ATB 'Small' Cone Pan/Plate Skimmer
- Thread starter hahnmeister
- Start date
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
No, that skimmate is not from the QO. I havent taken pics of that yet. It is meshmodded, yes, and it is less turbulence, yes (less water flow).
Lumamae
In Memoriam
ATB Nano Skimmers are coming in!
ATB Nano Skimmers are coming in!
This was the model I was extremely interested in earlier, but couldn't wait, so purchased an BM instead. Just heard that my skimmer dealer will be testing the Nano next week. Can't wait!
Nano includes the meshwheel Eheim 1250 (smaller brother to 1260)
ATB Nano Skimmers are coming in!
This was the model I was extremely interested in earlier, but couldn't wait, so purchased an BM instead. Just heard that my skimmer dealer will be testing the Nano next week. Can't wait!
Nano includes the meshwheel Eheim 1250 (smaller brother to 1260)
xinumaster
reef addict
Hi Hahn, what happens when you feed your animals with cyclop-eeze? Does the bubbles drop down to below the neck? My ER does this every time I feed my corals and fish with cyclop-eeze, and so I don't get skimmate at night.
ATB website does not show what pump is used on their normal cone skimmer. Do you know what pump it will use?
ATB website does not show what pump is used on their normal cone skimmer. Do you know what pump it will use?
Jim_S
Timo Boll
All skimmers will do this. Especially those with meshwheels. Certain foods contain oils that compromise the surface tension of water. As a result, skimmers lose their foam head until those oils are gone.
I have a feeling that they will be using an "ATB" version of the laguna that RE makes red dragons from. But that is just a feeling....
I have a feeling that they will be using an "ATB" version of the laguna that RE makes red dragons from. But that is just a feeling....
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hahnmeister
In Memoriam
There will be Laguna based pumps used for the Med and larger skimmers. I gave them the specs for how to get the most air from the Lagunas from the least wattage... which includes using an even larger volute/impeller-well than the Red Dragon pumps. The 2400 Laguna is capable of over 4000lph of air like this... although the problem is... this will mean a whole new XXL skimmer to handle that much (although the water turbulence does drop, so it may not have to be too wicked huge). The 2000 and 1500 will have their versions as well... using smaller intake/output, etc... so they will match up better with the other skimmers. Anton is even considering a redone version of the Lagna 600/900 for the smaller skimmers, the results are that good.
Its been a while since I talked with Victor about it, but he suggested that I would be getting one of the larger beasts to test out... and luckily I have a couple buddies with 1000g+ systems close to me that I can test it out on.
Its been a while since I talked with Victor about it, but he suggested that I would be getting one of the larger beasts to test out... and luckily I have a couple buddies with 1000g+ systems close to me that I can test it out on.
Lumamae
In Memoriam
Just a suggestion, can someone rename these?
Just a suggestion, can someone rename these?
Victor & HahnM,
Can you guys rename these for USA market, instead of Nano, Small, Normal and XL? The Nano isn't for nano tanks, it's capacity is probably around 100g - 150g range, probably 200g is optimistic. Maybe call it by the diameter x height?
Just a suggestion, can someone rename these?
Victor & HahnM,
Can you guys rename these for USA market, instead of Nano, Small, Normal and XL? The Nano isn't for nano tanks, it's capacity is probably around 100g - 150g range, probably 200g is optimistic. Maybe call it by the diameter x height?
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
I dont know, I think numbers tend to get confused alot and mixed up more than a name. Sometimes people cant figure out what the numbers stand for, or the one number stands for something that more than one model has, and then you have to go adding even more numbers. Its a valid point though... just keep in mind that in the EU, many refer to their 100g-300g reefs as micro or mini reefs, and nano is pretty much anything under 100g it seems. What we call nano might be a pico to them. Not that they are used to larger reefs even... they just use different names for different sizes. Our 'Large Tank' Forum might be called 'mini-reef' forum over there...lol... because compared to nature, it is pretty tiny. So their 'nano' is named pretty correctly when you consider it all. If there was a 12" tall, 2" neck, 4" base cone skimmer with 200lph of air for what we consider 'nanos', it would most likely end up as a 'pico'.
... 12" tall, 2"neck, 4" base cone skimmer with a 200lph pump (what, an eheim 1048?)... lol... that would be cute. Too bad most nano users end up using nano cubes or HOB models... that would be cool otherwise... prolly handle up to a 40g.
Perhaps a letter designation would be best... like Mercedes... or a number that doesnt mean anything... but then again... things get confusing with arbitrary numbers like this. The 'A' class, or 'B' class... its crazy.
Anton uses numbers on his other skimmers... like the D150, D200, or 400... think its based on the diameter like H&S and ATI, and BK's do it. Only the cones cant go by that due to their shape. Or should the number be related to the maximum tank rating... or reasonable tank rating? The nano would be the 100, the Small be the 200, and the Medium be the the 400... and on? Ill agree, if there ends up being some mid-models, like one between the Small and the Medium (1000lph), this could be a problem... what then... 'Medium Small?'...lol.
... 12" tall, 2"neck, 4" base cone skimmer with a 200lph pump (what, an eheim 1048?)... lol... that would be cute. Too bad most nano users end up using nano cubes or HOB models... that would be cool otherwise... prolly handle up to a 40g.
Perhaps a letter designation would be best... like Mercedes... or a number that doesnt mean anything... but then again... things get confusing with arbitrary numbers like this. The 'A' class, or 'B' class... its crazy.
Anton uses numbers on his other skimmers... like the D150, D200, or 400... think its based on the diameter like H&S and ATI, and BK's do it. Only the cones cant go by that due to their shape. Or should the number be related to the maximum tank rating... or reasonable tank rating? The nano would be the 100, the Small be the 200, and the Medium be the the 400... and on? Ill agree, if there ends up being some mid-models, like one between the Small and the Medium (1000lph), this could be a problem... what then... 'Medium Small?'...lol.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
How you like that monster? I put details here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11147090
Thats just the smaller one, it gets something like 2300lph. Its been downsized on purpose so it can run the 'Medium' size w/o making it into a foam cannon. Really though, its just a smaller output than the monster 4000lph one.
Oh, and on a side note, I have some dimensions to post for those who asked. I completely broke down the skimmer today for cleaning, and when I set it back up, I actually got 850lph of air with the needlewheel... go figure. Anyways, the holes in the bubbleplate are just over 1/4" around... not quite 5/16" though... most likely something metric right in between. The bubble plate on the ATB 'Small' is 5.9" around as well... not 7". I got the 7" from Anton, as that is the total size of the disk, not just the inner 'updraft' area. So the inner area is pretty much 6" around.
I also got an air reading on the nano.... that little 1250 pump has been seriously 'jacked'. The output has been enlarged and has a face-bonded fitting (so its even larger than the anticipated 1255), its a threadwheel, and has some of the inside grinded out. It gets 660lph! This thing is 80% of what the 'Small' is!!! Now that price on the Nano is beginning to make sense. I dont know about the 210g rating, but it could prolly handle a 150 pretty well, and pretty much toss a 100g.
I want one of those modded 1250s though... thats a mean little pump. Its outperforming an Aquabee 2000/1!!!
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xinumaster
reef addict
Can't wait to see this monster in action. I been holding up in getting a BK cause I want to see how the medium ATB performs.
It would be hard to find out if the ATB is out performing Deltecs or any other quality skimmer.
I still fail to see how having a conical skimmer is going to perform so much better.
Some of the photos showing the waste seems to be very light brown which does not mean it is skimming better but just wetter.
Its great to get so much air but what i have found is that if you put to much air in a skimmer it does not skim that well.
Most skimmers i have used i had to turn teh airflow right down to get better skimming, especially in the bubble king skimmers,
So whilst it looks impressive to have so much air it is pretty useless unless you get the correct balance between air/water.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
The body sizes will be changed as well to accomidate the new pumps... sound better?
hahnmeister wrote
Sorry i was referring to most skimmers.
I dont see many skimmers running the airtap fully open. so having a pump putting in millions of litres of air will not make better skimming unless you have the right ratio between air/water.
For example Deltec says the skimmers draw 750 L of air. Basically pointless as the skimmers skims better when the air tap is at say 2oclock setting. you get much smaller bubbles.
The Red dragon pumps are very nice and well built pumps. Maybe one of the best in IMO
Sorry i was referring to most skimmers.
I dont see many skimmers running the airtap fully open. so having a pump putting in millions of litres of air will not make better skimming unless you have the right ratio between air/water.
For example Deltec says the skimmers draw 750 L of air. Basically pointless as the skimmers skims better when the air tap is at say 2oclock setting. you get much smaller bubbles.
The Red dragon pumps are very nice and well built pumps. Maybe one of the best in IMO
pjf
Premium Member
DIY Plans?
DIY Plans?
You had plans for building a tall low-turbulence counter-current skimmer with a wetneck and recirculating pump. Have your plans changed as a result of the ATB? Are you confident that your DIY skimmer will out-skim the ATB? If you are still planning to proceed with DIY skimmer plans, what design concepts will you borrow from the ATB?
A penny for your thoughts.
DIY Plans?
Hahn,
You had plans for building a tall low-turbulence counter-current skimmer with a wetneck and recirculating pump. Have your plans changed as a result of the ATB? Are you confident that your DIY skimmer will out-skim the ATB? If you are still planning to proceed with DIY skimmer plans, what design concepts will you borrow from the ATB?
A penny for your thoughts.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
You are correct with what you say, but it just doesnt apply here. Deltecs in the US also run at 900lph due to the 20% faster speed. If all you did was restrict the air, the pumps would move that much more water, and the skimmer turbulence would be nuts. The solution is to use different impellers, with less/shorter pins, to lower the water movement through the pump. The air intake stays the same though unless you restrict the air down to 750lph. The solution deltec uses is pretty much turning back the potential on the pump so the pump isnt too much for the body. They have to restrict the water and air intake to do this. I dont want to get too much into why Deltec has to tell their US customers to run the air partly restricted here on this thread, but the pinwheels arent the same either... so the pumps are made to pull less water as well. The alternative would be to let the Deltec pumps run full blast 900lph with the extra water as well... but its too much for the diameter of the bodies. If you think that cutting the air intake back to the 750lph mark like the 50hz ones produces the same results, think again. The pumps still run 20% faster, so they are blending 20% better. The pumps in the EU arent making as fine of bubbles as 60hz ones set to 750lph.
But where you are wrong is the air/water ratio. The Deltecs in the US arent changing the air/water ratio, they are recirculating skimmers after all... so the water throughput of the mixing pump is not important at all.
The other solution is to get as much as possible from the pumps, let them run full bore on skimmer bodies that are just reproportioned to match the new pumps. The air and water ratios of the pumps dont actually change from the EU and US, they just make more here. The size of the bubbles, etc will be the same as the 50hz versions... just 20% larger.
