is this skimmer good?

[seakwon]

I have had a seaclone 150 for the last 5 years. i dont like it because i always have to mess with it.

i was wondering if this is a better skimmer? it doesnt have a pump, i assume it needs a needle wheel but i dont know what kind to get either.

I will buy this one for 40 bucks. is that a good deal?

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[xian]

Hmm... I'm not sure about the $40 but I'll give you some info then you can decide

The Skimmer will require a pump. What size will depend on the dimensions of the skimmer. Can you get them?


A good needle wheel pump like an oceanrunner or a sedra will probably set you back $50-$100 depending on size.

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=667

http://www.saltycritter.com/pumps/sedra-pumps.htm

So your $40 skimmer now becomes a $90-$140 skimmer. However, with one of those pumps it will outperform your seaclone 100 fold.

Hope that helps

[xian]

one other thing.

That air input line concerns me a little. You want your air input on the other end of the pump. (so that the air goes through the pump)
Not really a problem but you're not going to want to use that skimmer as it was originally set up. You're going to want to use the needlewheel pump's (whichever you choose) own venturi attachment to draw air and close off that existing one.

[mj77724]

that is a top fatham tf110a it use a rio 2500 pump the 1/2 pipe with the air line is a venture so a needle wheel is not needed


marlen

[xian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11114554#post11114554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mj77724
that is a top fatham tf110a it use a rio 2500 pump the 1/2 pipe with the air line is a venture so a needle wheel is not needed


marlen

OK, I agree the needle wheel pump is unnecessary but you can drastically improve the performance of this skimmer by using an oceanrunner 2500 instead of the pre-installed venturi. I used to have a skimmer that worked with a similar valve. I still suggest bypassing it and using a needlwheel pump the oceanrunner 2500 isn't any more expensive than the RIO.