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

[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.
sump area.jpg

[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 ...