[linkin2b]

ok i am running a skilter 400 with an extra fluval powerhead to move water, my skimmer dont bubble. i have an airstone in there too. i want to switch to saltwater it is a 90 gallon tank. what modifications do i need to do to my pump to make it work with that setup cause i have 0 money t buy a new pump.

[smidoid]

With the best will in the world mate, if you have 0 money, you're in for trouble if you move into marine. It costs $$$ (even a budget sytem needs a lot of financial help).

[linkin2b]

i know it takes alot of money i have enough for maintenence and keepign it running jsut not to cmpletely re-do my filtration system. may be later down the road but i doubt it if i can get this to work at all. i just need to know what i need to do to the thing or what stuff i should be adding to make it all work right i got maybe like 40 bucks to update and such. im broke as hell.

[mungus728]

If your broke or if your not, don't waste your money on trying to fix the skilter. Its almost like not having a skimmer at all. Any money put into it would be wasted. Save your $40 for when you have more money to add to it and buy a good skimmer. If you don't buy a good skimmer upfront you will regret your purchase later and most likely spend more to replace it.

JMO

Brian

[smidoid]

Yeah. Mungus is right on the money (pardon the pun). A good skimmer for a tank that size is going to cost $200-$300 I would guess. You really need one rated for 200 gallons as the manufacturers always make exagerated claims. You won't get diddly for 40 bucks; not even off eBay. A working skimmer removes poisonous DOCs 100% of the time, a crap one doesn't and in a short space of time you're going to have dead fish. Not pleasant.

[linkin2b]

thats cool well ar ethey any alternatives in a saltwater tank to having a protein skimmer ? what all would i need to get to have one my tank is completely setup as a freshwater right now. its been running for like 6 months no problem. and any suggestions on a good price for them? good lookin out

[smidoid]

Well, the Ecosystem claims to be able to operate without a skimmer although I haven't had any experience with it and some people report problems. The idea is you grow Caulerpa in a fuge under a 24/7 photoperiod (lights always on). That stops the weed going into sperm mode and poisoning the tank. You also need some Miracle Mud - which is expensive too (but I expect a very fine silt would do the trick just as well). Miracle Mud (http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/miracle.html) is pretty pricey stuff and you should read more than this link to find out about it before you commit.

Personally, I like the idea, but I have some reservations.

You MAY be able to substitute Mangroves for the Caulerpa and use a different photoperiod. Mangroves serve the same function as the Caulerpa, but I have no idea if they would be as effective. I have seem report that it is - but no peer-reviewed papers.

[smidoid]

UPDATE: Ninong has pointed out in a separate thread, so I'll copy the basics in here, that Magrove is too slow to do the export. Spaghetti algae is his preferred method and seems less problematic than the caulerpa menace.

[PufferDad]

SW newbie here. I, too, have the same problem of my skilter 400 not creating any bubbles. Water does pump through it. It has been running possibly 2 months with an airstone. Have taken it apart, soaked it in warm water as the instructions indicate, reassemble, and...no bubbles. There is absolutely no collection of foam. I also have a question regarding setting the air valve. Air valve is currently set at about the halfway point. Where should it set at? How is the foam output created from wet to dry?

[Rokie]

Here is a modification you can try. http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaver...ification.html

[PufferDad]

DUH!!! Found out why my skilter was not creating any air bubbles. Should have dawned on me right from the start. The check valve in the tubing from pump to airstone was inserted backwards. Positioned it correctly and Voila! I have bubbles. How simple and stupid. Sometimes need to do a reinstallation.

[mandarin_watcher]

I had my skilter on my tank for two years, I also had a sea clone on my other tank for about two and half years. After all that time they looked as good as they did right out of the box, except the salt spash. Niether one ever pulled a drop out of either tank. My suggestion is to save your money. If you don't have a enough $$ to get a very good skimmer. Then you next best option is a CoralLife Super Skimmer. It will run you about 120 for the small model that will handle up to a 65 gal tank. Or it will run you about 180 for the larger model that will handle about 120 gal tank. For the money they are pretty good skimmers. Other suggestion is to keep on top of the classified section of the different reef site that are on line. Many people upgrade to bigger tank and sell their equipment that they can not use any more. But you will need to stay on top of it, This equipment does go very quickly sometime just in hours.
This hobby is very expensive. It will cost you a small bundle just to get started:
Example for a 55 gal. Set up and this is BEFORE Fish
Tank - Assume you have one already
Sand - 1 1/2 lbs per gal min,75lbs dry- $90/Live-$3 per lbs. You need
some live to start the process. $90 to $150.
Live Rock- same as sand, 1 1/2 lbs per gal min, $4 on line + shipping, $6
to $8 at Local Fish Store. That price is per pound 75 x 6=$450.
For you live rock.
Fitration- Best to use a sump and over flows But If you get a good
canister and stay on top of it. It will do. $150.
Power heards - You should have at least 2 good one. Water flow is key.
It will help prevent a lot of problems down the road. $90
heater- $40
lights- There are several light choice to go with, power compacts, Metal
Halides, T-5's, VHO's You would need to research the different
options there and decide what you like. But just going with the
most inexpensive set up which are power compacts $350+,
MH $700+ That is if you get a fixture that is all ready set up.
Skimmer- A good skimmer is very important. Figure on $200 for this.
Water- The water in the Reef system should be RO/DI. You can get water
at you local fish store, or even wal-mart. (Not distilled) this is in the
Culligan machine. cost .50cents gal. Then you will need to get
salt and mix your own. Fist store may have pre mixed about $1.10
a gal. Or you can get an RO(Reverse osmosis) filter on ebay for
$130.
This is off the top of my head. I only mention this because you were saying you had a few bucks and wanted to go salt water. You will be looking at spending around $1500. to $2000 before you will even be able to buy a fish. You have to do water changes and wait for a while sometimes months for you system to be ready to support life. It will cost some $$ just in maintance cost every month, Test kits, additives, Filter media.
It comes down to DO NOT set up a salt water system until you do a heck of a lot of research. It will take some time to learn what you will need to know. If you jump in to this hobby uninformed and in a hurry you might as well take all that money and flush it down the toilet.