TOTW 8-30-05 Cookie Jar Protein Skimmer...

[Meric]

I will be attempting to build my first cookie jar protein skimmer. With all this live rock curing I will need additional skimming to keep up and cannot afford another $200+ protein skimmer.

If this works I will post pictures. The total expected cost will be around $45.00 not including the pump, I hope to use an extra MaxiJet 1200 as the pump.

Of course the cookie jar cost me $6.00 cause it was full of cookies.

I have some basic ideas, but if anyone has built one before I would take any advice you have to offer.

[Meric]

I will not be able to test it until Tuesday. Must let Silicone cure a little more.

It should work pretty well based on other design concepts. It has a very large reaction chamber (3 gallon container). Including the pump I have a little under $100.00 into it.

I am using a 400GPH Aquaclear 70 with a hand made Venturi. I may try to make a bio ball needle wheel for it. However I did some testing with the current venturi and it made very small and very fine bubbles/foam in a test container.

[Poseidon]

Good luck, it looks much better then my first DIY skimmer attempt. I tried to make a 4' tall counter current air driven skimmer... CRashed and Burned famously!!!

[Meric]

OK, so I learned a valuable lesson today.

The protien skimmer works great. It was actually pumping out gunk before I went to bed. However I learned that you should alway double check your hose connections before going to bed

A hose popped off the protien skimmer in the middle of the night and pumped 30 or so gallons of water on my finished basement floor.

Carpet soaked, wife ticked, Tank half empty, pumps running dry, (2) heaters exploded, etc etc...

However I am not deafeted, this is mearly a set back.

[orion25]

However I am not deafeted, this is mearly a set back.

A true Reefer!!

[Sueet]

I am very sorry that you had bad luck..... but I would like to know if you are going to still post pics/plans of how you made this skimmer? I would like to try to build one myself, and I can't figure out what all I would need just from the pics you posted. Thanks.

[underseaworld]

I am also curious about the plans and some pics. Detail on what the parts are and where you purchased them would be nice.;;
Would this work on a 48 gl bow front tank?

I am very sorry that you had bad luck..... but I would like to know if you are going to still post pics/plans of how you made this skimmer? I would like to try to build one myself, and I can't figure out what all I would need just from the pics you posted. Thanks.

[Meric]

Since I had a lot of water cleanup from this incident I have been waiting for my carpet to fully dry before trying to destroy it again. I have also ordered a new bigger sump for my tank. I have also taken this time to plug some minor leaks in the skimmer where I didn't get all the silicone sealant applied.

It is a take off of the Easy as Pie euro skimmer from other sites.

Once I have everything working for more than a day or 2 and I feel confident that this could work for others, I will post more detailed pictures and a list of parts.

[Sueet]

Since I had a lot of water cleanup from this incident I have been waiting for my carpet to fully dry before trying to destroy it again. I have also ordered a new bigger sump for my tank. I have also taken this time to plug some minor leaks in the skimmer where I didn't get all the silicone sealant applied.

It is a take off of the Easy as Pie euro skimmer from other sites.

Once I have everything working for more than a day or 2 and I feel confident that this could work for others, I will post more detailed pictures and a list of parts.

No prob, take your time... And thanks for the info

[bakana]

I have a 90 gal reef. What size would you guys recommend for the inner chamber (How many gallons) and what style and size pump (minimum gph) would be good?
I just built my own sump and kalk doser so, this is all that is left

[Crit21]

Meric, how's the cookie jar skimmer working? Does anyone have drawings, pics and instructions for this skimmer? Please email them to me at dnkelley@msn.com. Thanks!