Not enough skimmate?

balmiesgirl · 01/13/2007, 06:16 PM

I have a 55g tank. I am on a very limited buget...so I do the best I can, so dont laugh.....but I had a Prizm pro skimmer and it quit working so I bought a SeaClone 150 to replace it. I dont seem to be getting enough "stuff" in the skimmer. (Its alot darker than what I got in the Prizm). Only about 1/2 c a week. Is the problem the skimmer? I have a 55 gal tank w/ a Eheim 2227 wet/dry canister, and a Fluval 304 for mechanical/ chemical filtration.
My water tests good 0 ammonia&nitrite, 10 nitrate, 8.2 PH, 480 ppm Cal, 161.1 ppm KH and 0.25 Phos...........Can you give me any ideas why I'm not getting more?

melev · 01/13/2007, 06:22 PM

To Reef Central

The skimmer you have isn't really all that great. If you had one by Euro-reef, ASM or Aqua C, I think you'd be impressed.

The wet/dry isn't working in your tank's favor. The canister filter isn't used to often either, but I'm sure that is helping reduce the load that your skimmer would normally deal with.

What kind of livestock do you keep? Did you buy this new or used? Just trying to get an idea of what your setup is like. Your "current tanks" field doesn't really match what you described in your post above.

balmiesgirl · 01/13/2007, 06:38 PM

4 fish...alot of inverts &some soft corals

melev · 01/13/2007, 10:05 PM

Unless you can find some type of google'd modification to make your skimmer more productive, that might be the best it can pull out.

I would start looking around for a used skimmer, as those are 50% of retail price. Put it in your sump and see the difference. I'd get a Euroreef RS-80 at least for your 55g.

salty3 · 01/13/2007, 10:14 PM

Go to rc's home page, scroll down to do it yourself, click on it and scroll down to skimmers, there are mods for the seaclone. Good luck.

melev · 01/13/2007, 10:15 PM

Good suggestion. The Seaclone really is a poor skimmer unfortunately. (And all this time I was thinking you replaced the Seaclone with a Prism Pro. I had it backwards.)

t-rock · 01/13/2007, 10:53 PM

you got 1/2 cup in a week with a Seaclone? I think thats great considering its a Seaclone.

01/13/2007, 06:16 PM	#1
balmiesgirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: southern Utah Posts: 183	Not enough skimmate? I have a 55g tank. I am on a very limited buget...so I do the best I can, so dont laugh.....but I had a Prizm pro skimmer and it quit working so I bought a SeaClone 150 to replace it. I dont seem to be getting enough "stuff" in the skimmer. (Its alot darker than what I got in the Prizm). Only about 1/2 c a week. Is the problem the skimmer? I have a 55 gal tank w/ a Eheim 2227 wet/dry canister, and a Fluval 304 for mechanical/ chemical filtration. My water tests good 0 ammonia&nitrite, 10 nitrate, 8.2 PH, 480 ppm Cal, 161.1 ppm KH and 0.25 Phos...........Can you give me any ideas why I'm not getting more?

01/13/2007, 06:38 PM	#3
balmiesgirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: southern Utah Posts: 183	4 fish...alot of inverts &some soft corals __________________ It's not a hobby....IT's an ADDICTION!!!! Current Tank Info: 12 g nano and 120 tall reef set up w/ 20 g refugium , pair of clowns, 3 chromis, radiant wrasse, arc eye hawk and a coral beauty angel.4139 gph flow. Big BIO load so WEEKLY 20 gal. + water changes

01/13/2007, 06:22 PM	#2
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	*To Reef Central* The skimmer you have isn't really all that great. If you had one by Euro-reef, ASM or Aqua C, I think you'd be impressed. The wet/dry isn't working in your tank's favor. The canister filter isn't used to often either, but I'm sure that is helping reduce the load that your skimmer would normally deal with. What kind of livestock do you keep? Did you buy this new or used? Just trying to get an idea of what your setup is like. Your "current tanks" field doesn't really match what you described in your post above.

01/13/2007, 10:05 PM	#4
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Unless you can find some type of google'd modification to make your skimmer more productive, that might be the best it can pull out. I would start looking around for a used skimmer, as those are 50% of retail price. Put it in your sump and see the difference. I'd get a Euroreef RS-80 at least for your 55g.

01/13/2007, 10:14 PM	#5
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Go to rc's home page, scroll down to do it yourself, click on it and scroll down to skimmers, there are mods for the seaclone. Good luck.

01/13/2007, 10:15 PM	#6
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Good suggestion. The Seaclone really is a poor skimmer unfortunately. (And all this time I was thinking you replaced the Seaclone with a Prism Pro. I had it backwards.)

01/13/2007, 10:53 PM	#7
t-rock Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 51	you got 1/2 cup in a week with a Seaclone? I think thats great considering its a Seaclone.