New old style skimmer

[txaggie09]

Looking good. It really doesnt seem to take long to break in, at least not compared to my super reef octopus. Ive had mine running about a week now. It overflowed and went crazy a once or twice but seems stable now and has a good bubble column. My only problem is that my sump is a 55 gallon tank and is only 12" wide. Therefor if the skimmer overflows, some of it will spill over the side of my tank. Ill fix this with a float switch hooked to the apex to cut the skimmer off.
Aside from that (which is by no means the fault of the skimmer, just my poor planning) the skimmer seems to be doing great. Really looking to see how the long term performance turns out. Glad to see someone else on here with it too.

I'd like to see a picture of your tank if you dont mind. I'm leaning towards a 240 or 300 for my next setup.

 

[mfinn]

I'd like to see a picture of your tank if you dont mind. I'm leaning towards a 240 or 300 for my next setup.

I'll try and get a new picture

 

[mfinn]

 

[eww]

The new picture didn't show up. I would like to see a current FTS of your 240 as well.

 

[bernie lyons]

beckett

beckett

Good luck! I do like the beckett skimmer because they do not require a proprietary pump that will break down and cost BIG BUCKS to replace each time. With becketts, you just buy a pump and let it work for about 20 years at least The air input is huge too.

Agree Completely !!!

 

[mfinn]

That's why I decided to go with this skimmer that doesn't require the tempermental pin wheel pumps.

 

[mfinn]

The new picture didn't show up. I would like to see a current FTS of your 240 as well.

I'm trying to get one that isn't the typical blued out led picture.

 

[viggen]

Ahhh..... Te days of the sanders air stone skimmers. So simple but worked so well!

How often do you need to replace the air stones in your skimmer? Looks very nice...... If those edges are still bothering you a quick and easy flame polish job will eliminate those sharp edges!

Beckett pumps do last a long time, however in that time they suck a LOT of juice and usually make a LOT of noise

Needle/pin wheel skimmers are so much quieter.....but like stated a replacement pump is sooooo expensive.......

I am skimmer shopping..... This air stone unit has me very intrigued!

 

[skimmy]

if you cleaned those airstones one a season, 4 times a year, that would probably be overkill. you could probably get away with once every 6 months.

 

[reeftivo]

This looked promising a few days ago.

any updated picks on how its breaking in?

 

[mfinn]

Still breaking in.
I didn't clean it out at all before sticking it in the sump, so it's a slow go.

This is the first time with a new skimmer I didn't run it in vinegar atleast over night.
I've seen people complain that it took a week or more doing it this way.

 

[reeftivo]

Have you tried to seed it with a few drops of old skimmate?

 

[mfinn]

No I haven't.
Have not heard of that.

 

[mfinn]

Whoa, that caused a reaction.

I'm getting some skimate, but it's still pretty weak.

 

[reeftivo]

Good. It will speed up getting the skimmer coated. Did you notice the better uniformity of bubble rise at the air/water line after adding the drops? It should hold stable like that now until it fully breaks in.

 

[reeftivo]

I usually run my new skimmers for a couple days, then if they don't start to generate a consistent foam head, a couple drops down the neck usually sorts them out.

 

[rishma]

Any update? How does that skimmer perform for you?

 

[mfinn]

Any update? How does that skimmer perform for you?

Well since I bought it, I was kind of unimpressed with it.
Seemed like it was taking forever to break in.
Plus I thought the bubbles seemed too big, and had repeated texts with one of the owners ( ex-owner now) and was trying to get it dialed in.
Well, after a couple pictures were exchanged with the other owner, I guess I made a mistake with the air stone when I first got it.
I guess you are suppose to let the air stone soak in the water( 12-24 hrs.) before running air through it. Just run the water pump and no air. He explained that the air stone ( for lack of a better word) swells up when it soaks in the water and makes the pores smaller.
I did not. I tossed it in my sump and fired up the feed pump and the air pump and let it rip.
Right away the bubbles seemed too big. I figured they would get smaller, but never did.
So, I've been waiting for a chance to get up to the store and get a replacement air stone.

 

[Drae]

Well since I bought it, I was kind of unimpressed with it.
Seemed like it was taking forever to break in.
Plus I thought the bubbles seemed too big, and had repeated texts with one of the owners ( ex-owner now) and was trying to get it dialed in.
Well, after a couple pictures were exchanged with the other owner, I guess I made a mistake with the air stone when I first got it.
I guess you are suppose to let the air stone soak in the water( 12-24 hrs.) before running air through it. Just run the water pump and no air. He explained that the air stone ( for lack of a better word) swells up when it soaks in the water and makes the pores smaller.
I did not. I tossed it in my sump and fired up the feed pump and the air pump and let it rip.
Right away the bubbles seemed too big. I figured they would get smaller, but never did.
So, I've been waiting for a chance to get up to the store and get a replacement air stone.

The skimmer didn't come with specific installation instructions on this? Seems to me that something like soaking the air stone prior to use is an important piece of info.

 

[mfinn]

The skimmer didn't come with specific installation instructions on this? Seems to me that something like soaking the air stone prior to use is an important piece of info.

When I picked it up, it was very hectic in the store. Big crowd for the sale.
They may have said something,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I didn't hear it.

Yeah it was important.