i might be makeing a protein skimmer if no one sells me on out of a 10g or 5g tall tank. any advice.

im not trying to push mine.

its way eaiser just to buy one and not make one. seaclones work great.

oh i wont be doing it i have a plumber who is comming to my house and said it will take him 10 min to drill it and get the pvc in place for me and is for free since he just replace a sink for us.

i made my first skimmer and it worked well enough, but its alot easier to buy one. if you do build one do lots and lots of research. go to the stores and look at the skimmer that are for sale and study them. if you do build one best of luck to you.

i had a cpr and saw how it works very simple. and thz i am going to make it work like a cpr. the onlything that has me conguzed is how to make the collection cup.

Just go to Petco and get this or something like it:

http://www.petco.com/product/6125/Lee-s-Counter-Current-Protein-Skimmer.aspx

Its the best thing for a small tank. I wouldnt even put a skimmer on a tank that small. You dont need one on a tank that small if you do weekly water changes. also you probably dont want to try to make a skimmer if you dont understand the physics and dynamics of how a skimmer works very well. My advice is to just do water changes.

i understand the dynamics i just dont know what material to make the collection cup out of.

I think he wants to make one OUT of a tank, not FOR a 10-5g tank...that's at least how I read it. I'm having a hard time imagining it though...could be interesting.

go to HD or lows and head strait for the plumbing section. you should see plenty of parts to make a collection cup.

i am makeing it for my 55g and i am making it kinda like a hob fuge with skimmer i am going to have a 10g tall i think and have baffles where the water is pumped in with the air is where the skimmer will be then a baffle and have a refguium with dsb and a frag of my macro maybe and then a 3inch bulkhead as a return or 2 in. it will be all above water lvl.and on its own seperate stand.

Either way I would just buy a skimmer. They will be much more effective and better made. Im making DIY wave boxes and HOB Refugs and all kinds of other work with acrylic but I still wouldnt try it and Im pretty handy.

a plumber will be doing all the drilling and glueing all i will do is make a stand and hook it upit will take me 10 min and him 10 min. not includeing the 24 hr drying period.

I mean its your tank and I gave you my advice so do what you want but I just doubt it will turn out very well. I worked in a LFS, I build custom things for reef tanks so I was just sharing my advice.

srry for sounding blunt but i think it is possible for me and my dad to build one even if it doesnt turn out like a high price one i think it will be good for my 55g. also i will be about 4ft tall i will use some pvc to make it taller to increase bubble contact time i will get pics of how to build it if i do. i might just give in and buy one.

you can find skimmers on eba for $10 bucks

sounds like a good project. Good luck and post pics when you are successful!

an ok skimmer
http://cgi.ebay.com/Visi-Jet-Protien-Skimmer_W0QQitemZ140140805714QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem140140805714

this is a CRAZY STEAL AQUA C REMORA SKIMMERS ARE GREAT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180142000638&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:us

bak pak
http://cgi.ebay.com/CPR-Aquatic-Bak-Pak-2R-Reef-Ready-Protein-Skimmer-N_W0QQitemZ120144033566QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120 144033566

yea i think i will just go ahead and start buyiing the things and i think i might change the desgin ill see when i go to home depot.