spamn
New member
I have a very interesting situation. Long story short.. my tank is a Unquarium, meaning that I have no sump and no HOB items. The rear 4" of the tank is a partition with 4 chambers for filtration.
I will explain this in a little more detail because I have not met too many people who are familiar with a Uniquarium.
The first chamber is where the overflow goes into. There is a heater there and the pump to my skimmer (more on this in a minute). The second chamber has the skimmer body. The third chamber orginially came with bio balls but I removed those and put in some denitrate and cheato. The fourth chamber is simply the return pump.
This being said.. I don't have many options at all for skimmers. The skimmer I have is the Clear for Life Venturi skimmer. It is simply a 3.5" or so hollow tube that has one hole in it. The accompanying pump is a Rio 600 with an airline intake. That's all there is too it. The Rio draws in air and water and creates micro bubbles inside the tube which foams over into the collection cup. The only "option" I have is the height of the skimmer. I set it as low as it goes to get the wettest skimmate. Not even sure if wetter is better. To the eyes, I get more in the cup so in my mind I am taking more out. Realistically, I am probably just getting more water out. Does a wetter skimmate = better?
All this being said.. I have basically been told that my skimmer is junk. I paid $120 for a hollow tube and a Rio 600. This is my first tank and first skimmer. I have never even seen another skimmer in person. However, I have read about some online and know that with my space available, I can't really get any other skimmer, maybe a HOB but I hate to do so..
Can anyone chime in with ANY advice? Maybe a larger venturi pump? Less airflow into the pump? More? Anything would be helpful and appreciated.
Thank you
I will explain this in a little more detail because I have not met too many people who are familiar with a Uniquarium.
The first chamber is where the overflow goes into. There is a heater there and the pump to my skimmer (more on this in a minute). The second chamber has the skimmer body. The third chamber orginially came with bio balls but I removed those and put in some denitrate and cheato. The fourth chamber is simply the return pump.
This being said.. I don't have many options at all for skimmers. The skimmer I have is the Clear for Life Venturi skimmer. It is simply a 3.5" or so hollow tube that has one hole in it. The accompanying pump is a Rio 600 with an airline intake. That's all there is too it. The Rio draws in air and water and creates micro bubbles inside the tube which foams over into the collection cup. The only "option" I have is the height of the skimmer. I set it as low as it goes to get the wettest skimmate. Not even sure if wetter is better. To the eyes, I get more in the cup so in my mind I am taking more out. Realistically, I am probably just getting more water out. Does a wetter skimmate = better?
All this being said.. I have basically been told that my skimmer is junk. I paid $120 for a hollow tube and a Rio 600. This is my first tank and first skimmer. I have never even seen another skimmer in person. However, I have read about some online and know that with my space available, I can't really get any other skimmer, maybe a HOB but I hate to do so..
Can anyone chime in with ANY advice? Maybe a larger venturi pump? Less airflow into the pump? More? Anything would be helpful and appreciated.
Thank you
