protein skimmer ?
- Thread starter jlm
- Start date
smokinstarfish
Member
I would get one if I were you. Protein skimmers are the most important filter type you can buy when it comes to saltwater. I haven't heard of the brand you mentioned.
I modified an airstone unit from the lfs and made it much better... it's great. After you see how much gunk it will take out you'll be conviced it was the right thing to do.
For 20 gallons you can just buy a cheap one.
I modified an airstone unit from the lfs and made it much better... it's great. After you see how much gunk it will take out you'll be conviced it was the right thing to do.
For 20 gallons you can just buy a cheap one.
jlm
Member
Thank you. I was lokking into those. Do you have your heater in the tank or do you put it in a sump or something. I don't have a sump but I would like to get the heater out of sight. I saw thar someone had a HOB filter and put it in there and used it to filter carbon. I thought that was a good idea. But then I'd still have the pipe from the HOB in there.
overanalyzer
Active Member
I don't use a protien skimmer. I use a DSB with about 40 pounds of LR (right now - it will move to the larger tank and I will have about 28 pounds or so).
I also use a tetra tec HOB filter with an internal heater - frees up space, allows me to run carbon, and keeps a heater in there for me. ALSO - there is the added benefit of a surge and constant water flow out of the filter.
Plus - I change the water out @ a 10-20% rate once a month!
I also use a tetra tec HOB filter with an internal heater - frees up space, allows me to run carbon, and keeps a heater in there for me. ALSO - there is the added benefit of a surge and constant water flow out of the filter.
Plus - I change the water out @ a 10-20% rate once a month!
jlm
Member
overanalyzer I just bought one of those tetratec it sounded good. I got it off e-ay for 19.00 brand new. You said you run carbon in it. Is that all the time or just once in awhile? Thanks for the help. I also need to order more lr. I only have one piece 6.5 pounds and the rest is base rock. So as soon as I can I'll order that from here. Thanks again.
smokinstarfish
Member
Running carbon all the time in marine is best, while using only relatively-small amounts at a time and changing it weekly. I invite other opinions on this, of course. With cichlids, the current trend is no-carbon, interestingly enough.
JLM, I can't remember the brandname of my airstone protein skimmer. It came in plastic shrink-wrap and cardboard backing, not a box. It consisted of an arycrilic tube, about 2"in diameter, about 7" tall, with a collection cup that fit ontop with a lid, and a bottom had an attachment that allowed for a wood aireator. It was rated at up to 30g I think.
But those ratings are always egaggerated, not to mention, I have a 55g tank. My modifications were this:
I took a plastic cyndrical tube from a gravel-siphon-vacummer, of the same diameter but of about 10" in hieght, and super-glued the two tubes together on each end to make one long 17" tube.
The collection cup remains the same, but small vinyl tubing that I added allows for this cup's drainage into a plastic milk jug.
I drilled a hole about 4" or so underneath the collection cup, a little smaller in diameter than vinyl air tubing. This is where my addition of water off the main pump's 1/2" PVC water line comes from, regulated by a PVC ball valve. The airline tubing is what connects the valve to the protein skimmer, but used for water instead of air.
The airline and wood airstone underneath is still the same, powered by a good aireator.
The unit is kept in my sump, not the tank, or in-line. My sumps are over 17" deep with water, so the skimmer can fit nicely inside the system. Water exits out the bottom of the 17" tube, and the gunk is left in the collection cup at the top, or in the plastic milk jug that's attached.
All this makes it a good counter-current airstone protein skimmer, far surpasing my expectations for my 55g. It removes any and all gunk!
I have to say, I'm proud of myself with that one. Didn't cost me more than $40 CDN.
JLM, I can't remember the brandname of my airstone protein skimmer. It came in plastic shrink-wrap and cardboard backing, not a box. It consisted of an arycrilic tube, about 2"in diameter, about 7" tall, with a collection cup that fit ontop with a lid, and a bottom had an attachment that allowed for a wood aireator. It was rated at up to 30g I think.
But those ratings are always egaggerated, not to mention, I have a 55g tank. My modifications were this:
I took a plastic cyndrical tube from a gravel-siphon-vacummer, of the same diameter but of about 10" in hieght, and super-glued the two tubes together on each end to make one long 17" tube.
The collection cup remains the same, but small vinyl tubing that I added allows for this cup's drainage into a plastic milk jug.
I drilled a hole about 4" or so underneath the collection cup, a little smaller in diameter than vinyl air tubing. This is where my addition of water off the main pump's 1/2" PVC water line comes from, regulated by a PVC ball valve. The airline tubing is what connects the valve to the protein skimmer, but used for water instead of air.
The airline and wood airstone underneath is still the same, powered by a good aireator.
The unit is kept in my sump, not the tank, or in-line. My sumps are over 17" deep with water, so the skimmer can fit nicely inside the system. Water exits out the bottom of the 17" tube, and the gunk is left in the collection cup at the top, or in the plastic milk jug that's attached.
All this makes it a good counter-current airstone protein skimmer, far surpasing my expectations for my 55g. It removes any and all gunk!
I have to say, I'm proud of myself with that one. Didn't cost me more than $40 CDN.
jlm
Member
smokinstarfish that sounds really neat. Right now I don't have a sump. I would like to get something like that to go under my 20 but I'm not good at putting things together without looking at it. I was thinking of using my mini penguin as a small refuge. I thought I could take out the pad and put in some little lr pieces maybe some live sand. I have my 15 wat 50/50 kind of over it now so it would get light. Do you think that would work? Thanks for the reply.
overanalyzer
Active Member
I run carbon once a month .... 2 weeks after a water change I add in my new carbon & filter pad.
I have an extra tetratec heater for the smaller tetratec .... its for sale if you are interested.
I have an extra tetratec heater for the smaller tetratec .... its for sale if you are interested.
cprdnick
Active Member
I bought one of those TetraTecs with the planted heater and it was nothing but trouble from the start. The current control didn't work like it should have, it was noisy and the seals leaked at the energizer. When I asked about it at the LFS, the manager said that she had all of the same problems with one that she bought for her 55 gallon. Accept that when her seal leaked it pumped 3/4 of her tank into her living room floor. ALL IN ALL I WOULDN'T BUY ONE AGAIN, BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU LIKE NOT WHAT OTHERS LIKE.
On my 20 gallon I have a Red Sea Prizm skimmer, it works well, is simple, cheap and has a place for your carbon or other media. This one is noisy but you get used to it after a month of trying to sleep through it.
On my 20 gallon I have a Red Sea Prizm skimmer, it works well, is simple, cheap and has a place for your carbon or other media. This one is noisy but you get used to it after a month of trying to sleep through it.
overanalyzer
Active Member
The only way for hte pump to leak is if hte o-ring is not secure.
Jenny - I will post some pictures of the 20 tonight or tomorrow - need to take some pictures before I start fragging this weekend.
I love my tetratec ... not a big product pusher - but this filter takes a bit of time to fiddle with the knob to gethte flow right. J21Kickster got me hooked on it after showing me one @ the shop he was working @.
I bought 24 filter pads off of e-Bay. so I change out the pads 2 weeks after I do a water change .... seems to help keep the water crystal clear.
The most annoying thing is getting the flow re-started after a power outage.
Also - if you are worried about flooding you can put a bucket underneath it for the first few days .... just to check for drips.
I'll try and get a picture of my set-up of the whole tetratec....
Jenny - I will post some pictures of the 20 tonight or tomorrow - need to take some pictures before I start fragging this weekend.
I love my tetratec ... not a big product pusher - but this filter takes a bit of time to fiddle with the knob to gethte flow right. J21Kickster got me hooked on it after showing me one @ the shop he was working @.
I bought 24 filter pads off of e-Bay. so I change out the pads 2 weeks after I do a water change .... seems to help keep the water crystal clear.
The most annoying thing is getting the flow re-started after a power outage.
Also - if you are worried about flooding you can put a bucket underneath it for the first few days .... just to check for drips.
I'll try and get a picture of my set-up of the whole tetratec....
jlm
Member
Thanks overanalyzer I was also wondering how much for the heater. If you need to e-amil me my e-mail is jbee_lievers@yahoo.com
overanalyzer
Active Member
Originally posted by JLM
Thanks overanalyzer I was also wondering how much for the heater. If you need to e-amil me my e-mail is jbee_lievers@yahoo.com
ygm - lets deal with it through e-mail.
overanalyzer
Active Member
Originally posted by cprdnick
Hey overanalyzer, on your TetraTec, when you adjust the alternating current, is it actually a current or is it a bunch of bubbles?
It is an actual waterflow - but it always causes a few bubbles (not so much to be annoying). When I was setting it up it took FOREVER to adjust!!!
S
slofish
Guest
I use a SeaClone Protein skimmer thats rated for up to 100 gallons. it works well as a hang on but much better as a in sump installation if your planning on expanding your tank. Im running it on a 26 w/ 10 gallon sump and it works great. For a 20 gallon, you definitely can use an inexpensive skimmer. I bought the seaclone because i overstock my tank and am planning on getting a larger one.