AD87
Active member
Thought I would post some tribute photos to the former glory:
What bulb/ballast combo were you running in this photo?
AgentSPS' 300 Gallon ***DreamReef***
- Thread starter AgentSPS
- Start date
What bulb/ballast combo were you running in this photo?
AgentSPS
New member
The skimmer body is 10" but the base box is wider. Its 13" at its widest point.
AgentSPS
New member
I was using a combination of 400 and 250w Reeflux SE bulbs powered by PFO HQI ballasts. Now I use Lumatek switchable eballasts and have been equally as pleased with the performance. Way more efficient too!! This is the first summer I have made by without exceeding the $500 mark for power. Nothing changed but the ballasts. I would say they are saving me ~$75/month on power.
Last Version
New member
The coral very nice.. I'm envy youuuu...
AgentSPS
New member
Thanks!! I too have been following your tank and am amazed at the uniqueness and creativity you and ChingChai have! Its definitely an inspiration!!
AgentSPS
New member
Just wanted to give a little background on how I came to the decision on buying the Skimz as well as my initial feedback.
I have been rather frustrated with this tank to date as it just hasn't been as healthy nor stable as my previous 220. For the most part my parameters have all been kept where they should be yet I have had numerous outbreaks of STN and RTN less frequently. After tinkering with different lighting setups, adding a ton more current, experimenting with reduced nutrient import, experimenting with water change volume and frequency, etc"¦ the only thing which seems to have helped is improved skimming.
While the H&S has been a solid skimmer for me, it pales in comparison to many of the newer skimmers on the market. I attribute it mostly to the relatively weak Eheims and small needle wheels. It probably also does not help that I have never replaced the impellers in the 5 or so years I have operated it.
So for the last 3-4 months I have been wet skimming like crazy as the H&S does not have the ability to dry skim to the level required. This seems to be helping the health of the tank but still is not where I need it to be. I fear that as the tank matures more, the problems associated with debris buildup in the sandbad will only worsen.
So over the last 9-12 months, I have been researching just about every skimmer on the market. Its been kind of hard to get a good read on the newer ones because it seems like the tendency for anyone who invests in an expensive skimmer is to rave about it initially. Its only after the honeymoon phase is over that you find out the truth
That can take some digging because nobody is talking about their skimmers anymore after the honeymoon phase is over LOL.
So after a lot of deliberation, I decided to be the first US Guinea Pig for the new Skimz line. A few things that attracted me to Skimz were:
1) Very reasonable price point
2) Very clean CAD designed parts and attention to details and style
3) Quality materials throughout and heavy duty construction
4) Conventional 10" body with extra large bubble chamber for maximum exposure time. Would require a much larger/taller cone to accomplish the same.
5) Relatively compact design for an external skimmer
6) Powerful 5000lph yet compact and efficient Eden pumps
7) Large and tall needle wheel with what appear to be Rare Earth magnets on the impellar? (need to verify w/ Skimz)
8) Bragging rights for being the first
Initial Feedback:
I have not had the chance to run this thing yet as I am still waiting for them to send me the silicone air hoses and figure out how to adapt the metric plumbing to US spec. From a design and build perspective I am very impressed. These things are for the most part completely custom built with CNC machined parts (see custom control valve on exit pipe). The base, lid, and neck adapter is made of super thick Delrin plastic which will never warp like the cheapo Chinese parts I have seen made out of Delrin. Also the body and neck are quality cast acrylic with no waviness or imperfection. So overall I am very impressed with the quality but the proof will be in the pudding. So I don't want to get too excited yet. But I can tell you that, despite being built in Asia (Singapore), this is no cheap Chinese skimmer cobbled together with mass produced spare parts. IMHO this is built just as well, if not better, than many of the ATB, BK, new Deltec skimmers I have seen. Plus I can use all the money I saved to stock the tank!
Here are some more shots of the skimmer:
Eden Pump:
Large needle wheel with almost ½" tall needles:
Notice magnet is encased in hardened white plastic sheath. I think it might be Rare Earth magnets inside because its super lightweight:
Not sure if you can see all the acrylic work and tapped out threads for the hand built valve but its impressive!
I have been rather frustrated with this tank to date as it just hasn't been as healthy nor stable as my previous 220. For the most part my parameters have all been kept where they should be yet I have had numerous outbreaks of STN and RTN less frequently. After tinkering with different lighting setups, adding a ton more current, experimenting with reduced nutrient import, experimenting with water change volume and frequency, etc"¦ the only thing which seems to have helped is improved skimming.
While the H&S has been a solid skimmer for me, it pales in comparison to many of the newer skimmers on the market. I attribute it mostly to the relatively weak Eheims and small needle wheels. It probably also does not help that I have never replaced the impellers in the 5 or so years I have operated it.
So for the last 3-4 months I have been wet skimming like crazy as the H&S does not have the ability to dry skim to the level required. This seems to be helping the health of the tank but still is not where I need it to be. I fear that as the tank matures more, the problems associated with debris buildup in the sandbad will only worsen.
So over the last 9-12 months, I have been researching just about every skimmer on the market. Its been kind of hard to get a good read on the newer ones because it seems like the tendency for anyone who invests in an expensive skimmer is to rave about it initially. Its only after the honeymoon phase is over that you find out the truth
That can take some digging because nobody is talking about their skimmers anymore after the honeymoon phase is over LOL.So after a lot of deliberation, I decided to be the first US Guinea Pig for the new Skimz line. A few things that attracted me to Skimz were:
1) Very reasonable price point
2) Very clean CAD designed parts and attention to details and style
3) Quality materials throughout and heavy duty construction
4) Conventional 10" body with extra large bubble chamber for maximum exposure time. Would require a much larger/taller cone to accomplish the same.
5) Relatively compact design for an external skimmer
6) Powerful 5000lph yet compact and efficient Eden pumps
7) Large and tall needle wheel with what appear to be Rare Earth magnets on the impellar? (need to verify w/ Skimz)
8) Bragging rights for being the first
Initial Feedback:
I have not had the chance to run this thing yet as I am still waiting for them to send me the silicone air hoses and figure out how to adapt the metric plumbing to US spec. From a design and build perspective I am very impressed. These things are for the most part completely custom built with CNC machined parts (see custom control valve on exit pipe). The base, lid, and neck adapter is made of super thick Delrin plastic which will never warp like the cheapo Chinese parts I have seen made out of Delrin. Also the body and neck are quality cast acrylic with no waviness or imperfection. So overall I am very impressed with the quality but the proof will be in the pudding. So I don't want to get too excited yet. But I can tell you that, despite being built in Asia (Singapore), this is no cheap Chinese skimmer cobbled together with mass produced spare parts. IMHO this is built just as well, if not better, than many of the ATB, BK, new Deltec skimmers I have seen. Plus I can use all the money I saved to stock the tank!
Here are some more shots of the skimmer:
Eden Pump:
Large needle wheel with almost ½" tall needles:
Notice magnet is encased in hardened white plastic sheath. I think it might be Rare Earth magnets inside because its super lightweight:
Not sure if you can see all the acrylic work and tapped out threads for the hand built valve but its impressive!
matt & pam
Member
Is the valve a gate valve mechanism? I wonder if the metric fitting is the same on the octopus skimmers. I connected my external drain to 1 1/2" flex pvc and it worked like a charm.
AgentSPS
New member
Yes it's a gate valve.
I stuck in 1.5" PVC and there was close to 1/8" play. Way too much to just wrap a pipe in Teflon tape. Skimz is looking into a solution as they will have to address for te NA market come next month.
matt & pam
Member
I would try calling around to a plumbing supply shop. Maybe a cpvc fitting would work, they sometimes have different dimensions which might work.
Or maybe call U.S. Plastics Corp 1-800-809-4217
Are the pumps on the skimmer 110 volt?
Or maybe call U.S. Plastics Corp 1-800-809-4217
Are the pumps on the skimmer 110 volt?
ReefWaters
Premium Member
On my older Deltec AP702 it looks like they had inserted machined filler pieces inside the metric fittings. Kind of like a very thin busing. Standard PVC pipe fits snuggly. It was an obvious, but high quality, in-house fix to the metric to inch conversion. I don't know if they have come up with a better solution.
Skimz would probably make a "prettier" solution but you can see if this would work... http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastic-pipe-fittings-and-pipe/=8ldg7z
Skimz would probably make a "prettier" solution but you can see if this would work... http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastic-pipe-fittings-and-pipe/=8ldg7z
Last edited:
matt & pam
Member
another temporary option is to use the rubber seals with pipe clamps they have at HD/Lowes.
AgentSPS
New member
Guys-
Thanks for the suggestions! I found a place that sells metric to US (imperial) adapters:
http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?product=PVC-Metric-Adapters
Now I just need to find some place that sells small lengths of 50mm PVC pipe. Would hate to have to buy 16' of pipe when I only need like 3".
Thanks for the suggestions! I found a place that sells metric to US (imperial) adapters:
http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?product=PVC-Metric-Adapters
Now I just need to find some place that sells small lengths of 50mm PVC pipe. Would hate to have to buy 16' of pipe when I only need like 3".
matt & pam
Member
Why not just glue a 1.5" x 50 mm adapter to the T, converting the distal line to 1.5"? Then you could add a union downstream (or whatever else is needed).
AgentSPS
New member
15 liters/day but who cares as long as it keeps the chiller from kicking. This tank is much easier to maintain temp over my last 225 which seemed like the chiller was working overtime.
Way too much evaporation in the winter though. Had mold issues and had to buy a commercial grade dehumidifier.
AgentSPS
New member
Hi James! How is the tank man?
Litermeter all the way! Sprectrapure is stellar when it comes to support too.
isseym328
Premium Member
Tank is almost cycled and plumbing is in place. Just waiting on lights. Sticking with MH.
I will most likely have the same issues as you are seeing now. I have a decently deep sandbed ( for the natural look + good sleep for wrasses). Although I remember you telling me you didn't have a sand bed?
Do you stir your sand occasionally? With the size of your tank I know that'd take a lot of work.
I will look into the Litermeter, and then chiller etc etc.
I will most likely have the same issues as you are seeing now. I have a decently deep sandbed ( for the natural look + good sleep for wrasses). Although I remember you telling me you didn't have a sand bed?
Do you stir your sand occasionally? With the size of your tank I know that'd take a lot of work.
I will look into the Litermeter, and then chiller etc etc.
AgentSPS
New member
Good to hear! What lights you going with?
I do have a sandbed but its pretty shallow. Cuces has somehow moved most of the sand to the back of the tank and I am afraid to rake it all forward. Sadly though I only have a male bipartitus leopard and lined tamarin left of my wrasse collection. All the others died from some sort of bacterial skin infection. I think I talked about it earlier in this thread but the bacteria gets under the scales releasing some sort of pathogen which affects the muscles. Result is the fishes' scales get all raised, fish loses ability to swim, labored breathing, and eventual death. Good stuff!!
Speaking of wrasses, how is your blue striped tamarin doing???
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