modded ASM

[treesprite]

Pics at bottom.

 

Been wanting to do this for a while, make the ASM mini to work outside of my clown tank's sump because it won't fit under the stand. This isn't hanging on, it's sitting on something.

 

1. I took off the riser thing that is raised or lowered to adjust the skimmer, and replaced it with a valve and PVC to have the water going into the sump. It makes a difference how deep into the sump the exit is - if it's too far down, the water pressure makes it impossible to keep the skimmer cup from flooding over.

 

2. Connected 1/2" PVC to where the pump is supposed to be connected to the skimmer body, which goes into the sump connected to the pump. There's a lot of head loss, so I am going to have to get a bigger pump to make up for it, but either way, this is more helpful than the CPR BakPak I've been using.

 

I was sloppy with the silicone, but there are no longer any leaks. There was leaking all around the upper and lower seams of the skimmer body to top and base - poor construction for what is supposed to be a quality skimmer.

 

 

Edited December 30, 2009 by treesprite

[davelin315]

I found that the ASM G6 I had would leak at all the seams as well as at all O-rings, regardless of what I did to the O-ring itself. I think one of the issues with these skimmers is the material itself is very uneven and has a lot of imperfections. This allows for it to be cheaper, but at the same time it causes it to be more difficult to get a good seal if you just slap them together, which is what it seems they do. Mine even leaked at the Uniseals a bit.

 

One issue that you might encounter is now that it's waterproof it might be difficult to do maintenance on it...

[Coral Hind]

I have two ASMs and I have the same observations as Dave mentioned. I am worried that the way you have it set up externally this unit will slowly leak around the upper o-ring making a mess for you.

[treesprite]

So far it isn't having a problem. It doesn't leak at all from the O-ring. I really need to look for a pump, but right now I'm investing myself in the "new" tank! At least I'm getting more out of this thing than that CPR BP.