Protein Skimmer for Marineland Eclipse 35?

[DocDrew]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum & marine tanks. I have a Marinland Eclipse 35gallon tank set up & running for 6 months. My levels (nitrates, nitrites & ammonia) are at the lowest reading using a dry tab kit. I have 1 long nosed hawk, 1 sally lightfoot & 2 hermits. I have a Hawian feather duster & 2 unidentified anenome which split from 1 initially & 1 crab which came on fiji live rock. Everything is thriving. I've had a problem with hair algae which is improving with blocking excessive sunlight on the tank. Before I add more fish, I'd like to add a protein skimmer. Due to the hood filtration, I'll need to use a hang on I assume & cut out the hood. Does anyone have any recommendations for this application?

Thanks!

[cubalz]

I think that anything more than a Sea Clone would be overkill for a tank of that size. I don't think that they work very well on most tanks but for a 35 gal, it should do fine....

Hi,

I'm new to the forum & marine tanks. I have a Marinland Eclipse 35gallon tank set up & running for 6 months. My levels (nitrates, nitrites & ammonia) are at the lowest reading using a dry tab kit. I have 1 long nosed hawk, 1 sally lightfoot & 2 hermits. I have a Hawian feather duster & 2 unidentified anenome which split from 1 initially & 1 crab which came on fiji live rock. Everything is thriving. I've had a problem with hair algae which is improving with blocking excessive sunlight on the tank. Before I add more fish, I'd like to add a protein skimmer. Due to the hood filtration, I'll need to use a hang on I assume & cut out the hood. Does anyone have any recommendations for this application?

Thanks!

[patsfan1130]

I think that anything more than a Sea Clone would be overkill for a tank of that size. I don't think that they work very well on most tanks but for a 35 gal, it should do fine....

Not sure I agree with this.

I am a big fan of heavy skimming and think an AquaC Remora skimmer with a max-jet 1200 pump would be a great addition for your tank. If it begins to not produce much skimmate....great!! I would much rather have a high quality,great skimmer not producing much skimmate than have a low quality skimmer producing the same amount working at it's best.

The theory being......If you need the skimmer to perform...It will be there to do the job.

Mark

[DocDrew]

Thanks! Those are the 2 I was thinking of. Marineland themselves couldn't help much - they couldn't say anything that could damage their hoods. Nevertheless the Remora will fit by my measurements & I've heard nothing but good about it.

I'll keep you posted. Any other ideas? I'd love to hear!

[dmad]

I am also running an Eclipse3, 37 gallon and have been told that it's a dead end tank. I've decided to go fish only until a new idea comes up or I go with a new acrylic tank. I thought about the Sea Clone and the Remora C, but got the same advice. I was also told to dump the hood to use the Remora C and a new light hood. I would be interested to hear if you try modifying the hood. I've also had problems with saltwater creaping out under the hood and going down the back of the tank, even with a new filter cartridge. Does that happen with the 35?

[DocDrew]

In a perfect world...I'd run a 300 gallon tank, drive a porsche & own 3 houses! In my tank, I'm using 2 50/50 actinic & reef lights in the stock hood. I decided on a Red Sea Prism which seems great.


As far as creep, just keep your water level 1/2" visible below the top. If you don't like the look, wrap the top with black electrical tape to hide it. In the Prism I picked up some ceramic biological filtration media to replace the carbon (don't use carbon or it will remove too much nutrients)

My tank seems healthy with fish, crabs & anenomoes after 6 months. Good luck!

[Jgisler2006]

This has been very helpful as I have an eclipse 3 hood as well on a 29 gallon.

But you never answered the question of how you "modified" your hood to add a protein skimmer.

How and what type of skimmer would be amazing info

thanks

[DocDrew]

Initially I used a dremel & cut 2 slots out of the right side of the hood which fit the intake and outflow tubes of the Prizm Skimmer. The 2 slots opened the right side of the hood just enough to clear the tubes. Measure carefully. I was able to avoud the light & built in wet dry wheel. It worked OK but I felt I needed more light for corals & so eventually gave up on the stock hood & hung a Aqua C remora on the back by cutting out the new glass cover. I hung CFs above the tank & am running a self priming Eheim II filter. Polyps, corals and more fish are worth it!

go a bit at a time, learn as u go and grow when you're ready. Get lots of advice too!!