Update on my 2yr old, SC150 skimmer, post #9

Hey, all you SC150 (or 65) owners, or anyone that has a skimmer without and air intake adjustment. The SC150 came without this simple little device.

I just tried an easy mod to make your SC a bit more adjustable (should have come this way from the factory).

I bought some Maxijet power heads to increase my intank flow. (Wow, with the fan attachment- those things rock!)
It comes with a small air intake gadget to adjust the air flow thru the intake-if you used it- I'm not, no real app for a SW fish tank and air bubbles in the DT.

It's a small, simple little plastic thing that works great.
It's about an inch long, about 3/8 wide.
The little handle you see is a srew with an air hole the threads down into the barrel. By turning it you adjust the amount of air getting in.

Now I can lower the air intake just a bit, which in turn raises the water column in the skimmer body a bit, which enables me to run it on a higher #- hence more total flow thru the skimmer itself- more water being skimmed.

The first day yielded good results- still get great skim, and more total water being skimmed.

 

If your skimmer intake does not have an air adjustment, this is a quick, cheap, easy fix!

I know amny come with it, by bargain basement SC150 with rthe atman 2500/needle wheel pump skims great, but had no adjustment on the air intake for fine tuning even further.

Just thought I'd share

 

I've always wondered about this. I've had skimmers that came with air control valves, and I've always removed them. When you restrict the air flow, your putting less bubbles in the water, and increasing water flow. So are you skimming more water less efficiently with the restriction, and skimming less water more efficiently with no restriction? Any thoughts?

 

Yes, my thoughts exactly!
J/K

ON my SC150, to get the water column up to 'skim' properly I have to restrict the flow thru it alot.

I raised the water level it sits in, that helped some.

However, this device is for fine tuning the skim/flow ratio.

I can restrict it just slighlty, and it still makes bazillion bubbles, but flow more water thru the skimmer per minute also.

I'm still playing around with it, but it seems so far that with the slightest of air flow decrease, it gets more-slightly less dense skim, but more per 24hr period also.

So far, so good

 

Makes sense. I also raised the water level to make mine skim a little better. I'll have to try your idea.

 

how much air are you letting threw it?

 

Great idea!! I did that to my Tunze9002 skimmer a few months ago. WOW what a difference that mod makes. I made my intake hose a few feet longer and put it outside my tank, now its always grabbing fresh air.

 

Glad to help,

I was just thinking 'outside the box', about some pieces of equipment that came with my MaxiJets- in the box!

 

My SC150 (now the SCA 303?) skimmer cup, after just about 24-30hrs.

I'm upgrading to a 180, and I think I'll just continue to use this skimmer!

It's been about 2 years, and it still works awesome.
If I remember correctly, I paid about $95-100 shipped to my door.

I still recommend this skimmier over all the ones that work about the same that cost 2-4 x the price!

 

I really dig my SCA-301 ! Super inexpensive too.