Microbubble stopper + Free skimmer

I have been neglecting my tank for a little while(oops) so i decided to remove the sump and clean everything out, redo the plumbing, water change etc etc etc. But i still had a problem with a massive amount of micro bubbles getting into my display tank due to the splash created by the drain. I found a simple solution for $5 - $10 depending on where you shop.

This piece of pvc not only stops 100% of the bubbles but also doubles as a skimmer(sort of). I just gota figure out how to harvest the skimmate. If you guys have any ideas let me know

I've use different size pvcs' but this one works best(4") because its heavy and doesn't move. I think the large exit hole is the key; water is not rushing out of it.

The skimmate it makes is very steady unless the water level is too low, but this can be fixed with an auto topoff.

Theres a video at the bottom you can watch it action. The video is not showing up in the preview for some reason so here is the link if you need it.

YouTube - Free Skimmer + MicroBubble Stopper

 

thats innovative infamous

if you had an old skimmer cup or any plastic cup that you could cut a slot in and then cut a hole the diameter of the pipe in the base of the cup
then slide the cup around the pipe - being plastic it would open up as you force it round pipe then close again once the pipe was through the hole in base of cup
drill small hole in base of cup coupled with using the air line style run off into a seperate collection cup

it many not be 100% effective as some of the skimmate may run out of the crack/gap where the 2 parts meet
but maybe worth a try as the only other option I can think off is to manually remove that foam every so often

Steve

 

Wow nice work infamous. I will keep this in mind.

 

Wow, how does that even work. im having probs with microbubbles from my drain and this would work but how?lol looks like the water would just exit the side tube with bubbles in it.

 

I am having trouble viewing the last picture.

Water would flow down the vertical pipe, hitting the end that is capped off. Bubbles rise in the water, being collected at top while water exits through the "Y" part of the pipe.

Am I correct?

 

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
You're far too kind" - Jay Z

The bottom line is that the bubbles need time to settle in a separate chamber, and thats exactly what that pvc does. The water does exit out of that hole, however the extra large size of that hole prevents the water from rushing out and spreading bubbles all over the tank.

Yes you are correct, however there is no end cap and the pvc is not glued to the bottom of the tank. Its just sitting there because its so heavy.

The last picture is not a picture, its a video not showing up in the page even with the right tags, don't know why.

 

lol you could find a plastic battle with an opening as big as the pipe. then cut the top off to match the diamater of the bubble stopping pipe. then cut a hole in the side of the top to fit a pipe in lol. thats all i can think of for harvesting the skimmer. awesome though

if that made any sense to you lol