tom_c55 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I got this cheap skimmmer off ebay it just sticks to the side and has an airstone but all it does is fill up with water. any ideas on what i did wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAD Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 The best place to start is what sized tank and what other equipment your running and what your housing in your tank. If your tank is up and running what are your parameters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseCityAquarium Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Is the airstone making bubbles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Pics might help as well. (scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 The best "airstones" to use for air-driven co-current or counter-current skimmers are made of porous limewood. They produce a very fine bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_c55 Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 my water was reading zeros across the board yesterday, i have an undergravel filter and just like a regular hang on filter aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 my water was reading zeros across the board yesterday' date=' i have an undergravel filter and just like a regular hang on filter aswell[/quote'] How long ago did you set up your tank? I am asking if it is a new setup, or if it has completed it's nitrogen cycle. I'm sure you will get a few comments about the U/G filter.(whistle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I had a skimmer similar to this once and It was a POS. I could never get it to work. I modded it like no body's business and still nothing. I ended up buying an octopus hang on back skimmer and cant be happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_c55 Posted June 12, 2009 Author Share Posted June 12, 2009 whats bad about under gravel filter? here are some pics if that doesnt work check my album Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 some people have the opinion that UG's are nitrate factories. I do not have the experience to support this but I've heard it alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkreefer Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 your skimmer wont work well unless you keep the water level the same at all times! I would ditch the U/f for sure and run some carbon and phosban through that hang on the back! mabey mod it for a refugium also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Undergravel Filters are very efficient in breaking down organic waste by aerobic bacteria into ammonia(NH3/NH4), nitrite(NO2), and finally nitrate(NO3). But that is all. U/G filters also require a fair amount of maintenance with a gravel vac, otherwise they accumulate a great deal of detritus(biologically broken down dead waste). You do not want this in your marine aquarium! Denitrification (Conversion of NO3 to free nitrogen gas) is accomplished by anaerobic bacteria colonized within the low oxygen core of liverock or Deep Sand Bed (DSB). Here is a nice article explaining biological filtration http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/dw/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 If you can see the manuf of the skimmer you should be able to look it up online and see if the offer a manual. I cant see a pump I assume water has to go in and back out?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I got this cheap skimmmer off ebay it just sticks to the side and has an airstone but all it does is fill up with water. any ideas on what i did wrong I took a look at cheap skimmers at Ebay and found this. http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Protein-Skimmer-Separator-50Ga-AQ24_W0QQitemZ130309259997QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e570982dd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A1|39%3A1|72%3A1205|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A25 Any chance is this what you have? It is a co-current skimmer, the least efficient of all foam fractionators (skimmers) made. Turn the air to the airstone down so there is just a bit of foam rising up the tube without overflowing into the collection cup. It may take a bit of adjusting. The "dry" thick foam will concentrate and slowly accumulate in the cup as a darker effluent. Counter-current, venturi, and needlewheel skimmer are way more efficient. I didn't even realize co-currents were still made and sold. I haven't seen one for nearly 20 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fpd4308 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I actually had one similar to what it sounds like your talking about. My was made by redsea (I think it was called a Berlin airlift 60) and it worked very well for what it was. You do need to try and keep the water level fairly consistant and if it is just filling up with water than you need to move the location of the skimmer up higher, so not as much of the skimmer is in the water. Just adjust it until you find the spot where only the foam is entering the collection cup then mark the waterline with a sharpy so you can put it back there every time. Also remember as the airstone ages or if you put in a new one it will change the level so I would mark it after installing a brand new airstone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Try this it worked well for me. http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-75-Protein-Skimmer-w-Free-Pump-Gift-pak-Coral_W0QQitemZ380129629161QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item58817dd3e9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 See if uou can find a cheap AquaC Remora skimmer. I ran for years on those. Just keep the cup empty or you will have foamy brown mulm on your floor. If I had one I would do you a good deal on one. I bet someone on the forum has a old backpack they dont use that would help a new reefer. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Here is what I recomend that you try if you have the moneys. Ditch the undergravel filter and just run carbon in the hob filter with no filterpad. Install a sandbed ( at least 3 inches deep and get it from a lfs not home depo...their sand wont work) and seed it with as much livesand as you can beg from your lfs. Try Seahorse on Columbia. Woody is good about helping new reefers and will hook you up with a big bag full. Also get some big chunks of liverock that have been cured already. If you do these things alone it will go a long way to making your tank a success. If you are still intrested in the saltwater hobby after spending this amount of cash and doing these things then message me here and I will hook you up with a 20 long glass aquarium already made into a sump with baffles. I made this myself and it works great. I also have overflow boxes and I think I have a return pump I can help you with. I will make you a good deal on this sump setup for 50 dollars and show you how it all works with my aquarium already working. I have cheato algae and a light also I think so your refugium will be complete...if I can find the return pump..: ). But you will have to do the other stuff first. Let me know when you get it done. I also have some books I will gift you that will help. Now tell us about your tank. How big is it? Do you have powerheads to move the water and make current? Any Liverock yet? Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_c55 Posted June 12, 2009 Author Share Posted June 12, 2009 my tank is a glass 20 gal that was used at a lfs that is no longer open so it came with the ug filter and a 600 powerhead the hob is from a eclipse tank that it obviously didnt go to i use mainly for mor water movement. i have a current sattelite 1x65 sunpaq with the led moonlight, 10 pounds live rock i got from waves plus various others that came with frags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Tom, You sould defiantely start a tank build thread with some pics! We would love to see the tank as it evolves. You will be amazed at how things change as you get more into the hobby. I started with a 29g and have had a system with about 8-900g so far. Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 how low or high in the water do you have it? Is it a berlin? Do you dose with garlic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_c55 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 not to sound iggnorant but whats a berlin?no garlic and the power head is more towards the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Berlin is a type of skimmer. Technically it has to do with a particular part in the skimmer but that isn't relevant here. Perhaps a picture of the skimmer or a link to the ebay deal if that is where you got it would help. That would make it easier for someone to identify the type here and then give advice on what to try to get it working. Personally I have zero experience with an undergravel filter but I believe the previous posts saying to ditch it are sound advice. 20 or 30 years ago would be different but nowadays a good biological filter (live rock and live sand) with a good skimmer seem to be what works the best. (As time goes by better methods evolve) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Here is what I recomend that you try if you have the moneys. Ditch the undergravel filter and just run carbon in the hob filter with no filterpad. Install a sandbed ( at least 3 inches deep and get it from a lfs not home depo...their sand wont work) and seed it with as much livesand as you can beg from your lfs. Try Seahorse on Columbia. Woody is good about helping new reefers and will hook you up with a big bag full. Also get some big chunks of liverock that have been cured already. If you do these things alone it will go a long way to making your tank a success. If you are still intrested in the saltwater hobby after spending this amount of cash and doing these things then message me here and I will hook you up with a 20 long glass aquarium already made into a sump with baffles. I made this myself and it works great. I also have overflow boxes and I think I have a return pump I can help you with. I will make you a good deal on this sump setup for 50 dollars and show you how it all works with my aquarium already working. I have cheato algae and a light also I think so your refugium will be complete...if I can find the return pump..: ). But you will have to do the other stuff first. Let me know when you get it done. I also have some books I will gift you that will help. Now tell us about your tank. How big is it? Do you have powerheads to move the water and make current? Any Liverock yet? Jay Please let me know if you want the equipment from me as I have a pm from another new reefer that is intrested in the stuff. Not that I am in a hurry to sell it as the price is very cheap but to be fair I will let you have it first as I offered it to ya. Just let me know please. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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