what can i do with a topfathom skimmer?

[cpl40475]

hello all
I have the worlds best skimmer(hard to keep from laughing when i wrote that).Just curious what could i use it for or how could it be modified to something useful. I know it makes a great paper weight or food holder.
Surely theres something i can use it for with the right mods
Tracy

 

[eznet2u]

I own one. Pulls out the "stuff" like nobodys business. I did order a Genx needlewheel, I may make it a recirculating skimmer. Haven't decided yet.
I will mesh mod it though.
I bought this off of a friend. He had it on a 120g. The thing spit out a cup of nasty black stuff everyday with a light Bioload.

I get more of a tea color in the bucket, because all the solids seem to stay in the line and the cup.
I have 1 small Sailfin, 4 Blue green Chromis and an Engineer goby.
This is after 24hrs.

Collection Cup.

Drain Line.
IMG]http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8793/1002642ko8.jpg[/IMG]

5g Collection bucket. That is about 1/2 a gallon, And this is set dry.

These may not look pretty, but they work...

 

[eznet2u]

 

[cpl40475]

i couldnt get mine to do nothing at all. i had the water line at the base of the cone where the manufacturers site said to put it. I did have a rio pump on it though. Thats why im asking what i can do to make it perform better its not being used now but since i have a new skimmer (custom built) i figured great diy project time.
Hoping others chime in also. I may make it a carbon container or something if no one else chimes in.
Tracy

 

[eznet2u]

What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

 

[reefmaster805]

I have had a Top Phathon 100 for 3 years on a 125 gallon plus 30g sump. That is alot of water to skim. It has done exactly what it is supposed to do plus more. I came with a Rio pump also. No problems. Only clean it every 10 months or so. Pulls out the gunk like no other. Beleive me I have put high end skimmers on customers tanks and they seem to perform the same. I would put the water line just below the smallest portion of the neck or cone, just below where the cupwould sit in. Ive seen them all, but what ever.................

 

[cpl40475]

ill dig it out of the closet i think its a rio 600 but im not swearing on it. The venturi is the one that came on it. when i say it did nothing i mean literally nothing. In over a month all it pulled out was maybe 3 inches in a gallon milk jug. I thought maybe its doing just fine very light bio load (1 cinamon clown 1 clarki clown 1 yellow tail damsel 2 3 striped damsels) in a 75. I bought the custom made one and have to change out the cup twice a day from the gunk it pulls out. If i can make it work ill do it and use it. Ill post some pics of it tomorrow.

 

[reefmaster805]

Mine is a Rio 2500. Lots of water and air equals lots of removal.

 

[reefmaster805]

Mine is a Rio 2500. Lots of water and air equals lots of removal.

 

[eznet2u]

What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

 

[cpl40475]

mine has a rio 1700 on it that might be the prob too small a pump.
Ill see what else i have laying around and try a bigger pump on it.
wonder how good say a mag 9.5 would work?

 

[Daemonfly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11462375#post11462375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eznet2u
What size Rio? Which Venturi are you using? How is it plumbed?

It took me a while to get it adjusted right, it is about half way up the cone. Works great. I have a friend that runs the big commercial ones in his Fish store. He says he has tried a lot of skimmers over the years, but these are set and forget. Very consistent. I have to agree with him.

How did you double-post with 45 minutes between each post?

 

[cpl40475]

i just noticed that myself lol

 

[cpl40475]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/cpl40475/100_6555.jpg

 

[cpl40475]

 

[cpl40475]

heres the pics i hope lol

 

[OnlyCrimson]

I dont see where the air is entering the intake of the pump. Is there some sort of air intake anywhere?

 

[cpl40475]

none on the pump itself. As far as i can tell anyways i think the only air intake is on the pipe that connects the pump to the canister

 

[OnlyCrimson]

ohh yeah, now i remember these skimmers. Hmm, hopefully someone knows how to make a better venturi for it!

 

[cpl40475]

im thinking about modding the crap out of it whether it be a diff pump or making it a recirc and maybe putting a baffle inside to help churn the water even more. Was hoping someone would chime in with some ideas on it although 3 or 4 ppl say theres works good i couldnt get mine th yeah the metal clamps have been replaced by plastic clamps