Protein skimmer fed by return plumbing

[PPBlimpy]

So back 25 years ago I had a 180g long mixed reef
96x24x18. System was had 2x40g tanks under it for sump and refugium.

Back when DIY was huge because a lot of things just were not being made like they are today.

I had built a skimmer that was directly fed by my return plumbing. I ran only 4-5x turn over thru sump. And dual closed loops on the tank to get my flow.
If I remember correctly 10” diameter body x24” tall had a pump inside with diy needle wheel and Venturi. Dual bubble plates lower with larger holes top plate with smaller.

I ran no other mechanical filtration and I don’t remember ever cleaning my sump. Nutrients all stayed very low and skimmer always pulled out mud.

Been thinking about building something like this again and installing on my tank.

Anyone else do this or run a skimmer similar? I know I didn’t come up with it but I was broke and in my early 20s

 

[PPBlimpy]

I guess it is more like an external skimmer that is feed directly by the overflow, height adjusted by a gate valve.