Seaclone 150 Problem

HookedonReef17 · 12/02/2008, 02:30 PM

Hi everyone. I have a hang on seaclone 150 on my reef tank. For about two weeks now nothing has been collecting in the top of it. I've cleaned it numerous times and replaced the air tube and ball valve. It has what looks to be a great flow with lots of action in the chamber but there are no end results at the top. Is there anything else anyone could suggest? Its only about 8 months old. Thanks

hairyman1 · 12/02/2008, 09:46 PM

Was it working ok before? How much skimmate was it making each day? Is the reaction chamber mostly white with bubbles? Did you switch to a different food or add a new additive in the last two weeks? Did your bioload drastically decrease? Only rinse the collection cup in hot water, but not till you start getting skimmate and only then when the cup starts getting close to full. The reaction chamber need not be cleaned but once a rear or so. Adjust the air until you get the bubble break point at the base of the riser tube if you can. If you can't then rinse off the pump and venturi. Update us on RC so others may help as well. Your skimmer is too small for your system despite what aquarium systems states however, that means that it should not be able to keep up with the bioload and should be overflowing with skimmate daily. Since that's not happening it's likely out of adjustment, But let us know.

HookedonReef17 · 12/02/2008, 11:13 PM

I bought this system complete and that is what came with it. It has always worked ok.. it could only muster up about a 1/4 inch of skimmate a day when it was working at its best. There are white bubbles throughout the whole container, but i did add a CBB about a month ago. That was the only change i have made to that tank in 8 months. I always rinse it out with hot water and would like a suggestion of what skimmer would be a good replacement? Right now i don't have a sump but i have been looking for a RR bow front tank because i would like to add a sump of course. I was trying to wait untill then so i could get the best skimmer i could. But finding one has proved to be more difficult then expected so maybe you would know of a better hang on model for now. Thankyou very much for you help. i really appreciate it.

mg426 · 12/03/2008, 12:52 AM

I never liked the design of the Sea Clones. You are adjusting the air to raise/lower the water level. Most skimmers regulate the water level and let the air run Maxed.

HookedonReef17 · 12/03/2008, 06:16 PM

Ok so i get the point.. I'm done with my seaclone, But what should i replace it with? I hear the deltec is nice and if i have to spend 600 bucks for a good skimmer i will. Its a 90 gallon bow front tank on the heavy end.

hairyman1 · 12/03/2008, 11:46 PM

Well any hang on is a compromise and if your looking at a sump(good idea) there are lots of sump skimmers to choose from. For consistancy and low maintenance a venturi skimmer from say lifereef or bermuda will work well enough. needlewheel/pinwheel skimmers from euroreef or aquamedic are good solid designs. If you read about becketts and are interested then with a little extra attention to maintenance they are an excellent choice. For them I would look at precision marine and marine technical concepts. You like drag cars so I would compare them by saying that the venturis are the caprice classic or cutlass supreme while the needlewheels are the turbo charged 4 bangers and the becketts are the hemi cudas. They all do the same thing and go in the same direction, but some require more injector cleaning and water level adjusting than others. I've found that once you get used to the routine necessary for each skimmer you won't even notice it. I would avoid downdraft and spray injection styles, not because they don't work, but they are unusual designs that require more maintenance and generally require stronger pumps than the manufacturer recommends. They are like the rotary engine. I have seen a few nice reef devils (downdraft) though so they can work well for some. There are likely more needlewheel knockoffs (copies made in china) than any design at present which shows you what is more commonly used. A 1/4 cup daily from your seaclone is nothing so it's likely been out of adjustment or had a poor working pump from day one that you had it. You could try replacing it with a small needlewheel pump like the octopus 1000 and you should see better performance. Or you could say screw that and get a bermuda rouge with any 500+ gph pump like a mag 5, ocean runner 3500, or eheim 1260 and see above average performance. Frag farmer has them. That's the best commonly available HOT skimmer that I know of and equal or better than other HOT skimmers costing up to twice as much.

12/02/2008, 02:30 PM	#1
HookedonReef17 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Freehold NJ Posts: 146	Seaclone 150 Problem Hi everyone. I have a hang on seaclone 150 on my reef tank. For about two weeks now nothing has been collecting in the top of it. I've cleaned it numerous times and replaced the air tube and ball valve. It has what looks to be a great flow with lots of action in the chamber but there are no end results at the top. Is there anything else anyone could suggest? Its only about 8 months old. Thanks

12/02/2008, 11:13 PM	#3
HookedonReef17 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Freehold NJ Posts: 146	I bought this system complete and that is what came with it. It has always worked ok.. it could only muster up about a 1/4 inch of skimmate a day when it was working at its best. There are white bubbles throughout the whole container, but i did add a CBB about a month ago. That was the only change i have made to that tank in 8 months. I always rinse it out with hot water and would like a suggestion of what skimmer would be a good replacement? Right now i don't have a sump but i have been looking for a RR bow front tank because i would like to add a sump of course. I was trying to wait untill then so i could get the best skimmer i could. But finding one has proved to be more difficult then expected so maybe you would know of a better hang on model for now. Thankyou very much for you help. i really appreciate it. __________________ Life is all about timing. Current Tank Info: 45G tech tank in works

12/03/2008, 12:52 AM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I never liked the design of the Sea Clones. You are adjusting the air to raise/lower the water level. Most skimmers regulate the water level and let the air run Maxed. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

12/03/2008, 06:16 PM	#5
HookedonReef17 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Freehold NJ Posts: 146	Ok so i get the point.. I'm done with my seaclone, But what should i replace it with? I hear the deltec is nice and if i have to spend 600 bucks for a good skimmer i will. Its a 90 gallon bow front tank on the heavy end. __________________ Life is all about timing. Current Tank Info: 45G tech tank in works

12/02/2008, 09:46 PM	#2
hairyman1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 271	Was it working ok before? How much skimmate was it making each day? Is the reaction chamber mostly white with bubbles? Did you switch to a different food or add a new additive in the last two weeks? Did your bioload drastically decrease? Only rinse the collection cup in hot water, but not till you start getting skimmate and only then when the cup starts getting close to full. The reaction chamber need not be cleaned but once a rear or so. Adjust the air until you get the bubble break point at the base of the riser tube if you can. If you can't then rinse off the pump and venturi. Update us on RC so others may help as well. Your skimmer is too small for your system despite what aquarium systems states however, that means that it should not be able to keep up with the bioload and should be overflowing with skimmate daily. Since that's not happening it's likely out of adjustment, But let us know.

12/03/2008, 11:46 PM	#6
hairyman1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 271	Well any hang on is a compromise and if your looking at a sump(good idea) there are lots of sump skimmers to choose from. For consistancy and low maintenance a venturi skimmer from say lifereef or bermuda will work well enough. needlewheel/pinwheel skimmers from euroreef or aquamedic are good solid designs. If you read about becketts and are interested then with a little extra attention to maintenance they are an excellent choice. For them I would look at precision marine and marine technical concepts. You like drag cars so I would compare them by saying that the venturis are the caprice classic or cutlass supreme while the needlewheels are the turbo charged 4 bangers and the becketts are the hemi cudas. They all do the same thing and go in the same direction, but some require more injector cleaning and water level adjusting than others. I've found that once you get used to the routine necessary for each skimmer you won't even notice it. I would avoid downdraft and spray injection styles, not because they don't work, but they are unusual designs that require more maintenance and generally require stronger pumps than the manufacturer recommends. They are like the rotary engine. I have seen a few nice reef devils (downdraft) though so they can work well for some. There are likely more needlewheel knockoffs (copies made in china) than any design at present which shows you what is more commonly used. A 1/4 cup daily from your seaclone is nothing so it's likely been out of adjustment or had a poor working pump from day one that you had it. You could try replacing it with a small needlewheel pump like the octopus 1000 and you should see better performance. Or you could say screw that and get a bermuda rouge with any 500+ gph pump like a mag 5, ocean runner 3500, or eheim 1260 and see above average performance. Frag farmer has them. That's the best commonly available HOT skimmer that I know of and equal or better than other HOT skimmers costing up to twice as much.