Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / June 2004

I've used several different kinds of protein skimmers and I've never
been completely happy with any of them.

I don't like the fact that almost all the venturi or bio-ball skimmers
(the ones that depend on pressure/flow to create the small bubbles) use
the same pump for creating the bubbles as they do for circulating the
water.  Inevitably, there's too much flow out and bubbles escape.  Also,
most skimmers don't have sufficient capabilities for removing the very
fine bubbles that inevitably leak out.

Also, the protein skimmers that require a strong flow to generate
bubbles create more heat (and waste more energy).   For the skimmers in
the sump, this ends up heating the tank.

I've been thinking about commissioning a custom built protein skimmer.
It's characteristics would include the following:

* It would sit on the floor behind the tank, giving it a huge amount of
volume.

* It would have two main chambers.  Water from the reef tank would flow
into the first chamber where the bubbles would hang out to make contact
with the proteins in the water.  From there water would flow into the
2nd chamber where bubbles would be removed from the water.  The water
would then flow from the 2nd chamber back to the main tank.

* I'd like some sort of system to create bubbles in the first chamber
that doesn't use too much power.   Wooden airstones work pretty good,
but they constantly have to be replaced.  Maybe some sort of air
injection nozzle?   I guess they would clog a lot.   Are small bubbles
created better when the water pressure is lower?   Ie. the injector at
the top of the water column?   But it needs to be at the bottom of the
column to get the counter-current effect.   Hmmm.

* For the second "de-bubble" chamber, I was thinking about some sort of
centrifugal system that, by essentially increasing the pressure in the
water (via centrifugal force), makes the bubbles more bouyant and forces
them out faster into the central "tornado".  I think there are some
medical gadgets which do stuff like this for blood (bubbles in blood are
a bad thing).   I doubt they could be adapted, but the same principal
could be used.

* The counter-current water flow through the first chamber could be
tuned independently of the overall flow through the skimmer.   Ie. the
water flow through the overall skimmer could be very slow, but the
downward water flow in the first chamber could be tuned to let the
bubbles float up appropriately slowly.

Ok, that's all my ideas for now.   If anybody is interested in accepting
a job designing and building something like this, send me an email (I'm
serious).  Previous designs and construction experience are, of course,
relevant.

Remember, even if you think I'm a clueless poser, it's polite to provide
suggestions for improvement rather than question my mother's fidelity.

Ben Slade
www.benslade.com
PublicMailbox@benslade.com
(include "030516 at the end of the subject line to bypass my spam filters)
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be moved by statistics"
Oscar Wilde