surface scum? - Page 2

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingythingy45

Hey,glad I could help.
Sounds like you have a good grasp on the way things work with this hobby.
Do research and then go about changes slowly.
Happy reefing...

If there is one thing I have done from the very beginning was to go sloooooowly.

Korrine · 04/06/2011, 11:51 AM

hey

When I did water changes I would put a powerhead upside down facing the surface to suck the water off the surface. Took care of it too

Before

sucking

after - clean water and I have the preskimmer installed on the hob protein skimmer!

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/06/2011, 12:14 PM

I have never seen one of these in operation, but have read good reviews and the surface skimmer comes with the unit.

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus...stem-2070.html

stingythingy45 · 04/06/2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

I have never seen one of these in operation, but have read good reviews and the surface skimmer comes with the unit.

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus...stem-2070.html

Same here,heard a lot of good things about that skimmer.
But,have no personal experience with one.

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 12:41 PM

holy cripes now that is a contraption! haha Thanks, I'll do some reading on that thing.

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 12:48 PM

i have a 55 gal hex also and was gonna try placing a pre-skimmer box on my remora.. i think thats one way of dealing with the surface film..

stingythingy45 · 04/06/2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre09

holy cripes now that is a contraption! haha Thanks, I'll do some reading on that thing.

Invented by Dr. Seuss.

The aqua C remora like mentioned by leonel with this attachment would work well also.

http://www.aquacave.com/aquac-remora...-pump-914.html

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/06/2011, 01:05 PM

I hope the Remora performs better than the Prisms did.
I had one of those years ago and it was the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. You had to constantly tinker with it and it never did produce skimmate properly.
The Remora does look completely different and is hopefully a much better product. I still think I would go with the Reef Octopus.

Dyzio545 · 04/06/2011, 01:11 PM

Yes, the surface scum is mostly dust. I live in an apartment, so for me it was kind of a problem, because my skimmer was pulling the air with dust. What I did was I extended my intake air line tube to my window, and after a week the water was super clean. I also noticed that there was a decrease in white particles swimming throughout the water.

Another thing you can do is get an air filter and strap it on the intake line. I have a DIY air filter I made myself. Works great.

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

I hope the Remora performs better than the Prisms did.
I had one of those years ago and it was the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. You had to constantly tinker with it and it never did produce skimmate properly.
The Remora does look completely different and is hopefully a much better product. I still think I would go with the Reef Octopus.

i actually hope the same thing too! i just got mine and have'nt had it long enough to compare.. i see a lot of mixed reviews on line. i guess its another one of those "hit or miss"... i honestly went for the remora because i got a good deal on it and because im battling the surface film prob too and heard that the pre-skimmer box can deal with it.. like mentioned before, its difficult to find a sump with these dims that the stand has...

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonel619

i have a 55 gal hex also and was gonna try placing a pre-skimmer box on my remora.. i think thats one way of dealing with the surface film..

If you are bored and have some pics of your hex handy, that would be awesome if you could post them in this thread. I love to see how others have arranged the equipment and rock in their hex tanks. I have been looking at the remora skimmers too. But here's my issue. I do plan to upgrade my tank to a 75gallon or larger in the next year or so and I want to make sure I get a skimmer than can be a hob or in sump, are the remora's able to do both? I just read the faq on one of the remora's and it doesn't look like it. Or do I just buy equipment for what I need now because there is no telling how long it will take me to upgrade my tank. But I have the wife's approval so I can pull the trigger whenever I find a spankin' deal!

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingythingy45

Invented by Dr. Seuss.

The aqua C remora like mentioned by leonel with this attachment would work well also.

http://www.aquacave.com/aquac-remora...-pump-914.html

I'll check it out, thanks! Sometimes I give myself a headache from all the reading and different options there are in this hobby!

stingythingy45 · 04/06/2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre09

I'll check it out, thanks! Sometimes I give myself a headache from all the reading and different options there are in this hobby!

Uh oh,you're addicted now.

It seems that most folks think that if it's working for them...........it must be the best.
I have to admit,I'm the same way.

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre09

If you are bored and have some pics of your hex handy, that would be awesome if you could post them in this thread. I love to see how others have arranged the equipment and rock in their hex tanks. I have been looking at the remora skimmers too.

yeah definitely, their all cell phone pics lol but ill post something up.. HEX tanks aren't to common in the reef hobby but thought i'd give it a try for that reason..

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korrine

hey

When I did water changes I would put a powerhead upside down facing the surface to suck the water off the surface. Took care of it too

Before

sucking

after - clean water and I have the preskimmer installed on the hob protein skimmer!

How did I not reply to this post, that is a great idea. I'll try that next time, thanks!

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingythingy45

Uh oh,you're addicted now.

It seems that most folks think that if it's working for them...........it must be the best.
I have to admit,I'm the same way.

I was addicted before my tank was done cycling! The good thing is I think I got the wife addicted. I just picked up a watchman goby over the weekend and as we were walking out of the lfs, she says, "I want a tank like that!" It was a 90 gallon. I just looked at her and said "I love you".

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonel619

yeah definitely, their all cell phone pics lol but ill post something up.. HEX tanks aren't to common in the reef hobby but thought i'd give it a try for that reason..

Awesome, thanks!

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 01:52 PM

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 01:54 PM

sorry pics aren't the greatest (cell phone)

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonel619

sorry pics aren't the greatest (cell phone)

Thanks for the pics. Your tank looks great. Two questions for you if you don't mind.

1) What type of lighting are you using

2) Is that a power filter you are using or is that the Remora skimmer in the pic?

3) do you have most of your rock stacked along the back glass of the tank? Right now mine is kind've in the middle.

Ok, that was three questions, sorry.

kzooreefer · 04/06/2011, 02:01 PM

I had the same issue of an organic surface film and no amount of surface agitation nor the use of a protein skimmer helped. I eventually bought this filter and haven't had any problems since. I replace the carbon pads weekly with ones I make myself using ROX Carbon. I also run Bio pellets in a seperate reactor and have had no issues with nitrates.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...9&pcatid=16729

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre09

Thanks for the pics. Your tank looks great. Two questions for you if you don't mind.

1) What type of lighting are you using

2) Is that a power filter you are using or is that the Remora skimmer in the pic?

i don't mind,,, prob the hardest part of this set up was trying to find a good light fixture, again because of the dims.i didn't want to do MH because i don't want to deal with heat issues.. the one on there now is a 20" 4 bulb T5 fixture. and i'm planning on getting a second fixture in the next couple weeks.. i think this is ok for now since i have mostly zoas in there (that monti in the pic is gone).

and yes that is an AC70 filter but those are old pics.. i took it off and replaced it with the remora..

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kzooreefer

I had the same issue of an organic surface film and no amount of surface agitation nor the use of a protein skimmer helped. I eventually bought this filter and haven't had any problems since. I replace the carbon pads weekly with ones I make myself using ROX Carbon. I also run Bio pellets in a seperate reactor and have had no issues with nitrates.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...9&pcatid=16729

I like the idea behind that and the price! Thanks!

dre09 · 04/06/2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonel619

i don't mind,,, prob the hardest part of this set up was trying to find a good light fixture, again because of the dims.i didn't want to do MH because i don't want to deal with heat issues.. the one on there now is a 20" 4 bulb T5 fixture. and i'm planning on getting a second fixture in the next couple weeks.. i think this is ok for now since i have mostly zoas in there (that monti in the pic is gone).

and yes that is an AC70 filter but those are old pics.. i took it off and replaced it with the remora..

Did you replace the AC70 because of the surface scum issues?

leonel619 · 04/06/2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre09

Did you replace the AC70 because of the surface scum issues?

that was part of the reason but not the only one. to be honest, this is my first time using a skimmer. ive done nano tanks (3g, 10g, 15g) before and have never used a skimmer on them, just water changes... but i always had suface film problems on the nanos too so im also interested to see how this turns out...

04/06/2011, 11:51 AM	#27
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	hey When I did water changes I would put a powerhead upside down facing the surface to suck the water off the surface. Took care of it too Before sucking after - clean water and I have the preskimmer installed on the hob protein skimmer! __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

04/06/2011, 12:14 PM	#28
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I have never seen one of these in operation, but have read good reviews and the surface skimmer comes with the unit. http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus...stem-2070.html __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/06/2011, 01:05 PM	#33
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I hope the Remora performs better than the Prisms did. I had one of those years ago and it was the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. You had to constantly tinker with it and it never did produce skimmate properly. The Remora does look completely different and is hopefully a much better product. I still think I would go with the Reef Octopus. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

04/06/2011, 02:01 PM	#46
kzooreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 453	I had the same issue of an organic surface film and no amount of surface agitation nor the use of a protein skimmer helped. I eventually bought this filter and haven't had any problems since. I replace the carbon pads weekly with ones I make myself using ROX Carbon. I also run Bio pellets in a seperate reactor and have had no issues with nitrates. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...9&pcatid=16729 __________________ Tank.........29-gallon glass Lighting.....Current Orbit Marine LED Filtration....Reef Octopus BH90 HOB Skimmer, GFO Reactor. Flow..........2 Jebao WP10 Powerheads

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04/06/2011, 12:41 PM	#30
dre09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 76	holy cripes now that is a contraption! haha Thanks, I'll do some reading on that thing.

04/06/2011, 12:48 PM	#31
leonel619 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 95	i have a 55 gal hex also and was gonna try placing a pre-skimmer box on my remora.. i think thats one way of dealing with the surface film..

04/06/2011, 01:11 PM	#34
Dyzio545 Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 326	Yes, the surface scum is mostly dust. I live in an apartment, so for me it was kind of a problem, because my skimmer was pulling the air with dust. What I did was I extended my intake air line tube to my window, and after a week the water was super clean. I also noticed that there was a decrease in white particles swimming throughout the water. Another thing you can do is get an air filter and strap it on the intake line. I have a DIY air filter I made myself. Works great.

04/06/2011, 01:52 PM	#43
leonel619 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 95

04/06/2011, 01:54 PM	#44
leonel619 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 95	sorry pics aren't the greatest (cell phone)