big skimmer vs small tank

[Harleyguy]

I found a really nice skimmer at a really great price, but it is over-sized for my tank... Is there any problem doing this? What I'm asking is...

Will it hurt my tank to over-skim it? Is over-skimming a bad thing?

 

[James77]

How oversized is it? IME, overskimming will not hurt the tank, but I found inconsistent performance from my skimmer. The foam was not building enough of a head to go over into the collection cup, and instead collected only on the inside of the neck.

I had been using a Reeflo Orca 250 pro on a 175 gallon tank with a fairly light bioload.

 

[E.intheC]

it will depend on what size your tank is and what size skimmer you are looking at picking up. I agree with the above post as well.

 

[moondoggy4]

I had a Euro Reef CS5/3 and it pulled 1 to 3 cups a day in my 120 mixed reef. Then I got a ER CS8/2 and it would only pull a third of a cup in 3 days and then get so dirty on the inside of the neck I had to clean it. The CS8/2 is going back to Euro Reef so that Jeff can check it out. So more is not always better balance is the key.

 

[frank2926]

The neck on the CS 8/2 is so big that they never found a pump that puts out enough air for it. Its not that the skimmer is over sized for your system, its more the body and neck are over sized for that pump.

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks frank2926 I put a Sicce with purple impeller on it and I wasn't impressed. I also thought about cutting 4'' off of it and making it a CS8/1.