Skimmer Help!!!!!!

[alexwolf]

I have been looking for a skimmer that can be used on my 37 gal eclipse with as little modification as possible. I found the Seaclone 150 that fits witha little cutting on the hood. but just wondering if anyone has any ideas of some other options. Thanks, and I will be putting up some pics probably tonight of the tank.

[matt]

Oh man, was there ever a thread on this one in RC a while back. Someone set up a remora without too much modification, if I remember. What I did when i had an eclipse was use one of those red sea airstone skimmers, maybe called airlift 90 or something like that. You have to cut the lid out in the back right hand corner, to the right of the biowheel. It's not bad; you don't need to cut any of the body of the eclipse. It's not what I'd call a great skimmer, though.

Now, what are you going to do about the lights? (just kidding; there was yet another big thread on that; P.C. retrofit) I did that too, by the time I was finished, I had 2 55W PC and a skimmer in the tank, and eventually a somewhat melted eclipse. So then I did the final eclipse mod which was to take it off the tank and throw it in the trash, using instead the ah supply DIY light hood with the 2 55W PC, and a hang on skimmer, plus a couple of powerheads for circulation. It was a LOT better, but if you're not keeping photosynthetic animals, there's no need to upgrade the lights.

Matt

[alexwolf]

i purchased the retro fity kit for the hood with 2x65 PC lights on it, made a WORLD of difference. I only have one power head currently, but am adding another. I currently have some green mushrooms, zenia (?), and a seabay anemone with a tomato clown. Also have a lettuce nudibranch, a red leg hermit, 2 mex turbo snails, and an emerald crab that i havent seen in a week.

[alexwolf]

2x65 sounds high, i just got the custom sea life retrofit kit. Went in with no problems.

[matt]

You probably got the 1 X 65 watt kit, right? One bulb? To get 2 in there, you have to rip out the guts and the bulbs just barely fit in. There's a description on inlandreef.com in the DIY section.

I always thought that 2 vho tubes would fit nicely in there. Next, someone needs to come up with a 400W mh retrofit for the eclipse, plus a 1,000 gph pump upgrade to replace the powerhead that runs it. Did anyone see that guy on David Letterman who put a 2000hp dragster engine on a hotdog cart?

[alexwolf]

yeah it is the one bulb, nice fixture from the difference that I see. i dont think with what i am keeping that I would need any more lighting.

[alexwolf]

no did not purchase yet, getting ideas first

[JesterGrin_1]

Sea Clone well if anyone wants to get rid of one please let me know :)

[TexasState]

I saw a nice 37 gallons Eclipse tank today (w/ PC mod.) They use a 24 inches CPR AquaFuge. You might want to try the AquaFuge out instead of getting a skimmer. Just remember to keep up with your water change.

[alexwolf]

what is that?

[matt]

Actually, Alex, not to be disagreeable with Vinh, but I don't think a refugium is a replacement for a skimmer. They really do different things. Why don't you go to reefcentral and do a search to find that thread? The guy who installed the remora posted pictures and everything, and you could probably email him about it. It looked pretty good, and the remora is one of the better hang on skimmers.

Not that the refugium is a bad idea in and of itself, it's actually a great thing to have on any tank.

sorry to keep inundating you with advice. My first tank had an eclipse, and I remember modifying and modifying as my reef knowledge increased.

Matt

[alexwolf]

oh no, i greatlyu appreciate your input, thats why I'm asking! Did you see the pics of my tank?