Skilter 400

[Reef_|<eeper]

I have a skilter 400 right now as one of my filters and also for the skimming portion. When I skim the water, the foam is always so wet and the collection chamber fills quickly. Is there something that I can do or is it just a bad product??

 

[twkenny]

It's a pretty poor product for skimming....big filter that holds a lot of water though.
It's not really doing your 45 much good, but you have a small bioload...and any skimming is better than none!
I'd be on the lookout for a better HOB skimmer like a Bak-Pak or Remora....there are used ones in the classifieds a lot.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

And what do those usually run? Whats a good online vender for these?

 

[JaMan]

an air pump and stone fixed at the bottom of the 400's skimmer upright really helps. Also, by not using the venturi you do not loose any gph flowing thru the 400.

 

[vishboy]

You should look at the Coralife Super Skimmers. They get good reviews and can be bought on marinedepot.com

Vishboy

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

Is ebay a reliable source for skimmers and whatnot? I see plenty that are priced cheap. Has anyone bought one from there? If it was successful, would buy from there again? I haven't bought anything from there yet, I just don't know how safe it really is.

 

[Z-ReefKeeper]

Ebay is a great place to buy your aquarium stuff. The only problem i have had is getting light fixtures delivered from UPS. Every time i have received the package the bulbs have been broken. So i would avoid light fixtures on Ebay unless the seller offers insurance for the item. Otherwise you can get some great deals.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

Anyone else have any experiences?

 

[MayoBoy]

Do your research and determine what you want to buy, THEN look on ebay for that product. There's a saying about woodworking tools that also applies to reef equipment: buy the best and cry once.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

Is it trustworthy in your mind though? Thats my question now.

 

[MayoBoy]

Ebay? As long as you take all the regular precautions, do your research, etc. The onus is on you not to get taken.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

Is there any way that I could modify it so it won't be so wet? I don't want to have to buy something new if I can just change/ modify what I already have.

 

[Jayreefer]

I used a skilter 250 on a nano tank a few years back. The best way to improve it is to add an air pump and wood air difusser that airlift skimmers use. All I did was put a whole in the bottum of a film bottle and slide the wood difusser into it. Put this into the skimmer section and put a strong air pump to it. Put a valve in the line to control air flow. It works but you really should just buy a new skimmer. I really like the new needle wheel skimmer from coralife. I have a 65 and a 220 model.

 

[fishaholic911]

I had a skilter and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. Just my 2 cents

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

Can some1 post a pic on how their coralife skimmer looks, in the tank, the collection cup, and the side profile of it hanging? I just want to see what it looks like.

 

[AZDesertRat]

If you already have the Skilter and an air pump, the wooden air stone mod works pretty good. Just drill a 1/4 or smaller hole in the lid directly over the lift tube and stick the stone down close to the bottom. Plug the old air intake tube and let it rip.
I also tossed the floss filter cartridges and bought a replacement sponge insert for an Eclipse and trimmed it to fit in the frames.
These are simple ways to make what you have work and I used mine that way for years before upgrading to a BakPak II.
I wouldn't go out and buy one again but 15 years ago it was one of the only alternatives out there for small tanks.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

What about not allowing the bubbles to get into the main tank? Is that always going to be there? What can I do to get rid of them and allow them not to go there?

 

[AZDesertRat]

By using the foam insert rather than the floss it helps the bubble situation. Also using the limewood airstone and a variable output air pump ( I used a Rena 400) or an airline valve to vary the air supply you can eliminate bubbles. The bubbles from the wooden stone are so fine they pick up gunk pretty good and deliver it up to the collection cup.
I think I still have a setup like this in my spare parts closet in fact. I used it for years with pretty good sucess on a 20 H mixed reef.

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

I will go back to the lfs today then, check for some foam. Thanks. Where in the insert should I put it? Before or after the polishing pad, or after my carbon pad?

 

[AZDesertRat]

The foam filter pad replaces the floss and carbon pads. As I think about it the foam is the insert for the Whisper Triad hang on filter. Trim it just a bit and it fits perfect. For a 400 you would need 2, for my old Skilter 250 it only took 1. You can rinse this one out once a week or so and you never have to replace it again, you might alternate rinsing one then the other if you are worried about bacteria, no more high priced floss! You can add a small bag of carbon in the filter housing if you want to run carbon and it works better anyway that way.