jolt Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 That cucumber is hilarious! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 I'm officially off of skimmer neck cleaning duty! [emoji106] 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 OhhHhhHhhhhhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Can you throw a little hose from an aqualifter and plumb it to a waste line? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 The Skimz skimmer already has a drain port in the collection cup. The next step is to get a large reservoir for collection of the skimmate and throw a float valve in there to let me know it's time to empty it... as well as shut off my skimmer so it doesn't overflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Avast marine has that. They call it a skimate locker. It has carbon over the air vent and a air pressure cut off switch that is supposed to be unfoulable and a couple options for the wiring for the apex. It's spendy though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Avast marine has that. They call it a skimate locker. It has carbon over the air vent and a air pressure cut off switch that is supposed to be unfoulable and a couple options for the wiring for the apex. It's spendy though.Yeah, I've eyeballed that unit but it's tough to beat the price of my Walmart plastic container with a hole in it and some tubing sticking out of it. I realized I don't even need to do the carbon bit for the smell since my exhaust fan pulls all the funk out of my cabinet and canopy. I have like 6 float valves sitting around so I'll throw one in there and voila, skimmate locker on the cheap... change my ARC username to CheaperTy while I'm at it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+reeflover Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Ty! I still have your waste collector. Just need to make time to be over or whenever you will be over this way to see you sister. I am just too busy at work. I usually don't go by MT, my wife does all the grocery shopping. I could have her bring it over and meet you somewhere too if you still want it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 If you have 6 float switches I would use 2. I should change my name to redundancyreburn. Where could we put a SSR in this system 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Lol that skimmer cleaner is sweet. How often does that run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 2x a day with 3 swipes around the neck. I'm going to let it run this way and see how the neck looks in a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 If you have 6 float switches I would use 2. I should change my name to redundancyreburn. Where could we put a SSR in this system No...please... anything but a SSR! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nano Reefer Ky Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 ... change my ARC username to CheaperTy while I'm at it. HA! I like the new equipment. More automation never hurt anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 ... change my ARC username to CheaperTy while I'm at it. HA! I like the new equipment. More automation never hurt anyone Until it malfunctions and blows up in my face! [emoji33] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Looking forward to the long-term review of the skimmer cleaner. I assume the little squeegee needs to be replaced from time to time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 ... change my ARC username to CheaperTy while I'm at it. HA! I like the new equipment. More automation never hurt anyone Until it malfunctions and blows up in my face! [emoji33] Good thing for automated fire suppression! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 They never mentioned the silicone squeegee ever needing replacement. I did a quick search online and found nobody even selling replacements. Perhaps not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolt Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Low maintenance is good, for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 With the squeegee wouldn't most of the thickest crud just fall back into the skimmer/system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 With the squeegee wouldn't most of the thickest crud just fall back into the skimmer/system? I believe the idea is that skimmers foam breaks better and produces more plentifu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 With the squeegee wouldn't most of the thickest crud just fall back into the skimmer/system? I believe the idea is that skimmers foam breaks better and produces more plentiful and regular skimmate if the neck does not develop a layer of funk. I know when my skimmer neck gets that thick slime film on it, it will all but stop producing skimmate at all until I scrub it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Also, that first wipe picture I showed was with some thicker crud on it during the first "spin". I think with regular use, what it'll wipe will have less build-up so whatever gets knocked down will be easily picked up by the foam again. There's no amount of foam that's going to pick up the goop on the wiper in that picture. At least no foam I want to mess with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'm pretty sure your supposed to clean the neck before putting the neck cleaner into use They do sell replacements but they aren't needed very often and it isn't a regular mainintenence item. I can't remember where I saw them for sale. Out of curiosity why did you choose the vertex over the avast swabbie? The idea is like cleaning your glass daily vs weekly. daily or hourly doesn't accumulate much. A week or more can accumulate a bunch. And as more junk collects in the neck it essentially causes more friction where the foam head can't be pushed up as easily. The micro amounts that get scraped off and drop back into the foam head doesn't amount to much therefor not affecting peak skimmer performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 My choice was very simple... my in-laws bought me a gift card to BRS. :-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Here's a fun riddle: All 17 fish have been removed from a 215-gallon tank (except one pesky dartfish). Feedings have been non-existent in the display tank for the past 10 days. My nitrates have stayed the same at roughly 6-8ppm but my phosphates have spiked to 0.04 ppm, up from basically non-detectable with an ultra low Hanna phosphorus meter that reads down to the parts per billion. Chew on that one for a bit. I know I will be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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