I have a salt water tank. It is a 55-gallon, fish-only tank. My equipment
consists of: Eheim ECCO 2233 canister filter, one power head running for
added circulation, and a TUNZE Comline 3110/2 protein skimmer. I do not
currently have any live rock due to a lack of funds, but will add some when
that situation changes. I upgraded to the TUNZE due to my old skimmer being
a piece of junk. I chose a Tunze due to it's good reputation. I am beginning
to think this reputation is unwarranted. I believe that Tunze invented protein
skimmers (or foam fractionators) and perhaps they are cut some slack for
this reason.

directions,
if you are familiar with those. Perhaps my problem is simply not knowing how
to work this thing....I am open to that possibility but I don't currently
believe it. Also there is little-to-nothing on the web to help.

First,
I am aware that this skimmer is designed for a smaller tank than mine. Still,
my old skimmer was a piece of air-driven junk that was supposed to be used
for a tank larger than mine. So anyone can see how subjective these things
really are. And I saw it like this: if Tunzes are so highly regarded then
I will still be ahead when compared to my old skimmer. This skimmer is also
intended to be attached to the back of the tank wall. For my size of tank
this was not possible without removing a glass top. My lights rest on those,
so that was not an option. I bought it anyway, thinking I would find a way.
The salesperson at the LFS gave me a look, but I wish I could show him how
easy this was to remedy. Instead of attaching it to the back wall, I attached
it to a side, so that the skimmer and the tank are horizontal to each other.
See pictures on
next page.

So this
page is here to (1) help others by reading about my experience with this skimmer,
and (2) to perhaps get a little input from others as to their experience with
or just their thoughts on it.

These
skimmers are not cheap. I got what I believe is the smallest unit they make.
There is no doubt this skimmer is better than my previous one. Still, it has
caused me some grief. The directions that come with this are lacking--to be
kind. It reminds me of IKEA