Kent Marine Nautilus Tubo Eductor Protein Skimmer

[JayBeDriften]

Hello everyone, I'm actually interested in picking up this Protein Skimmer to replace the two Seaclone 100 Protein Skimmers that I initially placed on my Reef Aquarium to something stronger and basically more efficient. Has anyone ever seen these in action or have any feedback on them? I'm most likely going to attach a Mag 9 to power the unit.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...us.asp?CartId=

[wwest]

I cant remember, do you have a sump?

i love the nautilus, we placed one in my friends tank about two weeks ago it replaced a seaclone 150. his is skimming 140 gallons. and he is pulling out about 1 inch of junk in the cup a day. it is kicking butt and taking names. its easy to control and easy to setup. its a very nice unit in my opinion. when i set my sump up that is what i am buying. but as far as i know you have to have a sump for that unit.

[JayBeDriften]

Well I have a wet/dry that I'm going to attempt to convert over to a sump by removing the bio-balls. I was curious in this a H.O.B. Protein Skimmer or in sump? Also what is your friend using to as a pump for his setup?

[wwest]

it is a in sump and i purchased the rio 2100 for it. i love this skimmer. but also the skimmer with that pump needs some room. fairly big base of the skimmer and with the hoses it just makes it bigger. i will try and get a messurment for you this tonight or this weekend so you can know how much room you will need. i would say about a 12 inch square would be comforable.. but i will messure to make sure..

[JayBeDriften]

I'm actually headed to the store this evening I'll just bring along a measuring tape with me. :-) Anything else I should know about it?

[wwest]

not that i can think of. i would say if you have a 12x12 space to stick it in you would be ok. once you do get it i can help you adjust the water level inside of the skimmer ( if you need help ) and the air flow going into the pump we are running wide open. um lets see. oh yea if you want to do alittle test on it when you first get it. leave the seaclone on the tank with a empty clean cup and run them both side by side you will be amazed lol

[JayBeDriften]

Sounds like a plan. The last time I placed my seaclones within the wet/dry filter after the water fell; through the bioballs their didn't collect anything they only worked when hung off the back area of the tank. If worse comes to worse I can always get a 55 gallon rubbermaid. Cannot find the 100 gallon ones in my area and drop in live rock and repalce the wet dry to my bed reef aquarium. :-)

[wwest]

i ment just leave the seaclone on the back of the display tank. you dont have to. we ended up cleaning the nautilus 8 times before we had to clean the seaclone lol.. if you cant find a rubbermaid i might be able to help. ill look into that for..

[JayBeDriften]

Wwest, thanks I have seen the 100 gallons Rubbermaids at Pet Stores but when I checked home depot. Nothing :-(

[wwest]

we feed the horses with a rubbermaid tub. and i beleice it is 100 gallons but we purchased that at a feed store

[JayBeDriften]

I live in the Bronx Wwest. I don't think we have horses. :-) LOL

[wwest]

i was thinking maybe drive out of town but that drive is probably a 3 hour drive lol. so i have to get a deisel filter this weekend and ill look into it for ya. i can always ship from work..

[JayBeDriften]

Wwest, I would definitely appreciate it you could look into the price of them and if anything I could always send you the cash and a shipping label. :-) Thanks for the help.

[JayBeDriften]

Wwest, in your opinion do you think attaching a Mag 9 Drive would be overkill since you have seen one of these things in action?

[wwest]

the mag 9 i havnt used yet so i dont want to speak from experience however the mag 9 has a flow rate of 950 GPH and the suggested Rio 2100 has a flow rate of 692 GPH so in my opinion the mag 9 might be overkill. but i could be wrong. i would say stick around the suggested flow rate of 692 and you should be ok. maybe someone esle will step in about the Mag 9 and having a larger flow rate than suggested.

ill look into the tub for you. not a problem at all

[CarmieJo]

But a mag 7 is around 700 gph.

[wwest]

that is very true also. i didnt think about that i have never used mag's

[fat walrus]

the nautilus is a good skimmer for the size and money.

[wwest]

jason, just wondering if you got the nautlis and how you like it?

[JayBeDriften]

Wwest, I actually went into the store and ended up seeing the CoralLife Super Skimmers in action. Their cheaper and include everything needed to setup the skimmer right out the box. I purchased a 65 gallon model and the thing had pleased me beyond belief. I have to empty the collection cup ever two to three days and this is doing dry skimming. I have even come home to the collection cup top being pushed off by the crud being skimmed out. Definitely a good skimmer in my opinion.

[wwest]

is the crud brown, green or brownish greenish?

[JayBeDriften]

Wwest, these photographs were take 1 day after cleaning the collection cup.

[JR Aquatics]

Jay, I would call that is wet skimming. Usually the a dry foam will produce a darker skimmate collection. Here is a pic of a daily skimmate form mine.
I have read other forums that if you choose you can produce a good dry skimmate with some fine tuning. I tried to find the forum link but all I found were questions on the skimmer. If I come across it I will post it for you. Let me know if how it works, a buddy of mine has a 45gal and was interested in this skimmer.

[JayBeDriften]

JR Aquatics, hmmm I will definitely have to review the manual once more because within the instructions you can adjust the foam level within the container so that whe n the foam reaches a minimal line indicated on the skimmer usually 1/8 up the pipe the manual classified that as dry skimming. If you choose to keep it around 3/4 up the pipe then the manual classified that as wet skimming. Let me review the manual after work and maybe we can come to a conclusion. :-)