AGM Mini or AGM G1 Skimmer for 20 gal nano?

[djrecklessk]

I am a newbee to reef central and wanted to take advantage of all the wealth of knowledge everyone has contributed to site. Well I am in the process of creating my first nano tank and would appreciate everyone's expertise in choosing the right equipment for nano tank. I'm currently eyeing a AGM Mini skimmer or AGM G1? I know the AGM mini was just released 3 months ago, but I would like to hear from anyone who has used it. I know the AGM G1 is rated for a 75 gal tank, but is there really such a thing as over skimming? My setup consist of a standard 20 gallon tank with a BB 18 gal sump. I don't really know what type of live stock I want to get, however I would love to a clam and very soft and hard corals. I'd like to thank everyone in advance for your response.

 

[Mikeeal]

I'm a fan of "overskimming", so the G1 gets my vote.

 

[djrecklessk]

Thanks Mikeeal for the warm welcome. I'm gonna wait about a week to purchase the skimmer because I want to hear from a few more fellow reefers before I make my final decision. When I get the skimmer I will post some pictures of my entire system.

 

[headonkey]

I have two 30s plumbed into the same sump and I'm running a G1. I just upgraded the pump to the sedra 3500. Its kickin' butt right now. I'd also like to hear about the mini.

 

[djrecklessk]

I just got in the mini skimmer and plugged it in over night and to my disappointment it hasn't produced any form just yet. The pump is really noisy appose to the larger ASM G3 that I have on my other tank. I will give you more update when I get the chance. So far I am not happy with this purchase, but maybe I'll change my mind later tonight when i get home and hopefully by then the skimmer will have broken in.

 

[kabal2]

i have the asm mini and i dont really like it, the pump is underpower and to just give it a kick i had to put a air pump so it makes some foam, if i was you and had the money i was going with the asm g1 or g1x

 

[djrecklessk]

You shoulda advise me earlier Kabal2??? I just purchased this mini just last saturday. Hopefully they are willing to except an exchange for for it. Well I guess I could still go home and check on the skimmer.

 

[logans_daddy]

not sure if you bought your G3 new but these skimmers need to be "broke in". i didnt do this when i bought mine and it didnt pull anything for over a week. not it pulls skinmate like a champ.

shawn:bum:

 

[djrecklessk]

I purchased my G3 Skimmer new and it works like a champ. After a break in time of 2 hours it collected a lot of skimmate. I'm worried about the Mini. Since i've had success with the G3 I figured the Mini would be the same. Don't you think 12 hrs a lil long to have it be broken in? Well new a new batch of live rock, i figured the mini would have no problems collecting skimmate. Well I'll just have to wait till I get home to see what happens.

 

[Melbourne]

Go for the G1, better to overskim then to underskim. You can always adjust the G1 for drier foam. FWIW I'm running a Deltec MCE600 on a 12g nano.

 

[kabal2]

mi asm mini skims very wet, i can't get it to skim a bit driyer, thats why i dont like it, and mine was break in, in a tub with dirty fishtank water for around 1 week before put in it in my sump

 

[logans_daddy]

wow...it just sounds like the mini may be a lemon. does the mini have a riser tube like the others? i dont understand how you cant get it to run drier? anyways, djrecklessk have you thought about the recirc mod? its very easy and inexpensive and as far as i know it shouldnt be a problem with a mini. you should definitely pull much more skinmate.

shawn :bum:

 

[djrecklessk]

The mini does have a riser tube and looks exactly like the other line of ASM skimmers. I haven't looked into the recirculating modifications as I am not a big DIY type person. Seems really easy to modify, but I just don't want to waste the skimmer away if I make a mistake. I know it makes the skimmer run more efficiently, but unfortunately I can't afford to damage the skimmer without first having some experience modifing skimmers.

As far as the my mini is concerns, after 12 hours of operations in my sump, I noticed it was creating foam in the neck area of the skimmer but does not over flow to the collection cup. I'm going to wait another 12 hours or so tosee the result. If nothing happens then I"m going try to raise the riser tube later on tonight. Hopefully this skimmer will start performing soon. Otherwise I might want to upgrade it if my LFS lets me.

 

[logans_daddy]

upgrading it is probably your best option. it is definitely better to overskim than underskim. i have a G3 on my 75 and it pulls skinmate like a champ. if you cant upgrade it though, the recirc mod is your best bet. if you dont want to do it yourself(even though its only two holes with a spade bit) these guys will do it for you

http://www.asmskimmer.com/

the gateway valve mod is another great mod that is real easy to diy. you can pick up the valve on ebay for about $10 and the other parts from homedepot for about $5-$10. this will help fine tuning between wet/dry a lot easier, and you can redirect you return to somewhere else in the sump if you want.

shawn:bum:

 

[kabal2]

do you guys knwo what is the pvc size for the gate mod in the asm mini???
btw in mine i have the rec mod done

 

[djrecklessk]

Here is my skimmer box that the Mini arrived in.

This is the skimmer after 12 hours of operation.

Here is the skimmer after 36 hours of operation.

I guess I can't complain about the skimmer, it is doing its job. I think i'll decide to keep this skimmer. What do you guys thinks?

 

[logans_daddy]

djrecklessk i think that looks good for a new skimmer. i wasnt pulling that much until well after a week or two with mine. what kind of bio load do you have? fish/gallon? kabal2 im not sure what the diameter is for the mini, but it should be the same diameter pipe as your riser. you can just take your riser to homedepot and test fit in the fittings isle. i know mine is 1 1/4
so my guess would probably be somewhere between 3/4 and 1" here is my cup after 3 days...im getting ready to empty it now



[img=http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7171/reefcentral0020yy.jpg]

 

[djrecklessk]

As you tell I have nothing in this tank. I just put in 11 lbs of marshall LR 3 days ago, that's probably why my Mini has started cranking on the skimmate. Once the LR cures, I'm gonna put another 15 lbs of LR from my 150 tank. I'm still not sure what i'm gonna do with this tank, but I have considered upgrading my lights to MH. Right now I'm using the current 2 x 65 pc w/moon light. It really does give you the best bang for the buck, but I figure if I get a retro fit MH 175W with a canopy it would be about $150-$180 difference. I guess I'm gonna have to decide quick as to what I want to achieve in this tank.

Originally on my 150 w/60 gal sump, I was gonna purchase the G4, but the person from asmskimmer.com recommended the G3, for. I thought this might be under skimming my tank, but to my surprise it is doing a great job. So that is why I have such high expectations for my mini. No presure though!!!!

my 150

How much load do you have using your G3?

 

[logans_daddy]

my tank is a 75gallon FOWLR. i have 6 pigs in my tank right now which doesnt seem like much but man they make a lot of waste. i love the G3, i dont use any other type of filtration besides the LR and some chaeto for nutrient absorption. i think the skinmate your pulling with that little bit of rock is great. i bought 90# of semi-cured LR and didnt pull nearly that much while my tank cycled. im in the same boat with the lighting....i have 4 T5 retros in my 75 and i just bought a 48" MH pendant. i am going to start dripping kalkwasser and monitoring my calc. in preparation for adding a few corals. im going to have to be real careful though because none of my fish are exactly "reef safe". btw....your 150 looks real nice. i love the aquascaping...is that a juvi koran next to the yellow tang?

shawn:bum:

 

[djrecklessk]

Yes logans daddy, indeed it is a juvenile koran. It is beginning to change colors now. I've had him for about a year and a half. I didn't really want to keep him in my reef tank, however i was forced to move him because of a move. The only place I had for him was in my 150. He is really happy, but he actually feeds on my snails. I've only seen him eat one, but who know how many he can eat. He doesn't seem to bother anyone though. (knock on wood)