lancecobb1 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I was wondering if anyone has done a mesh mod to there skimmer? If so can they tell me if it is worth doing? Where to get the mesh? How often do you have to replace the mesh? Any info would be great! If they had pics that would be great too! Thanks Lance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreefer Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yes, I have meshed modded a few impellers. I definitely think it is worth doing. There are a variety of ways to do it. I originally started out using enkamat and tied down 3 layers with fishing line, not zip ties. I then got the bright idea of using thick nylon suture without the enkamat and "weaving" 2 feet of nylon onto my impeller. I have since upgraded from a Coralife Superskimmer to a MSX200, which comes with a modded impeller. DrMerle(rock2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I have an octopus skimmer that comes with a mesh impeller as well as the needle wheel. I found that the needle wheel performed better than the mesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I was courious about this also, is the mesh being applied to a basic impeller or to a needle wheel. I ordered a new wheel from Pacific coast for my skimmer without looking at the one I had when I gave him the model he said it had a basic impeller when it arrived I took down the skimmer (euro reef) and it already had the needle type impeller, I swapped it out anyway and then drilled my air intake out a little seems to work alot better Are there other ways to "mod" a skimmer I'm always reading about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 You my friend, are my hero for the day..... I happened to have an extra pump here to fit my small coralife skimmer on the 40 Gallon tank I set up a week or two back. I haven't been happy with either skimmer I used on this as it just didn't seem to be putting out enough foam. Nowhere near enough skimmate IMO either. I grabbed a mesh filter block I had here and shaved about 1/4" off the end. This I literally just laid over the needle wheel and wrapped it around onto the back. Then I used some heavy polyester thread to hold it on the needle wheel wrapping the thread around the needle wheel several times. I had to trim a little of the mesh back a couple of times to get the pump to start working but once I did the results were apparent immediately. I had to lower the water level about an inch as it is putting out a lot more foam now. Thank you very much for posting this question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 WOW. In less than 2 hours the skimmer has pulled as much skimmate off as it did over the last 2 days and it is nastier looking stuff as well. I may need to try this on the big skimmer on my other tank. (Although I think it already does a pretty good job) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancecobb1 Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks for all the info! Keep it coming... Rick I am glad to hear it worked out good for you! I might go try to find some mesh today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Try and find some where the strands are all attached to each other. This should keep it from disappearing as fast. I thought about maybe scotchbright pads but I'm not sure if the strands are interconnected on them. Perhaps a buffing pad for a drill or something. Aha, I'll go look in the garage and see if I can find the scotchbright pads for my die grinder. They hold together at 20,000 RPM's so I think they might work for this. Scratch that idea. They have some kind of glue bonding them together. Not knowing what it is made of I'm not willing to risk using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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