SeaClone Protein Skimmer
Seaclone Protein Skimmer
The folks at Instant Ocean certainly know a lot about how to build and maintain a salt water aquarium. So it stands to reason that they would know what it takes to build a good protein skimmer. There are two models of the Seaclone Protein Skimmer available. The Seaclone 100 Protein Skimmer is for tanks up to 100 gallons, while the Seaclone 150 Protein Skimmer is built for tanks up to 150 gallons.
Both models of the Seaclone Protein Skimmer are made for either in sump or hang on the back of the tank applications. Thhis makes these skimmers versatile enough for just about anyone.
Instant Ocean has priced the Seaclone protein skimmer at a price point that makes it attractive to most people, especially those new to the hobby of keeping a marine tank. Once you realize just how important a skimmer is, there is a tendency to go out and get a skimmer, even if you cannot afford one that might be considered high end. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but make sure you understand what you are getting because like many other things in life, buying a protein skimmer is one of those “you get what you pay for” kind of things.
So, when it comes to the Seaclone protein skimmer, you have a skimmer that is priced quite attractively, but you also have a product that needs a little attention in order to get the most out of it. If you read enough protein skimmer reviews, you will see both good and bad reviews about just about every skimmer on the market and Seaclone skimmers are no exception.
I have seen these skimmers reported to be really good, and I have seen them reported to be terrible. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but if you pay attention to a few small things, you can have a decent skimmer at a relatively low price that can last a long time and doo a good job on your tank.
First, you must allow the skimmer to break in. What does that mean? Simply turning on any skimmer and thinking you are going to be pulling out a lot of waste is simply wishful thinking. The skimmer has to be hooked up properly, and allowed to run for at least several days before you can judge what it is doing in your tank. Anything you add to your marine tank has to have time to actually become part of the system. In the case of a protein skimmer, this means the surface gets covered with bacteria and the pump gets broken in. You will notice a huge difference in what is being left in the collection cup if you just give it some time to break in.
Another thing that is part of the break in process when it comes to the Seaclone Protein Skimmer, is the tendency for the unit to push bubbles into your tank. This is normal for these units, and again, somethign that just takes a little time before it will go away. The bubble issue usually clears itself up in about a week.
One more thing to remember when adding any skimmer to your tank is that you have to consider the age of the tank. If you have an older, established tank you should expect to see results from your skimmer in the first several days. On the other hand if your tank is brand new you don’t have a very large amount of waste to be skimmed, therefore you will not see much happening when it comes to the skimmer. Don’t be fooled by this into thinking that you don’t need one! Hook the skimmer up, allow it to become part of your system, and as you build your livestock load and your tank matures, so will the job your skimmer is doing for your tank.
In short, the Seaclone Protein Skimmer is a good choice for beginners and those with a tight budget. This product can accomplish what you are looking for it to do, but you must pay attention to the details of how a skimmer operates, and don’t have unrealistic expectations. If you stay in the hobby long term, you will probably want to save up and get a more powerful and more expensive skimmer, but the Seaclone can handle the job for as long as you need in the meantime.