what can i do with a topfathom skimmer?

cpl40475 · #1 12/26/2007, 07:30 PM

hello all
I have the worlds best skimmer(hard to keep from laughing when i wrote that).Just curious what could i use it for or how could it be modified to something useful. I know it makes a great paper weight or food holder.
Surely theres something i can use it for with the right mods
Tracy

eznet2u · #2 12/26/2007, 09:15 PM

I own one. Pulls out the "stuff" like nobodys business. I did order a Genx needlewheel, I may make it a recirculating skimmer. Haven't decided yet.
I will mesh mod it though.
I bought this off of a friend. He had it on a 120g. The thing spit out a cup of nasty black stuff everyday with a light Bioload.

I get more of a tea color in the bucket, because all the solids seem to stay in the line and the cup.
I have 1 small Sailfin, 4 Blue green Chromis and an Engineer goby.
This is after 24hrs.

Collection Cup.

Drain Line.
IMG]http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8793/1002642ko8.jpg[/IMG]

5g Collection bucket. That is about 1/2 a gallon, And this is set dry.

These may not look pretty, but they work...

eznet2u · #3 12/26/2007, 09:16 PM

cpl40475 · #4 12/26/2007, 09:28 PM

i couldnt get mine to do nothing at all. i had the water line at the base of the cone where the manufacturers site said to put it. I did have a rio pump on it though. Thats why im asking what i can do to make it perform better its not being used now but since i have a new skimmer (custom built) i figured great diy project time.
Hoping others chime in also. I may make it a carbon container or something if no one else chimes in.
Tracy

eznet2u · #5 12/26/2007, 10:10 PM

What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

reefmaster805 · #6 12/26/2007, 10:11 PM

I have had a Top Phathon 100 for 3 years on a 125 gallon plus 30g sump. That is alot of water to skim. It has done exactly what it is supposed to do plus more. I came with a Rio pump also. No problems. Only clean it every 10 months or so. Pulls out the gunk like no other. Beleive me I have put high end skimmers on customers tanks and they seem to perform the same. I would put the water line just below the smallest portion of the neck or cone, just below where the cupwould sit in. Ive seen them all, but what ever.................

cpl40475 · #7 12/26/2007, 10:40 PM

ill dig it out of the closet i think its a rio 600 but im not swearing on it. The venturi is the one that came on it. when i say it did nothing i mean literally nothing. In over a month all it pulled out was maybe 3 inches in a gallon milk jug. I thought maybe its doing just fine very light bio load (1 cinamon clown 1 clarki clown 1 yellow tail damsel 2 3 striped damsels) in a 75. I bought the custom made one and have to change out the cup twice a day from the gunk it pulls out. If i can make it work ill do it and use it. Ill post some pics of it tomorrow.

reefmaster805 · #8 12/26/2007, 10:53 PM

Mine is a Rio 2500. Lots of water and air equals lots of removal.

reefmaster805 · #9 12/26/2007, 10:53 PM

Mine is a Rio 2500. Lots of water and air equals lots of removal.

eznet2u · #10 12/26/2007, 11:55 PM

What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

cpl40475 · #11 12/27/2007, 12:01 AM

mine has a rio 1700 on it that might be the prob too small a pump.
Ill see what else i have laying around and try a bigger pump on it.
wonder how good say a mag 9.5 would work?

Daemonfly · #12 12/27/2007, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by eznet2u
What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

How did you double-post with 45 minutes between each post? o_O

cpl40475 · #13 12/27/2007, 02:00 AM

i just noticed that myself lol

cpl40475 · #14 12/27/2007, 02:51 PM

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...5/100_6555.jpg

cpl40475 · #15 12/27/2007, 03:00 PM

cpl40475 · #16 12/27/2007, 03:03 PM

heres the pics i hope lol

OnlyCrimson · #17 12/27/2007, 07:29 PM

I dont see where the air is entering the intake of the pump. Is there some sort of air intake anywhere?

cpl40475 · #18 12/27/2007, 08:22 PM

none on the pump itself. As far as i can tell anyways i think the only air intake is on the pipe that connects the pump to the canister

OnlyCrimson · #19 12/27/2007, 09:35 PM

ohh yeah, now i remember these skimmers. Hmm, hopefully someone knows how to make a better venturi for it!

cpl40475 · #20 12/27/2007, 10:32 PM

im thinking about modding the crap out of it whether it be a diff pump or making it a recirc and maybe putting a baffle inside to help churn the water even more. Was hoping someone would chime in with some ideas on it although 3 or 4 ppl say theres works good i couldnt get mine to.Oh yeah the metal clamps have been replaced by plastic clamps

coolfish5 · #21 12/28/2007, 07:54 AM

I have a TF-300 that works great with the original venturis (and a very large pump), it is T'ed from a return pump running a pressure filter at ~20psi, on a 400gallon fish only system. Not quite the same as most home aquariums. I have seen some run off the little giant external pumps and those worked well too. Though I think that having a higher pressure pump would help alot.
Here is their pump recomendation chart http://www.topfathom.com/pump.html
I had tried using a MAG7 but it doesn't seem to produce very good bubbles even from a single venturi, I think it is mostly due to the low pressure pump.

TWINPEAKS · #22 12/28/2007, 10:25 AM

I would think that the venturi would need to be on the suction side of the pump to pull air in.JMO

jener8tionx · #23 12/28/2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TWINPEAKS
I would think that the venturi would need to be on the suction side of the pump to pull air in.JMO

The venturi can be on either side or both sides of the pump.

coolfish5 · #24 12/28/2007, 11:26 AM

It depends on the design of the venturi as well. The venturi that comes with this skimmer, is designed to be on the pressure/outlet side of the pump. It uses a restriction to cause a pressure change allowing intake of air.
The type of "venturi" that goes on the suction side of the pump is a much more open design than the ones with this skimmer. It allows the suction of the pump to pull in air, and through the impeller. I suppose it also depends on the type of pump/impeller used.

cpl40475 · #25 12/28/2007, 05:59 PM

wonder how good a carbon filter it would make or say a phosban reactor or anything else. I really dont need it as a skimmer now but hate not to use it somehow or another. Im also thinking about doing a re-circ mod on it. Just trying to come up with some diff ideas for it.