Biocube protein skimmer.... what's the secret??

[TXSea]

When I first got this nano skimmer, it was putting out some nice foam. Lately, no matter how I set the air flow, I can't get it to skim out anything. I mean there is water in the cup but that is just from the bubbles popping in the reaction chamber. Any success stories out there? If you have any ideas on getting this thing to skim better, I'm all open to suggestions. I also want to add that I did change the air stone with a new oceanic air stone to see if it was the air stone. :at_wits_end:

[nrkolas]

I just got this skimmer...had it up for a couple days now and it's skimming great so far lolI hope it doesn't do what urs did..

[TXSea]

Yeah, I set the bubbles to bubble right under the rim of the black cap on the reaction chamber. I assume it should be pulling out proteins since there are live stock in the tank. Thinking of selling it and buying a pump driven nano skimmer instead.

[TXSea]

Nevermind... I checked it a minute ago and it had some foam puffing up and falling into the cup. I guess it happens more at night or something.

[CoryDude]

Could be that you had an abundance of organics in the water when you added the skimmer and now there isn't enough to make a showing. How much are you feeding? I'm also assuming you clean the contact area every few days?

Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed when you upgrade to venturi skimmer.

[TXSea]

Could be that you had an abundance of organics in the water when you added the skimmer and now there isn't enough to make a showing. How much are you feeding? I'm also assuming you clean the contact area every few days?

Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed when you upgrade to venturi skimmer.
I usually just rinse out the cup every couple of days. Is it bad to clean it off? It is skimming. I just usually never catch it skimming but last night was the first time in a while where I witnessed some foam spilling over the cup edge.

[CoryDude]

Yeah, keep rinsing it every few days. Not too familiar with that brand, but I think you'll see better results with a unit that's venturi driven. I always had a lot of luck with a cpr backpack skimmer on my 29. I believe the cpr sr3 skimmer will work on a BC29.

[350gt]

I just got this skimmer...had it up for a couple days now and it's skimming great so far lolI hope it doesn't do what urs did..

Glad it worked out for you....

[jeittreim]

I have had the CPR SR3 in my 29BC for the past 6 months and couldn't be happier. Took out everything from the middle chamber, dropped that bad boy in, and off we went. My tank is crystal clear and running like crazy :-) Definately worth the investment to not have to deal with an airstone driven skimmer which, in my opinion, doesn't have the capacity to effectively keep a tank this size cleared (of course depending on the bioload and all ;-))

[Gseclipse02]

http://www.amazon.com/AquaticLife-Internal-Mini-Skimmer-115/dp/B001V95TZA


t (http://www.amazon.com/AquaticLife-Internal-Mini-Skimmer-115/dp/B001V95TZA)hat works great

[TXSea]

To be honest, my Biocube little cheapie 30 dollar airstone skimmer is working like a million bucks now. I have to empty the cup daily as its almost full by the end of a full day. I notice it skimming the most generally after a feeding. The skimmate is real dark and at times thick so I know its picking up a lot of waste from the water. I have it in the first chamber before the water hits the filter floss and the chaeto fugium. Right now I'm very pleased with it and of course I will eventually get a venturi skimmer and pass this one along to the next beginner for a moderately cheap price. Only cost with it are the wooden airstones that must be replaced monthly. Very good for the price and does the job overall. I honestly would recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot on a skimmer.

[TXSea]

I have had the CPR SR3 in my 29BC for the past 6 months and couldn't be happier. Took out everything from the middle chamber, dropped that bad boy in, and off we went. My tank is crystal clear and running like crazy :-) Definately worth the investment to not have to deal with an airstone driven skimmer which, in my opinion, doesn't have the capacity to effectively keep a tank this size cleared (of course depending on the bioload and all ;-))
Any pics of your setup? I would love to see how you have your sump set up.

[jeittreim]

Here is an overhead shot of the sump area on the tank. Heater in the right chamber (Had to bust out the bottom grid to fit it), SR3 skimmer in the middle chamber with a bit of blue filter media to cut the noise down between chamber 1 and 2, and the Biocube UV filter in the left chamber. Other mods I made: cut the wall between chamber 1 and 2 wider to allow for more flow and drilled two holes in the back glass for a future addition of a sump (you can see the caps behind the UV filter.
11931

[TXSea]

Very cool man! If I go venturi skimmer, I'll need one that'll fit in the first chamber as I have a nice media basket/fugium setup in the middle chamber and do not want to do away with it. I keep my heater in the first chamber as well.

[NateDogg]

I am running the aquatic life mini simmer in the first chamber of my biocube. I don't really like it. I had to trim some plastic for it to go in smoothly and it restricts a lot of flow. I am thinking of the cpr Sr3 as well, but I also want a fuge. I was looking at the cpr backpack and it seems like you could hang one on there without the hood. Pump in the first chamber return in the second. Have yall heard of anyone trying that?
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[Gseclipse02]

I am running the aquatic life mini simmer in the first chamber of my biocube. I don't really like it. I had to trim some plastic for it to go in smoothly and it restricts a lot of flow. I am thinking of the cpr Sr3 as well, but I also want a fuge. I was looking at the cpr backpack and it seems like you could hang one on there without the hood. Pump in the first chamber return in the second. Have yall heard of anyone trying that?
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im baby sitting alteas tank ( the girl i work with ) and it seems to have no issues with the skimmer being in the first chamber ...