Anyone have an idle mid-sized skimmer?

[thefuz]

Looking to finally add a skimmer to my sump to work in combo with the scrubber. I thought I had an old Euro Reef 135 skimmer that came with my original setup but I can't seem to dig it up in my house. It's probably been staring me in the face on a shelf or something. Regardless - it is still "missing".

So anyone have something of the medium-sized variety that they're looking to sell? Hoping to get away with not having to buy a new sump too. We shall see!

 

[rjinct]

I have a few skimmers I'm about to sell:

Vertex IN-100
ASM G1-X
ASM G2

I plan on keeping one of them (whichever one sells last). Still need to clean two of them up so that's why I haven't posted any of them yet. Let me know if you're interested in one (or two)!

 

[thefuz]

Thanks, RJ! I finally found where my Euroreef 135 was hiding. Apparently I'd packed it away in a box for safe keeping. Now to figure out how to cut down my scrubber and get this thing installed w/out crashing the tank.

 

[SantaMonica]

What is the scrubber not doing good enough?

 

[thefuz]

SM! Wow, didn't expect a celebrity in our midst. Dunno what's the cause per se. I can measure no NO3 whatsoever with multiple kits (Salifert, API, test strips) and P is measured at less than 0.02 with a low resolution Hanna meter (6ppb or so by the meter). I feed less than a cube per night. The scrubber seems to be populated mostly with the gel variety of algae though there is some turf underneath.

I suspect there's just a good deal of detritus on the rockwork that's given the hair algae a base to build from. I'm about to do a 20% w/c (switching salt to Tropic Marin as it matches my levels better than Reef Crystals) and take out some of the more offensive rocks for scrubbing. I reduced the photo period to less than 3 hours of MH (250W 14k one side/20k the other). I plan on cutting the scrubber size in half so I can compliment it with a skimmer and see if that improves the situation.

 

[SantaMonica]

Now I've heard it all :O

Sounds like the scrubber light is weak. It should also be 2-sided to work best.

 

[thefuz]

I am at just about 3 months with the bulbs so you probably have a point there. It is lit on both sides though. The screen is roughly 12x16 with (3) 23watt 3K CF bulbs in circular reflectors and the bulbs are replaced every 3 months. I do get dinoflaggelates periodically and I rinse the screen mid week when I see/smell them. Otherwise I go 7-10 days on screen cleanings.

I'm contemplating an upgrade to LEDs but haven't done the research yet. Planning on getting a look at Scolly's setup to see how it's done.

 

[SantaMonica]

12 X 16 = 192 sq inches needs at least 192 total watts, which for 2-sided would be 96 watts per side. If you have 3 of the 23w bulbs on each side and are not loosing any light sideways, then it's about 30 watts low on each side. And I'm sure you are loosing probably half the light sideways. So the problem is low wattage.

If you want to keep the current 138 total watts, it would be better to put one 44 watt on each side with a big 8 or 10" reflector, and cut the screen down to 8 X 8, and put the bulbs about 5" from the screen. 88 total watts on 64 sq inches will be much better and have better flow too.

 

[thefuz]

The dimensions are oversized for the system, are they not? I was planning on cutting it down to 8x16 (the length is intended to assist with quiter/less turbulent flow into the sump - I only light the top 60%). In addition, I was considering LEDs to punch up the wattage. Flow is a side benefit.

I didn't realize the wattage went up that high on CFLs. Can you get them at HD or Lowes?

 

[SantaMonica]

Oversized screen don't perform as well.

Yes 44 watt bulbs are a standard.