skillter help plz?

so i have a skillter 400 right... well if you look @ these 2 pics it is real confusing on how the filter goes... the front pic shows the white facing out... but the side pic shows the three yellow bubbles labeled 1,2,3.. well yellow bubble 1 from left to right is the second yellow bubble..which is the white polyester filter..next is yellow bubble 2 which is the black carbon filter... then yellow bubble number 3 which is the first yellow bubble on the left is the bio matrix frame.... SO HOW DOES IT GO?? ho w can water flow through the white filter first if it is in front,or the carbon second if it is behind the white 1? ITS SO CONFUSING.

 

Regardless of where the filters are placed the water will still flow through.. only thing is that the water probably wont flow as much as it would if it only had one filter.

Are you have any problems with the skilter? I've read a couple of cons with this filter :S

 

Yo Dog,

What size tank are you using it on?

Do you realize that especailly if it's a SW tank, these type filters really have no place here by todays standards?

If you have a FO, (fish only), or a FOWLR (with Live Rock), then you might get by.

I hope you figure out your dilemma.

Happy Reefing!

 

You have the right idea- you want the white pad to trap the detritus first so it doesn't clog the pores of the carbon.

Todd is mostly right, however; while mechanical filtration can be used with SW, it will require higher maintenance standards as the trapped detritus will still break down into DOCs, causing nitrate problems if not cleaned frequently.

 

I used skilters on nanos housing carpet anemones and corals and the tanks did wonderfully.

They may be old school but that does not mean there is no place for them in the hobby.

 

Mine did great until it started leaking around the motor on the bottom. I found it tricky to assemble and it would come disassembled very easily if that makes sense and then it would no longer skim properly.

I was going to buy a new one to replace it but I found a skimmer/fuge combo was cheaper and provided me with more options than a traditional skimmer. I really like it and I think it does a better job than the skilter ever could.

 

im using it on a 55 gal tank... i realize it isnt the best option but it will get me by for now till i can get the better stuff up & going...
it is going to b a fowlr but i will add sum corals i think...

 

thank you uncle bill...lol..;D
thank you so much you answered my question....right now my tank is on the cycle stage.... it started on sunday night...we have ammonia with nothing else....so only time will tell...

 

The Skilter never worked well as a protein skimmer but was an OK HOB mechanical filter.
If you look on Nao Reef and Reef Central you will find many old threads where users such as myself modified them to work pretty well and for little money.
I found that a foam Whisper Triad insert fit in the Skilter frame with minimal trimming and enabled you to rinse and reuse it over and over for years without having to buy the expensive throw aways. You can also drill a hole in the lid, insert a piece of airline tubing with a wooden airstone attached so it fits down in the riser tube and can be raised or lowered to adjust the foaming action then powered by an airpump and it actually makes a pretty good HOB skimmer.
There were many articles on this back in its day.