together several times dry so that can ensure all the lengths are correct to fit together and determine an order for the assembly. Note that the actual configuration of the inlet and outlet pipes are perpendicular to each other, not straight as shown on in the diagram. This was done for ease of drawing, the actually set up can be seen in the photo.

Completed air stone protein skimmer "for dummies".

Close up of the top section of the air stone protein skimmer.

This design is a bit over the top, there are ways in which it can be vastly simplified and made cheaper to put together. One could be built for much less by avoiding the use of junctions etc and just putting the piping through the other pipe. This was avoided as wasn't considered as giving a neat and professional finish to the end product, although if the ability is there then do it. Also this design is such that any person can build it, there is minimal amount of drilling etc to be done, tool requirement is minimal.

Air stone protein skimmer installed inside the skimmer cupboard.

This skimmer unit was used drived by airstone for some time, then it was converted to an aispirated pump skimmer. Will add details of that in a separate project when get around to it.

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