Help with new skimmer selection

[Zoregon]

Sooooooo.......

Still losing the nitrate battle and it was suggested I need a larger skimmer.

The Bubble Magus Curve 7 (185-240g) is pulling about 1/4 c thick skimmate daily and I think it just can't keep up.

Tank is 180g and sump is 30 or 40. Honestly can't remember.

Would a Reef Octopus Regal 250int be a good choice? Rating is heavy 300, med 500, light 600.

At the price of these, I really must get it right this time!!!

 

[DM and the Boys]

Look on the Coralvue website, they have some really reasonably priced skimmers in the liquidation section...

 

[scooter31707]

You are going to here different opinions on this topic. IMO, I have only used Aquamaxx and Simplicity and I love both of them. They were quiet, durable, and very powerful and also did not break the bank.

 

[xanthurum]

I have the Reef Octopus Regal 220 SSS. My tank volume is right about 280 gallons but it only took about 230 to fill it and get it running. I like the Regal because of the DC Pump. I have mine adjusted to run at level 3 but if I want a wetter skimmate I just bump it to 4 and down to 2 for thicker skimmate.

 

[GimpyFin]

I don't know the history of your nitrate battle, but IMO, a largely oversized skimmer isn't necessarily going to bring your nitrates in check. If your skimmer is adequately sized and it's working well, a bigger one isn't really going to work that much better just because it's rated for much larger tanks. (If you had something like a Coralife skimmer, I'd say buy a new one, but your Curve 7 is a decent skimmer.) If you haven't done so already, I'd consider looking at something like carbon dosing (Vodka/vinegar/pellets) to tackle nitrate before buying a new skimmer. Anyway, just my $.02.

 

[surferarnie]

Another off topic idea,Check into marine pure. 8x8x1 block is good for over a100 gallon tank, helps with biological filtration.
Also a mangrove or 2 could help.


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[Percula9]

I suggest weekly water changes and if your feeding once a day feed every other day.What is your nitrate level?

 

[Zoregon]

Nitrates never go under 30. I do a 40 gal wc every week which gets them down to around 25. By the time I'm due for the next wc they're up to 50.
I have a sump with refugium and harvest chaeto weekly.
Had the marinepure spheres (two boxes) but suspect they may have attributed instead of helping.
Added a Brightwell No3 brick two weeks ago. Still no change. Dosed an entire bottle of AZ No3 and tank went cloudy, skimmer went nuts, but in the end nitrates stayed the same and all I got was an algae bloom.
According to everything I've read, I'm doing everything right and cannot figure this out.
Readings taken yesterday:
Temp 78
Sal 1.025
Alk 9.3
Cal 440
Mag 1290
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphates 0
Nitrates 50

 

[scuzy]

Icecap, eshopps makes some nice budget skimmers too.


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[Zoregon]

What about adding Purigen or Matrix? Would that help?

 

[TayTay92]

Tap Water?

Tap Water?

I believe your source water is contributing to the problem. I had 50ppm nitrate right from the tap when I live in Florida.