I need a better skimmer for my 29 elos Nano

[jill]

Can anyone recommend a better skimmer for my 29 g elos cube? The elos skimmer sucks so I want to replace it.
Would appreciate any ideas. The current skimmer sits in the sump.
Any suggestions?

 

[akunochi]

SWC 160
SWC 160 cone (release 02/10)
Vertex IN-80

 

[Skimmy]

yep, they sux...
what is the space you have available to accomodate a new skimmer?
and i personally would avoid vertex skimmers like the plauge until they switch out what pumps they use.
but as akunochi said the new SWC 120 cone or 160 cone would be excellent if they fit, and only $199-$249

 

[jill]

yep, they sux...
what is the space you have available to accomodate a new skimmer?
and i personally would avoid vertex skimmers like the plauge until they switch out what pumps they use.
but as akunochi said the new SWC 120 cone or 160 cone would be excellent if they fit, and only $199-$249

ya, footprint is the issue I need one that is 5" x 5" and no more than 16" high... any suggestions? Mark, you also said you might be able to ajust this elos to make it work better. I'd travel to your place with it if you would have time to do it... and I'd pay u! Any interest?

 

[Skimmy]

damn, 5x5x16.... that's not much...
of course i would be willing to mod that skimmer, but im almost certain there might be more space than that....
there was another member on here that had the elos 20g and the mini sump, and they got a skimmer in there i modded that was like 9x6x17.
i will do some research...

 

[jill]

damn, 5x5x16.... that's not much...
of course i would be willing to mod that skimmer, but im almost certain there might be more space than that....
there was another member on here that had the elos 20g and the mini sump, and they got a skimmer in there i modded that was like 9x6x17.
i will do some research...

Thanks Mark. So I remeasured in the light of day and I would have 9 X 4.5 but the return pump has to be in that chamber. I could probably go 17 high tho.
Let me know what you think!

 

[jill]

damn, 5x5x16.... that's not much...
of course i would be willing to mod that skimmer, but im almost certain there might be more space than that....
there was another member on here that had the elos 20g and the mini sump, and they got a skimmer in there i modded that was like 9x6x17.
i will do some research...

I just thought "outside the box" and I bet I could put the skimmer pump in the ATO box.. then the skimmer body could stay in the main chamber. The current skimmer body is about 3" in diameter.

 

[Skimmy]

I'm beginning to think that it might just be better to either dremel/remove baffles from the elos sump, or just use a different sump all together.

but FWIW, another elos mini owner on here was able to fit an Aqua euro 55 skimmer into her sump, (a crappy skimmer, but I hotrodded it with a sedra 2500 pump and meshed the impeller).
I believe she had to put the pump in the chamber with the return pump(same as the original)and take out the slanted baffle if im not mistaken.

the thing is, they dont sell that version of the aquaeuro 55 anymore...
they updated the design by direct injecting the pump into a bubble plate,
so it wont work, unless you find an older version of the skimmer, then change out the shyte resun pump that is worthless on it.

so hence my suggestion to just screw all that nonsense, find a plastic/acrylic/glass container to use as a sump, and then get a skimmer worth a damn, add a small fuge, attach a $30 media filter for GAC and GFO, and boom, your done.

it's just sad because the elos sump is really cool looking and works pretty decent except for the crappy skimmer.
and in their defense, they have at least come up with a plumbing piece you can attach to the ATO to clean out the skimmer injector every time the tank tops off with water. which is the main problem with that or just about any post pump venturi skimmer.

and that's my gripe, what business does one of the highest quality aquarium/filter manufacturers have making $600 dollar skimmers with stupidass venturi injectors??? not even a pinwheel eheim pump?? really??? for that price? WTF!

 

[jill]

I'm beginning to think that it might just be better to either dremel/remove baffles from the elos sump, or just use a different sump all together.

but FWIW, another elos mini owner on here was able to fit an Aqua euro 55 skimmer into her sump, (a crappy skimmer, but I hotrodded it with a sedra 2500 pump and meshed the impeller).
I believe she had to put the pump in the chamber with the return pump(same as the original)and take out the slanted baffle if im not mistaken.

the thing is, they dont sell that version of the aquaeuro 55 anymore...
they updated the design by direct injecting the pump into a bubble plate,
so it wont work, unless you find an older version of the skimmer, then change out the shyte resun pump that is worthless on it.

so hence my suggestion to just screw all that nonsense, find a plastic/acrylic/glass container to use as a sump, and then get a skimmer worth a damn, add a small fuge, attach a $30 media filter for GAC and GFO, and boom, your done.

it's just sad because the elos sump is really cool looking and works pretty decent except for the crappy skimmer.
and in their defense, they have at least come up with a plumbing piece you can attach to the ATO to clean out the skimmer injector every time the tank tops off with water. which is the main problem with that or just about any post pump venturi skimmer.

and that's my gripe, what business does one of the highest quality aquarium/filter manufacturers have making $600 dollar skimmers with stupidass venturi injectors??? not even a pinwheel eheim pump?? really??? for that price? WTF!

Thanks Mark but I have it figured out. I just realized that I have to clean the air hose about every 3 weeks. The salt creep is what was screwing it up. Now its working great - Nitrates are consistantly 0. My biological system seems to be balanced, part of it is that the live rock is full of bugs and do a great job of keeping wastes low. My clowns and damsel seem to ignore the bugs or at least don't eat too many of them. I wish I could say the same for my 300. The skimmer is way more important on it but even so I have managed to get the Nitrates down to 0 and it is also doing great. I know LOVE this hobby.