H&S Skimmer Club

[Capt. Nemo]

Can anyone recommend and give me some info on these following skimmers: H&S 90-F1000 and H&S 90-F2000

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Reef Sponger]

Hey Capt, I think you meant 90-F1000 and 110-F2000. If you have the space, go with H&S smallest recirculating skimmer A110-F2000, you'll be much better off and better performance.

 

[Capt. Nemo]

Thanks Sponge. I prefer the non-recirculating in-sump skimmers because I want something that is plug and play and avoid having to do any plumbing which would be necessary with the A110-F2000. When I hear terms like gravity feed I start to panic. : )

 

[msn711]

I'm in the same boat as Capt. Nemo. Considering the 110-F2000 for my 120. I've got a really tight fit getting anything into the sump, so the smaller diameter of the 110 is a must, plus you all seem very happy performance wise.

Now if someone can explain in super simple terms how to plumb an external one, I might be persuaded to consider upgrading.

 

[Reef Sponger]

You don't need to gravity feed, I don't have my A150 setup that way. I did a lot of research on it and for now, too busy to replumb my tank. I use a Eheim Compact1000 pump to feed my A150. I would think that a Maxijet 600 powerhead would be about right for the A110, just put the powerhead as close to where the tank water enters the sump.

But from everything I've read, better performance when a recirculating skimmer is gravity fed directly from the overflow. I still believe that a recirculating skimmer performs better than a non-recirculating because you can control how fast the water passes through the skimmer. Also, with the water recirculated, it gives the skimmer more time to remove the DOCs.

 

[msn711]

So for an external one, I could connect a pump with flex tubing, run that to the skimmer, and then use more flex tubing to run the output back to the sump? Will it matter that the sump is 18" tall? I'm assuming the return line will have to go over the top of the sump unless the exit on the skimmer is way up high. I hope that makes sense.

Will the 110 be enough for a heavy bio load 120? I'd love to go the next size up, but I'm limited on space.

Finally, if I wanted to run external and gravity feed, does anyone know where I can get that flex tubing that comes with oceanic sumps online? Would I need a ball valve to control the flow? And if the flow is limited by a ball valve on one overflow, would that cause problems with the other overflow? Or should I just put the ball valve on the return pump, and keep the flow through both overflows equal?

I know it's a lot of questions, but I don't want to order the external and then run into problems plumbing it. I'm a plug and play type and I avoid DIY like the plague. This 120 is actually my first reef ready tank, and I've been in the hobby for 3 years. Thanks for all your help!

 

[kodyboy]

I just purchased a used A200-1260 for my schools heavily loaded 150 reef. This is an amazing skimmer, the foam it generates, the build qualtiy is also excellnet. The wedge pipe makes for easy foam level adjusment. Nice unit.
Question: do these units normally have a 45 degree angle on the water input from the recirc pump or is only half the chamber supposed to be filled with bubbles?

 

[kodyboy]

oops double post

 

[Conceyted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10812640#post10812640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kodyboy
I just purchased a used A200-1260 for my schools heavily loaded 150 reef. This is an amazing skimmer, the foam it generates, the build qualtiy is also excellnet. The wedge pipe makes for easy foam level adjusment. Nice unit.
Question: do these units normally have a 45 degree angle on the water input from the recirc pump or is only half the chamber supposed to be filled with bubbles?

only half of my a150 fills with bubbles. I do not have a 45 degree on the output of the pump

 

[jnb]

I didn't make any kind of mod in this regard - it came that way - I had asked the question once and that particular skimmer gets only about half way as you say - I never thought of it as a detrement just possibly a waste of space but less micro bubbles exit - I think it may be the same body that a 2 times 1260 uses (not sure about that) pictures again.....


tho

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10812640#post10812640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kodyboy
I just purchased a used A200-1260 for my schools heavily loaded 150 reef. This is an amazing skimmer, the foam it generates, the build qualtiy is also excellnet. The wedge pipe makes for easy foam level adjusment. Nice unit.
Question: do these units normally have a 45 degree angle on the water input from the recirc pump or is only half the chamber supposed to be filled with bubbles?

 

[kodyboy]

jnb, thanks again for the awesome unit!
I am not saying it needs a mod, just curious.

 

[Reef Sponger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10812640#post10812640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kodyboy
I just purchased a used A200-1260 for my schools heavily loaded 150 reef. This is an amazing skimmer, the foam it generates, the build qualtiy is also excellnet. The wedge pipe makes for easy foam level adjusment. Nice unit.
Question: do these units normally have a 45 degree angle on the water input from the recirc pump or is only half the chamber supposed to be filled with bubbles?

I can't remember where I have read it, but I think others have tried it with no improvement or I think performance went down.

Just looking at this unit and the custom short units that I was considering, a lot of engineering behind their skimmers. H&S rebalances their skimmers when they custom shorten their skimmers. My new H&S is the only skimmer that I've ever own that not a single micro bubble reenters the sump. IMO they could have shorten the skimmer 2" and still get the same effect of no micro bubbles and still a balanced skimmer. But what do I know, I'm not an engineer.

 

[kodyboy]

sponger: interesting. This is definately the best skimmer that I ever had so no complaints here.

 

[Reef Sponger]

After owning a H&S, it's really hard to go back to anything else. I bought a Bubblemaster for my smaller tank and I'm sure it's going to do a great job, but world of difference in construction and it's not just the acrylic thickness.

 

[Reef Sponger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10813453#post10813453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kodyboy
jnb, thanks again for the awesome unit!
I am not saying it needs a mod, just curious.

jnb gave up his unit? I saw the many posts he had on the "My new A200" thread. I was thinking that the A200 was too big for his system and might experience SOSS if it had light bioload.

 

[Reef Sponger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10812304#post10812304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by msn711
So for an external one, I could connect a pump with flex tubing, run that to the skimmer, and then use more flex tubing to run the output back to the sump? Will it matter that the sump is 18" tall? I'm assuming the return line will have to go over the top of the sump unless the exit on the skimmer is way up high. I hope that makes sense.
Yes, just pick a properly rated pump and I'm guessing that a MJ900 would work for the A110. On the return, just use PVC. Not sure what size it is, probably 1" PVC. If skimmer is too short, just raise it a little so that it is over the 18" sump wall. Return water must flow out downward.

Will the 110 be enough for a heavy bio load 120? I'd love to go the next size up, but I'm limited on space.
In my honest opinion, "no". I think you really need to look at the A150. Based on the size pump and skimmer body size, the skimmer probably cannot keep up with your tank size and heavy bioload.

Finally, if I wanted to run external and gravity feed, does anyone know where I can get that flex tubing that comes with oceanic sumps online? Would I need a ball valve to control the flow? And if the flow is limited by a ball valve on one overflow, would that cause problems with the other overflow? Or should I just put the ball valve on the return pump, and keep the flow through both overflows equal?
Can you post a photo how your setup looks like? Take a look at this thread as there's a lot of info about setup and gravity feeding.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=818119

I know it's a lot of questions, but I don't want to order the external and then run into problems plumbing it. I'm a plug and play type and I avoid DIY like the plague. This 120 is actually my first reef ready tank, and I've been in the hobby for 3 years. Thanks for all your help!

 

[jnb]

yes, I gave it up - part of the thing is I can not stop buying skimmers - hehe But is was too big in my opinion and I wanted to get one in the sump, etc. What is SOSS?

kodyboy - watch out - I can see it in my mind. Your students feed the tank, the skimmer reacts by shutting down a bit as they will on some skimmers and would otherwise start back up in a little while - meantime the students see it shutting down skimming and think they need to adjust the bubble level with the output and when the skimmer recovers from the feeding, it overflows because it is now adjusted differently causinf splashing which gets something electrical and burns the school down. consider using the green hose to avoid this - if you go to the thread I pointed to you will see how I had this set up so that if the skimmer cup because ful to the level of the green house it starts draining into the sump instead of overflowing thru the top.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10813722#post10813722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Sponger
jnb gave up his unit? I saw the many posts he had on the "My new A200" thread. I was thinking that the A200 was too big for his system and might experience SOSS if it had light bioload.

 

[Reef Sponger]

Severely Oversized Skimmer Syndrome. The skimmer does great for a few weeks, maybe a few months and once the skimmer has removed as much as it can get, it stops until there's enough for it to collect again. This doesn't happen when the skimmer is more properly matched to the setup. I got a long lecture about that from the skimmer dealer I purchased my H&S skimmer from. Could you believe that the next size down would actually collect more than one that is SOSS? I ended up with a A150 on my 180g at the suggestion of the dealer, even though I had made up my mind to buy a custom short A200. Glad I did, he was right. I didn't go down without a fight though.

 

[jnb]

Could you believe that the next size down would actually collect more than one that is SOSS?

Yes, I suspected this could be possible - but all things considered still don't know if I believe it. If the large skimmer shuts down from getting what it could - it would pick back up when there was something to skim - maybe - the possibility bothered me - However, I do want/ like consistent activity.

Now I am trying the BK 160 mini

 

[Zoom]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10813841#post10813841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Sponger
Severely Oversized Skimmer Syndrome. The skimmer does great for a few weeks, maybe a few months and once the skimmer has removed as much as it can get, it stops until there's enough for it to collect again. This doesn't happen when the skimmer is more properly matched to the setup. I got a long lecture about that from the skimmer dealer I purchased my H&S skimmer from. Could you believe that the next size down would actually collect more than one that is SOSS? I ended up with a A150 on my 180g at the suggestion of the dealer, even though I had made up my mind to buy a custom short A200. Glad I did, he was right. I didn't go down without a fight though.

This is so correct Reef Sponger i had some very large skimmers in the same tank "different time" that the smaller skimmer will take out much more that the larger skimmer .
The only thing i like about Severely Oversized Skimmers is the amount of oxygen they pump in to the tank Water.