Diy Nano Protein Skimmer?

[Shroomy20]

Ive been running a 6 gallon nano(old eclipse system I had laying around) since feb.
current stock: 1 red firefish, 1 skunk cleaner shrimp, 3 dwarf hermits, 2 nassarious snails, and various soft corals.
Anyway, due to recent issues( I had an astrea snail that fell upside down and die causing an ammonia spike without me realizing it AND cyano starting to grow), Ive decided to due some modifications on the tank. Does anyone have ideas/plans on a protein skimmer that I could design for my tank?

I had also thought about possibly upgrading to a nano cube 12 delux or may the 24 to give me the ability to have more diversity.
What are your opinions on those and how easy/hard are they to mod?

 

[seffieuk]

Well, if you have been successful with such a small tank then they will not be difficult

The skimmer will not solve your cyano problem - you need to reduce phosphates, are you running any phosphate remover in the tank and improve flow to the area.

so:

Syphon cyano
do a water change
add phosphate remover
alter or add flow

Good luck

Seffie x

oh and where is our photo then

 

[Shroomy20]

I havent added any phosphate remover yet. The cyano growth is so minimal it doesnt bother me(I think the astrea was keeping it in check), I actualy like the look. I just want to keep it from exploding in my tank lol.
Unfortunetly no pics and I currently am ashamed of my tank which ill explain in a sec...

I started it in Feb with a eclipse 6 system as is.
Equipment:
6 gal tank
Heater
Stock lighting(1 8w daylight bulb)
Stock filter(with only carbon in it, used for water flow really)
Air stone(extra aition)
9lbs of live rock
10lbs of live sand

Current stock:
1 firefish
1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
3 dwarf hermit craps
2 nassarious snails
(Will soon be replacing the astrea that died)
1 green toadstool mushroom
1 kenya tree coral
1 anthelia colony
2 zoo colonies
1 pulsing xenia
4 various mushrooms
1 green star polyp colony
Lots of feather calurpa

Now throughout the past few months Ive run into problems.
I was impatient and rushed it WAY too fast...had 2 tank crashes and Ich came up(lost all fish at the time).
Anyway I solved those problems and the tank finaly had been stabilized. Then about 2 months ago Ich poped up again after a few weeks of having the firefish. I experimented and fed him only food soaked for a min of 15 in garlic extract 1-2 times a day and he completely fought off the ich. All was good for the last few weeks untill my astrea fell upside-down and died before I noticed and spiked my ammonia a few days ago. So now Im working in getting everything stablized again. So far so good, my corals perked up this morning and no deaths. So....once my tank looks great again pics will come.
This is why ive thought about upgrading to larger, for more stablity(and increased possible diversity) OR designing a skimmer for my current tank to help keep it ultra clean if at all possible.

 

[seffieuk]

Thanks for sharing your story with us - it will help others

Go on treat yourself to a nice big tank, you know you want to

Seffie x

 

[milkton]

ha haha i thought this was on a DIY protein skimmer, apparently not. i have always wanted to make a protein skimmer for my 2.5g but i dont have the time and not exactly sure how. anyone care to explain how to make? :::

 

[lgarvey]

ha haha i thought this was on a DIY protein skimmer, apparently not. i have always wanted to make a protein skimmer for my 2.5g but i dont have the time and not exactly sure how. anyone care to explain how to make? :::

I just set up a niagara 280 hang on back skimmer. It's only £29 and there's a compartment that would easily house the rowaphos pads, which would sort out the phosphate issues.

 

[aly_starh]

pictures?