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mattbryant2
Guest
what is a skilter? what purpose does it serve? thanks! 
bdhough
Active Member
Skilters are wetdry filters and skimmer all in one. While the theory is excellent the product is "crappy". Its notoriously loud and doesn't skim well. I've been told a modified skilter does work well but as far as how to do that youll need to do a search on the web or this site......
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daniel411
Guest
Its just a standard hang on the back power filter that has a built in protein skimmer.
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nanoambiance
Guest
The LFS push them, but everyone I know has passed and got good power filters and skimmers separate. Would be a great idea if some company could pull off a quiet, high performance version . . .
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daniel411
Guest
Originally posted by bdhough
I think part of the problem is the sheer size of higher end skimmers and filters. Imagine something like a berlin and an emperor 400 together in one piece....
Now try and imagine the cost! Doubt pet supplies plus will be carrying it atleast!
marvida
Member
IMO an option on a small tank is a Kent airstone type skimmer. I cut one down a bit for my 10 gal. If your bio load is small they work pretty well. Then you have the problem of having this thing inside a small tank. It might buy you some time until you can spring for a decent hang on. They are definately a better option than a Skilter.
craig_08
Member
I bought a Skilter hoping that using my "engineering ingenuity" I would be able to make it skim. I failed. I modified it using a limewood airstone and it fills the collection plate with water while before it filled it with nothing. It still fills the tank with tiny bubbles although it is not as deafening as it once was. I now use it for added water flow and occaisionally to add floss filtering or carbon. All in all it was a waste of money better spent on a good HOB or power filter.
michelle13
Member
I have never had problems with my Skilter. It is modified and works very well on my 30 gal tank. I have heard a lot of people have problems with them, but so far I've been lucky!
blownpony
New Member
Originally posted by Craig_08
I bought a Skilter hoping that using my "engineering ingenuity" I would be able to make it skim. I failed. I modified it using a limewood airstone and it fills the collection plate with water while before it filled it with nothing. It still fills the tank with tiny bubbles although it is not as deafening as it once was. I now use it for added water flow and occaisionally to add floss filtering or carbon. All in all it was a waste of money better spent on a good HOB or power filter.
I have the same problem with mine. Do you think its b/c the tube for the skimmer isn't tall enough? I've been looking at other ones and they all seem to be a lot taller.
cyslyde
Member
I made the mistake of getting one of these when i started, the ones at the LFS that use them work great (can't figure it out), mine seemed to fill the tank with bubbles
[hr]
, even after some minor adjustments, it seemed to do it's job the first few weeks, but then just started filling the collector with water. now it sits in on a QT tank just for water movement.
Michelle, maybe you could help us out by telling us what mods you did, and possibly a few pics?
[hr]
, even after some minor adjustments, it seemed to do it's job the first few weeks, but then just started filling the collector with water. now it sits in on a QT tank just for water movement.
Michelle, maybe you could help us out by telling us what mods you did, and possibly a few pics?