DOC Skimmer Question

[Rouselb]

I have a 200 gal SPS tank. I am running a MRC becket skimmer. I was looking to add another skimmer. Could you tell me which Tunze skimmer would be best. My fuge is 80 gal, 18 wide, by 48 long, by 18 tall.

 

[shawnz28]

I personally would go with a Master DOC 9440 once the new revision pumps/skimmer come available in the coming weeks

 

[rvitko]

I agree, you could always start with a 9420 and add the second pump if you felt you needed more.

 

[Rouselb]

What's the difference between the 9015?

 

[rvitko]

The 9420 and 9440 are from the Master DOC series they are much larger skimmers that use needlewheel pumps, the 9420 is probably twice as strong as the 9015.

 

[Rouselb]

Is the needlewheel design more effiecent?? Or is it just a bigger unit?? I thought the needlewheels wore out.

 

[shawnz28]

I think you are thinking of meshwheels wearing out

 

[rvitko]

Needlewheel skimmers produce smaller bubbles and more of them, the skimmer is 20" tall and 8" in diameter. A 9015 is 4" by 11" it has much less reaction area. I have not heard of needlewheels wearing out. A 9420 pump has about double the air capacity of a 9010 pump which is the same pump the 9015 uses.

 

[Rouselb]

I think you are right, im thinking of mesh wheels. The 9420 is rated for 500gal, i only have 200gal, so i was thinking it was over kill. What changes are coming out for the master (pumps)??

 

[rvitko]

If you read the rating detail in the catalog, the stated rating is for basically a FOWLR or basic softy tank. You cut that by various percentages depending on what you will be keeping, up to 70% for a heavily stocked SPS tank.

Right now we use the Sicce pump, we have our own needlewheel pump coming and it uses about 25% less power and it uses a neodymium drive unit with the needles molded right to the magnet. It has fewer parts so the issues with noise and the various volute chambers coming unscrewed are eliminated.

 

[Rouselb]

I dont have a heavily stocked tank yet, but im working on it. Thanks for the info. Is there a way for me to tell what pumps are on the skimmers when i order online?? Do you have an idea when Tunze will begin to ship the new style in the US? Im in no rush for a new skimmer, but i want to make sure i have the new one.

 

[rvitko]

I don't think anyone has the older ones in stock, anything you order will be the newer one when it arrives. We quit stocking them a couple months ago in anticipation of the change and there were some delays. We should get the new ones in late October, early November.

 

[Rouselb]

As always, thanks for the help, this is why i buy Tunze, great service.

 

[mdvistnes]

I just got a 9015 for my 180 gal reef tank. Is this adequate or should I ideally move up to the 9420 at some point? I love the small footprint of the 9015 in my sump.

and I agree
Tunze: awesome products, awesome customer service

 

[rvitko]

It really depends, you can run a tank with no skimmer at all but it requires a lot of luck and a fair amount of skill. It just depends what the inhabitants are and what your maintanence practices are and how lucky you get. I would think of a skimmer as an insurance policy, it is there when the anemone gets pureed by a pump or the last fish you bought dies mysteriously in unreachable crevice or if you overfeed. It just makes it easier to have a good skimmer and the stronger it is, within reason, the easier it is to have a really nice tank. You can have a weaker skimmer, change water more regularly, run a filter sock and be more careful to quarantine, and feed lightly and do just as well or better but it takes more effort and skill.