sweatervest13
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392906/snakes-75g-build-thread/80#post_3493196
LOL! Thanks buddy for commenting on this thread. It makes me happy when anyone gives me a comment, good or bad. If I didn't want comments, I wouldn't be sharing. lol.
I think I am really going to enjoy that skimmer as well. I have really put a lot of research and thought into this model and I know that it will really work out for me. I just have to learn how to dial it in really well and figure out how to rig something up to keep it from splashing so bad in the sump. Metric fittings don't help at all. lol. But, I learned of a modification that I can use to add a T to it and a vent - so I'll be sharing that detail here pretty soon. I actually put this skimmer on my 20g tank. The air intake is really loud - it almost sounds like a fan going. lol. I am going to stuff some cotton into the air damper and see if that quiets it down some without affecting the skimmers ability to skim. Another thing that I noticed is that 8" of water might not be enough for the skimmer to skim well... I may have to go up to 9" or even 10" of water in my 20g long sump skimmer chamber to really get what I need out of it. Just little tweaks that I'll have to work on here and there.
I added some of that polyfil acrylic fiber pads they use for quilts and man, I tell yah, it is really catching some nasty stuff! Best part is, it's cheap and you can get a lot of it.
As far as the LEDs,... I am kind of hesitant to buy an LED unit that does not contain more than two color spectrums. I may look into the Chinese CREE LED Dimmable units that can be used with a controller - but even those are getting up there next to a Vega or Radeon. I might just save up for a decent American made (put together) LED light fixture than go with one of those knock-off units. I think for the hardware I need, the metal halide bulbs, and the sockets will run me a little over $200. I know - that's the price of one of those units. LOL. And... it's only $300 away from a decent LED fixture. Heck, who knows, I might get a tek light with some ATI T5 bulbs and a couple of stunner strips and call it done. lol
I did find a six bulb T5 unit with "grow lamps" for $200. I'd have to replace the bulbs - but then again, the bulbs for it would cost nearly $200 more. So... kinda stuck on just investing in LEDs while I can get the money.
My pleasure man,
For my skimmer I used a PVC 90 deg elbow fitting and kinda just jammed it on the out put of the skimmer. It really helped the splashing... A LOT!! I can not remember what size it was. but it was a pain finding anything that fit. I think I took the output to Lowe's and just tried everything until something fit (actually, I took a scrap piece of PVC that was the same size as the output).
I can not remember the exact height my sump chamber runs but I think it is closer to the 9" or 10". 8 I think is a little low. I did some research online to see what everyone said the optimal height was.
That Polyfil is crazy good at collecting all the junk in our tanks. I have been using it for a while now and I am amazed every time I change it. Brown and green grossness.
LED"s... Ugg. I wish that I had enough $$ to get the Vega's or the Radions but three units is killing me. I would like to save a couple years and get the premium LED fixtures. But over $2000.00 is just crazy!!! I really might just "try" a dimmable Chinese fixture. Better then buying new MH bulbs for me. I really wish some one just made the choice for me. LOL.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392906/snakes-75g-build-thread/80#post_3493196
LOL! Thanks buddy for commenting on this thread. It makes me happy when anyone gives me a comment, good or bad. If I didn't want comments, I wouldn't be sharing. lol.
I think I am really going to enjoy that skimmer as well. I have really put a lot of research and thought into this model and I know that it will really work out for me. I just have to learn how to dial it in really well and figure out how to rig something up to keep it from splashing so bad in the sump. Metric fittings don't help at all. lol. But, I learned of a modification that I can use to add a T to it and a vent - so I'll be sharing that detail here pretty soon. I actually put this skimmer on my 20g tank. The air intake is really loud - it almost sounds like a fan going. lol. I am going to stuff some cotton into the air damper and see if that quiets it down some without affecting the skimmers ability to skim. Another thing that I noticed is that 8" of water might not be enough for the skimmer to skim well... I may have to go up to 9" or even 10" of water in my 20g long sump skimmer chamber to really get what I need out of it. Just little tweaks that I'll have to work on here and there.
I added some of that polyfil acrylic fiber pads they use for quilts and man, I tell yah, it is really catching some nasty stuff! Best part is, it's cheap and you can get a lot of it.
As far as the LEDs,... I am kind of hesitant to buy an LED unit that does not contain more than two color spectrums. I may look into the Chinese CREE LED Dimmable units that can be used with a controller - but even those are getting up there next to a Vega or Radeon. I might just save up for a decent American made (put together) LED light fixture than go with one of those knock-off units. I think for the hardware I need, the metal halide bulbs, and the sockets will run me a little over $200. I know - that's the price of one of those units. LOL. And... it's only $300 away from a decent LED fixture. Heck, who knows, I might get a tek light with some ATI T5 bulbs and a couple of stunner strips and call it done. lol
I did find a six bulb T5 unit with "grow lamps" for $200. I'd have to replace the bulbs - but then again, the bulbs for it would cost nearly $200 more. So... kinda stuck on just investing in LEDs while I can get the money.
My pleasure man,
For my skimmer I used a PVC 90 deg elbow fitting and kinda just jammed it on the out put of the skimmer. It really helped the splashing... A LOT!! I can not remember what size it was. but it was a pain finding anything that fit. I think I took the output to Lowe's and just tried everything until something fit (actually, I took a scrap piece of PVC that was the same size as the output).
I can not remember the exact height my sump chamber runs but I think it is closer to the 9" or 10". 8 I think is a little low. I did some research online to see what everyone said the optimal height was.
That Polyfil is crazy good at collecting all the junk in our tanks. I have been using it for a while now and I am amazed every time I change it. Brown and green grossness.
LED"s... Ugg. I wish that I had enough $$ to get the Vega's or the Radions but three units is killing me. I would like to save a couple years and get the premium LED fixtures. But over $2000.00 is just crazy!!! I really might just "try" a dimmable Chinese fixture. Better then buying new MH bulbs for me. I really wish some one just made the choice for me. LOL.
