Skilter Question...(repost by wamp) by Sandy

[wamp]

Question by Sandy:
I HATE the Skilter (Skimmer part) but when I run it, there is stuff in the cup within about 15 minutes. It sort of pulls some crap out then stops. I only run it a few hours.
I was thinking about running it every night (after the lights go out) all night. The book from the
manufacturer said that is okay. I'm thinking "some protein skimming is better than no protein
skimming"... ???
I don't like the noise or all the bubbles it blows into the tank. Seems the fish don't like it much either. I don't have the money to upgrade PS yet (my next purchase) and I don't have the time /smarts to modify the Skilter.
Whadaya think?

 

[steamboat1569]

When I ran my skilter, I ran it all the time. It did a good (noisy) job. But, just about every other skimmer out there does a BETTER job.
Just my oppinion.
By the way, there should be a cap on the air intake line. The more you push it in, the less air it pulls into the pump. Adjust your air so that it decreases the amount of bubbles and only fills the cup with a brownish green liquid.

 

[deucey]

Okay here is the deal....if you want to modify the skilter this is what you need!
1 small air pump..the $6.95 one at walmart will do!
1 air valve also can be bought at walmart!Cheap!
6' of air tubing...give or take for pump placement
1 coralife wooden air stone..Prob a LFS item!
okay when you buy these parts just take off your old air line and valve....keep it if you want...
then take the wooden airstone and attach on end of the air tubing to that...now unplug your filter and take the collection cup off and take out the impeller and the lift chamber out of the skilter.....now place the wooden air stone inside the bottom of the air lift chamber with the tube coming out of the bottom....now place the wooden air stone and air lift chamber/impeller assembly back into the skilter.....you should be able to look down the air lift chamber and see the wooden air stone at the bottom.....now run the air tubing out of the skilter and just outside the filter you want to cut the air tubing and insert the air valve.....now run the air tube off the other side of the air valve to the air pump.....turn you filter back on and the pump also....now just adjust it to your desired skimming....THIS WILL QUIET DOWN THE FILTER ALOT!
GIVE IT A TRY...IF ITS NOT CLEAR LET ME KNOW!