Seaclone 150

[Varkalis]

I know that most people dislike these, but mine is working great for me.

I just wanted to know if i should take the foam prefilter off? I am worried about it starting a nitrate farm.

Right now i just wash it off weekly.

[MYDRAAL]

I have,just make sure you don't have any anemones close by that may get sucked in.

[Varkalis]

K, thank you.

Did you mod yours at all

[MYDRAAL]

No, but every now and then I have to play with
the air valve to keep it skimming properly.Over 2 years and still going strong.

[jcpatella]

When I had one, I took the foam off, and it quickly got stopped up.

Mods I did - cut the skimmer cup riser (wish I wouldn't have) and I cut the riser tube in the body (more skimmate, but more microbubbles).

Good luck!

[MYDRAAL]

I just take the powerhead and valve out every now and then to clean and I haven't had any problems.

[papagimp]

I just left mine on and cleaned the prefilter when i emptied the collection cup. It always seemed to work better with the sponge on their for me anyways. I agree with jcpatella, wish i hand't done the riser mod on mine, it worked far better prior to. Mine went great for 2 years then I replaced it with a corallife, which I'll probably switch back to the seaclone before too long, I"m unimpressed with this Corallife unit.

[ROB2005]

Unimpressed with the Coralife? Odd usually they do a whole lot better than the seaclones. But its your preference my friend

[papagimp]

Originally posted by ROB2005
Unimpressed with the Coralife? Odd usually they do a whole lot better than the seaclones. But its your preference my friend

That's what I always heard and SEEN as well. My coralife only fills the cup about every 4 days or so, The SC150 I had needed to be emptied daily (I realize it's a smaller cup but the amount collected was more in volume than the corallife, as well as being a whole lot darker/thicker skimmate) Guess I have the magic touch for the SC but not the corallife. I also didn't have to adjust my SC much, just when i first stick the cup back on and that was it, I have to mess with the Coralife daily to keep it 'trying'.

[seapug]

I use an unmodded SC150, but I did remove the sponge prefilter. They probably aren't the "best" skimmer but I think the majority of problems people have are mostly a misunderstanding of how to adjust the air valve. Do it right and they pull some serious sludge.

[ROB2005]

I guess the tornado action works wonders for some huh. I always like the Coralife since, but its on lease for the moment to my relatives. I am using a sealife systems 75 skimmer and man its pulling out dark, funky skimmate like woah

[wooz29]

My seaclone is skimming wet, does that mean I need more air?

[seapug]

yes, but venturi skimmers will also change the type of skimmate depending on water params, feeding, etc.. Try opening the air valve to the point just before the foam sits still at the top bend of the tube (assuming you are using it HOB). That's the technique I use and it seems to work great.

[ROB2005]

Yeah open the air valve some more to get more air in. What most reefers aim to get out their skimmer, is dark stinky liquid and a dry stable foam.

[fishworm]

I took the foam off of mine because it was turning into an algae farm. once I get the algae under control i'll put it back on.

but I am switching to an octopus skimmer soon so it wont matter much. probibly save the seaclone for a QT tank.

[Diver4life]

I have a seaclone 150 and did all the modification that are described in this link: http://www.reefcentral.com/diy/seacl...ifications.htm
I mean all the modification, also took off the sponge filter, for now is skimming better than before. But Im going to buy an octopus HOB 100 in a couple of months.