Comparing skimmers

[PMc]

Hello,

I am upgrading from a 29G AIO to a 75G with a 30G sump. The only skimmer I have ever used was a 9002 that has doggedly soldiered on for many years now. The new set up will likely be soft coral and a light fish load. Could you contrast the classic 9205 with the newer 9011 for me? Neither is sexy and new enough to generate much searchable material but I suspect that people with Tunze skimmers rarely go to other brands judging by the performance of this little 9002. I need something capable of the volume, suited to the tank inhabitants, and quiet. All other things being equal or nearly so, I will take quiet. Thanks.

Mc

 

[rvitko]

9206 and 9211 are horizontal centrifuge skimmers. This design goes back to the 60's and it works well in some applications but not others. Where it shines is tanks with heavy filter feeding corals as the design recirculates all water internally so waste diffuses in by osmosis and this prevents and living plankton from being drawn in and killed or removed. The draw backs are it is particular to water level and what a more modern active skimmer might be able to remove in a couple hours can take a couple days to be removed by such a passive system.

My vote would be for either the 9011 or 9410. The 9410 is more powerful, the 9011 is more forgiving of water level fluctuations and is quieter. If you were looking to the older centrifuge models, the 9211 is the closest, the 9205/9206 (they differ only in pump, 9206 is the current model) is much weaker and is more comparable to the 9006.

 

[PMc]

Thanks for the rapid reply. It brings up another question for me. I am planning a baffled sump so my water level should be rock solid steady. Is there an advantage to running the 9011 with the standpipe or can it be run more simply without the standpipe in this situation? Thanks.

Mc

 

[rvitko]

Yes and no, in general, the stand pipe provides 100% water throughput, making it more efficient than the 80% (20% recirculated) you get without the stand pipe but it is a marginal difference and there is a workaround, if the water is up to or close to the level line on the skimmer, you can set up everything for in sump use, (solid bottom plate and couple between between pump and intake) and then remove the plug where the pipe inserts but not insert the pipe, you will get the same 100% throughput and the only draw back is bubbles exiting but with a baffle system this probably not an issue.

 

[PMc]

Thanks! More complicated than I suspected but useful information and certainly worth a try for simplicity's sake.

Mc