NEW IceCap AIO Protein Skimmers

[arrik22]

Doesn’t seem like this thread is active anymore and this is my first post, but there is almost no information or support about this product out there. no videos on youtube. the setup instructions are not good enough to understand how to start out and what to adjust during the dial-in period. what level in the tank? how strong the pump? how low/high the collection cup? which of these should be adjusted first, when needed? what should i expect for results when properly tuned and how often will the collection cup fill?

 

[zobbie]

Dang. Just attached the intake tube to my old BRS media reactor and added CO2 scrubbing media. I am a believer!

7.93 in the morning and slowly going to 8.2. I'll add the ozone generator during the weekend after observing the Corals for a few days. But very promising.

How did you connect yourCO2 scrubber to the skimmer? Thinking of buying this setup. Thanks

 

[bubbgee]

How did you connect yourCO2 scrubber to the skimmer? Thinking of buying this setup. Thanks

it works best if you can set it up as re-circulating co2. I got better performance along with a kalk reactor.

 

[offthehook]

Bumping this thread, curious how those that tried the ice cap Aio 240 are still liking it or not, function, holding up etc. searching for the ideal skimmer for my 33 AIO with about 4x3.5 compartment measurement, this one seems to fit the bill but that all depends on how folks are liking it.

 

[GunnarH]

Surging sound from IceCap AIO 120 protein skimmer.

My AIO 120 skimmer is not making bubbles at all on the 2 lowest speed settings. If I go just one more step up, so it starts making bubbles, it also starts making noise. Loud enough so I can hear it across the room.

It’s a surging noise, kinda like “chug-a-chug-a”, about twice a second.

The skimmer is mounted so the top of the body is 2-3/8” above the water line. The perforated cylinder is installed the correct way.

I’ve taken the skimmer apart just to make sure that nothing is obstructed or misaligned. I cleaned the little sponge and made sure the impeller and chamber were clean.

Ideas? This noise is driving me nuts…

 

[Nidirom]

These things are just junk. Complete waste of money

 

[GunnarH]

Surging sound from IceCap AIO 120 protein skimmer.

In the end, what I found solved the problem was to restrict the intake of water on the side of the skimmer.

There is no mechanism to do this on the skimmer itself (other than setting the speed of the pump, which in my case was either a bit too low or a bit too high), but moving the skimmer so the intake side is up against a partition (wall) did the trick. Not all the way up against the partition of course, just close enough so the intake is restricted a little bit.

After fiddling with this, and the pump speed, I've finally been able to get the skimmer to produce a decent amount of dark skimmate, and to do so relatively quietly and without surging.

On the positive side of the ledger:
* The skimmer is compact and fits in the back chambers of many small AIO tanks.
* It's got a DC pump with speed control.
* The pump motor itself is quiet.
* If you get it dialed in, it works well.

On the negative side:
* It's difficult (finicky) to adjust.
* The steps on the pump speed control are too far apart.
* The collection cup is held in place by a rubber band(!)
* Taking the skimmer body apart for cleaning is difficult to do without breaking the plastic tabs holding it together.