Secert to Prizim skimmer?

pooh1989 · 09/24/2006, 07:58 PM

What is the secert to this skimmer. 75% of the time it works great. Don't ask about the other 25%. When I bought the tank from a friend she recommened this skimmer and that was before I begain hanging out here and finding all the "important" things out along with a few dumb questions.

Anyways. What's the best skimmer for around $100. I like the prizim only because it hangs on the back. I really need that otherwise the canapy ( know that isn't spelled right) won't fit.

Thanks for all your help!

~~Ange

Shagsbeard · 09/24/2006, 08:17 PM

All skimmers have a break in period. Then, changes to the chemistry of the water... tiny tiny changes... will change the dynamics of your skimmer. When I feed my tank, I have to turn the skimmer down or else it will bubble over within 10 or 20 seconds of feeding. It's amazing how sensitive these things are.

The prizm skimmer will work, once you learn how to use it. It's noisy. It's not all that powerful. But it will work. The best skimmer for around $100 is to continue to use your prism, save your pennies, and buy a $200 skimmer.

Realize that skimming is not by anymeans the most important aspect of filtering. Most of your filtering comes from flow and your live rock. It's just because it's so passive that you forget that your rock is doing the important work. Skimming is a good "bonus" filtering, but you can go weeks without it.

My advice is to keep using the prism and save up for more powerful one later. Anything in the $100 ballpark is only going to be marginally better than your prism.

pooh1989 · 09/24/2006, 08:21 PM

Ok.

Thanks for your reply. It's so dang touchy sometimes I could just scream.

~~Ange

sir_dudeguy · 09/24/2006, 08:37 PM

well imo, the secret to prizms is that they suck...but then again, thats no secret lol. But for around a hundred bucks, i'd suggest getting a used remora skimmer off of the selling forums. I got mine for 70, but thats really low. 100-120 is more common for a used remora..or 160 new...you pick.

Or you could get a coralife superskimmer 65...but imo its not as good. i've got both, so i can compair them. The remora does way better and is much quieter. Also the css 65 is kinda ugly lookin.

matasw · 09/24/2006, 09:20 PM

Mines really moody too it seems to do alright for me though but i'm only using a 20g tank. The thing overflowed about a week ago at 4am in the morning. I got a "leakfrog" online for 10$ (i think) it beeps when their is moisture around is so luckly I woke up to the wonderful sounds of a loud beeping noise or I would have awoken to a disaster.

boxfishpooalot · 09/24/2006, 11:10 PM

the secret to a prizm skimmer is to throw it out. J/K.

I had one too, its the biggest POC out there for skimmers. The only thing its going to do is aid in gas exchange.

Look into a better skimmer like octopus,deltec,aqua-c,or a becket skimmer.

GobyJohnKenobi · 09/25/2006, 03:13 PM

Okay everybody, it aint the greatest, but it's much better than none at all. I guess.... I suppose....

I have one also and have used it for about 7 months now.

Here's the best thing I have done so far for it:

Put the plastic screw in the lower hole. Cut a piece of 1/2" thick styrofoam to fit under the output spillway. Raise the skimmer body so the screw just fits under the frame and slide the piece of styrofoam under the spillway to raise the skimmer about 1/2" above the top of the frame. Tighten the screw.

Now you can increase the flow a bit without it overflowing. You will still have to tweak it; and it will still overflow, but now you can run more water thru it.

If it is too noisy from cavitation, try this:

Pinch the airline as tightly as you can to close off the flow of air. You will hear it cavitate less and less as it pulls in all the excess air bubbles. When it is almost silent again, slowly release the airline and start the air supply slowly. I seem to have to do this every few days.

Also the surface skimmer does make a diference in removing the surface film. I ran mine without it for a few weeks, and I had to put it back on.

I also run Matrix carbon in the media basket. It functions as a fairly good bubble trap in addition to adsorbtion.

It makes a great aerator, removes surface film, is great for running carbon, and once in a while it produces some skimmate.

IMO&E I would never spend any more than I spent on it for a hang-on skimmer of any make, model, or reputation. It works fine for my undemanding 15 High, but the noise and microbubbles are enough to make me think of removing it every day. I ran the tank without it for a month. I loved the silence and lack of bubbles, but I had a nagging feeling that I should just use it.

In the future I will only run skimmers in a sump, enclosed in a cabinet. That's just my thought after my experience with HOB skimmers.

sir_dudeguy · 09/25/2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Here's the best thing I have done so far for it:

Put the plastic screw in the lower hole. Cut a piece of 1/2" thick styrofoam to fit under the output spillway. Raise the skimmer body so the screw just fits under the frame and slide the piece of styrofoam under the spillway to raise the skimmer about 1/2" above the top of the frame. Tighten the screw.

Now you can increase the flow a bit without it overflowing. You will still have to tweak it; and it will still overflow, but now you can run more water thru it.

and yet a used css 65 for like 40 bucks (or possibly even less...i've seen a few locally go for like 20 and 25) would work twice as good.

sir_dudeguy · 09/25/2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

In the future I will only run skimmers in a sump, enclosed in a cabinet. That's just my thought after my experience with HOB skimmers.

you say that you've not had good experience w/hob skimmers (if you can even call the prizm a skimmer that is) but have you even tried something like a css or even better ones? Theres plently of hob skimmers out there that are great skimmers, some even as good as in sump ones (and if you get one of those deltec ones, i'd imagine better than a lot of in sump ones...tho i wouldnt pay that much for a skimmer anyways)

09/24/2006, 07:58 PM	#1
pooh1989 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Small Town, ND Posts: 199	Secert to Prizim skimmer? What is the secert to this skimmer. 75% of the time it works great. Don't ask about the other 25%. When I bought the tank from a friend she recommened this skimmer and that was before I begain hanging out here and finding all the "important" things out along with a few dumb questions. Anyways. What's the best skimmer for around $100. I like the prizim only because it hangs on the back. I really need that otherwise the canapy ( know that isn't spelled right) won't fit. Thanks for all your help! ~~Ange

09/24/2006, 08:21 PM	#3
pooh1989 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Small Town, ND Posts: 199	Ok. Thanks for your reply. It's so dang touchy sometimes I could just scream. ~~Ange __________________ Freedom Isn't Free! Land of the Free, Because of the Brave! Current Tank Info: 46 gallon reef tank with 2 maroon clowns, 2 firefish, lawnmower blenny and a yellow clown goby and 35 gallon hex FOWLR with 3 blue/green chromis and a fuzzy dwarf lion fish

09/24/2006, 08:37 PM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well imo, the secret to prizms is that they suck...but then again, thats no secret lol. But for around a hundred bucks, i'd suggest getting a used remora skimmer off of the selling forums. I got mine for 70, but thats really low. 100-120 is more common for a used remora..or 160 new...you pick. Or you could get a coralife superskimmer 65...but imo its not as good. i've got both, so i can compair them. The remora does way better and is much quieter. Also the css 65 is kinda ugly lookin. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/24/2006, 11:10 PM	#6
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	the secret to a prizm skimmer is to throw it out. J/K. I had one too, its the biggest POC out there for skimmers. The only thing its going to do is aid in gas exchange. Look into a better skimmer like octopus,deltec,aqua-c,or a becket skimmer. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

09/24/2006, 08:17 PM	#2
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	All skimmers have a break in period. Then, changes to the chemistry of the water... tiny tiny changes... will change the dynamics of your skimmer. When I feed my tank, I have to turn the skimmer down or else it will bubble over within 10 or 20 seconds of feeding. It's amazing how sensitive these things are. The prizm skimmer will work, once you learn how to use it. It's noisy. It's not all that powerful. But it will work. The best skimmer for around $100 is to continue to use your prism, save your pennies, and buy a $200 skimmer. Realize that skimming is not by anymeans the most important aspect of filtering. Most of your filtering comes from flow and your live rock. It's just because it's so passive that you forget that your rock is doing the important work. Skimming is a good "bonus" filtering, but you can go weeks without it. My advice is to keep using the prism and save up for more powerful one later. Anything in the $100 ballpark is only going to be marginally better than your prism.

09/24/2006, 09:20 PM	#5
matasw Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 292	Mines really moody too it seems to do alright for me though but i'm only using a 20g tank. The thing overflowed about a week ago at 4am in the morning. I got a "leakfrog" online for 10$ (i think) it beeps when their is moisture around is so luckly I woke up to the wonderful sounds of a loud beeping noise or I would have awoken to a disaster.

09/25/2006, 03:13 PM	#7
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Okay everybody, it aint the greatest, but it's much better than none at all. I guess.... I suppose.... I have one also and have used it for about 7 months now. Here's the best thing I have done so far for it: Put the plastic screw in the lower hole. Cut a piece of 1/2" thick styrofoam to fit under the output spillway. Raise the skimmer body so the screw just fits under the frame and slide the piece of styrofoam under the spillway to raise the skimmer about 1/2" above the top of the frame. Tighten the screw. Now you can increase the flow a bit without it overflowing. You will still have to tweak it; and it will still overflow, but now you can run more water thru it. If it is too noisy from cavitation, try this: Pinch the airline as tightly as you can to close off the flow of air. You will hear it cavitate less and less as it pulls in all the excess air bubbles. When it is almost silent again, slowly release the airline and start the air supply slowly. I seem to have to do this every few days. Also the surface skimmer does make a diference in removing the surface film. I ran mine without it for a few weeks, and I had to put it back on. I also run Matrix carbon in the media basket. It functions as a fairly good bubble trap in addition to adsorbtion. It makes a great aerator, removes surface film, is great for running carbon, and once in a while it produces some skimmate. IMO&E I would never spend any more than I spent on it for a hang-on skimmer of any make, model, or reputation. It works fine for my undemanding 15 High, but the noise and microbubbles are enough to make me think of removing it every day. I ran the tank without it for a month. I loved the silence and lack of bubbles, but I had a nagging feeling that I should just use it. In the future I will only run skimmers in a sump, enclosed in a cabinet. That's just my thought after my experience with HOB skimmers.