HI,
Took some water to my LFS they ran nitrite and phos , both ok but not perfect, I decided to use a old siphon hose I have to convert it to a Phos Reactor, I took the end of the siphon hose it had a large piece tubing on the end for vaccuming gravel, I cut down a piece of that blue and white filter pad to fit inside to block the small opening on one end of the 2in diameter tube I then filled the container with phosguard, there was a small tube on one end that inserted in to 2 in of 3/4 tubing, and connected that to an old power head , I finished it off with a larger piece of that blue and white filter pad over the large opening used two large rubber bands to hold it on. well thats a phos reactor didn't cost me a dime. except the phosban..
Put it in the sump and plugged in the power head it was pulling water thru the beads in the container. I attached it to my light timer so when they go off it can rest.
I did allow a small space between the media and the filter pad on the end, so when I put it in the sump I put the media side down lower than the pump so when I power it off the beads sink down a bit allowing them to rotate alittle this will allow all sides of the beads to work if theres any problems with water flow.
The beads are moving around in my home built phos reactor, so I think it will work, after the phos is normal I may replace it with Seachem Purigen
that stuf can be revitalized with bleach and re-used may be better than carbon for organic soluble waste and with my clear sides I can see it turn brown..
Doug
it looks like this with a power head on one end fits in the sump nicely.
the beads are moving around
I don't see why you couldn't use a plastic coke bottle or a water bottle to make a cheap filter for media, it would work in any sump.
, the animals are all looking great alittle of that diatom on the fake coral it does dust off pretty easy, I believe once the phos is less than one it will stop growing, the purple coraline looks like its growing every where. Something is working.. No MIA"S in the tank one of the black clowns is a grumpy and chases every one around but he losses interest and tries to hijack a shrimp to groom him, I had no idea how every one seems to like the peppermint shrimp even the bleemy..he's getting fat as is the goby. He's really looking better more color and his fins are perfect..
Doug
PS MY AQUATRADER 29.00 Skimmer came today it goes in the sump tonight it looks awsome for the buck very similar to that other cheap skimmer not sure if its going to work out.
Notes after 24 hours
things I don't like about this new skimmer,
1. bubbles are difficult in sump my guess the pumps too weak, can't handle a depth greater than 6 in,if you hang it on the side it works great with the u fitting they provided for the pump. but sensitive to water level changes like when you add R/O..
2. the cup is only held on buy a rubber seal this may leak as it ages, but didn't overflow when cup was full, I removed the cap off the overflow near the bubble generator
3.the bubbles seem a little too, large compared to the coral life.
4 .Very sensItive to water level in sump, if you add water you better be sure its off or you'll float the cup
first 24 hours foaming alot no yellow, yet hey but thats normal
5. The coralife has a niple on one of the pump return arms that allow skillmate to run off if the cups full it goes back into the sump.,thats a big plus if your hanging it on the side of a tank , otherwise you may have some of that nasty stuff on the carpet talk about a stain.
New Notes added 2/3//04 it works finally. amended results whoops it actually works...the odessaa go figure...02/07/07 checked the odessa skimmer it was ful to the tops its really trying to help , the cup is so small when compared to the coralife, it will work but you'll need to check it daily if your feeding alot
doug
psps the odessa lights are awsome, for only 76 buck, i posted my likes about them in the light forum. awsome they are so bright comes with 2 white 2 blue, and the moon lights are neat-ooo
Problems with marineland filters 
