Crappy Seaclone ?'s

[aprosody]

I know, I know... it's a POS. I got one for free pretty much and was curious if it was worth the effort to do the mods. No, my budget is too tight to go out and buy a $6,000 skimmer, so I am wondering what is wrong with this thing.

My system isn't completely set up, so I have been trying to test/tweak this thing in my spare QT tank with normal tap water. It is only producing like 40 bubbles at any given time (at best) and they are roughly 1cm in diameter. Is it not producing foam because its tap water, with no real bioload on it? I have already been working on the bioball mod for the impeller, to try and get more bubbles out of this thing. I don't mind spending a few bucks to get this thing working decently, but don't have the cash right now to buy a skimmer, unless someone wants to send me a good one that works, for the price of shipping

 

[Kissfan79]

The issue with the bubbles being large and few in number is because you are using tap water. My Berlin skimmer did the ame thing when I tested it out to make the pump worked and was using plain ole' tap water. As soon as I put it in salt water...it was fine.

Jim

 

[tpenn187]

you cant get micro bubles with fresh water, it needs to be salt water. the main issues with the sea clones are that they produce alot of bubble into the tank, and they are way over rated for what they can handle. if its free, just buy a small air pump and toss an airstone in there and you will probably double your skim.

 

[aprosody]

Thanks to both of you for the responses! I had a feeling that the tap water was a cause of the bubbles, but wanted to be sure before I spent a couple hours and $20 modifying the thing.

 

[Mr James]

fyi... A friend down the road removed her Sea Clone and just got an Octopus BH-something..... It was $97 or something like that. You can't beat that!! ....for her 75g FOWLR.

 

[aprosody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13174818#post13174818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr James
fyi... A friend down the road removed her Sea Clone and just got an Octopus BH-something..... It was $97 or something like that. You can't beat that!! ....for her 75g FOWLR.

Sweet, do you know where she got it from?

 

[Mr James]

I saw one on the board for $100. Do you want the link or the person's contact?? Or would you want new like hers? I'll PM the link to you where I believe she got it from, but I will also double check with her.

 

[stanlalee]

they can work better than people give them credit for (on a 30g or less) but most people dont give the time or patience (months to get going and set up to perfection) to function well. I like it better than a remora (considering price and better quality skimate)

unmodded and worked adequately for a good year on mixed 30g reef sump and hang on back (that said I do run an octopus on my current 30gallon)

 

[Vegas RN]

I added a wood airstone with mine until I can upgrade and I must admit it does wonders. more than double my skimmate. You can buy them at petco 3 for 8 bucks and if you have a spare air pump laying around like most of us do then its a quick and cheap fix.

 

[Saltz Creep]

Have you heard the legend of
Frankenclone?

 

[aprosody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13179533#post13179533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltz Creep
Have you heard the legend of
Frankenclone?

I have now! I will keep that in mind as well, but what he paid to make it work + the pumps he had that I do not, will cost me just as much to buy a better skimmer - which is in the works. The Seaclone is basically only going to have to last me a few months, I probably will only have 1 or 2 fish at that point.