Is this skim right?

[Jscwerve]

Hey all, noob question.

Is this skimming properly? It looks like too much bubbling to me, but I've only had one skimmer and it's kind of an antique in the reef world.

Back story, My skimmer died last week. It's an old Reef Octo OCTX160 classic with the PSK2500 pump. It pulled decent gunk out when adjusted just right. I never saw it produce stuff like this before though, wow.

I picked up this little used space saver Reef Octo 110 as a stopgap until the new pump comes in for my old school OCTX, but with how I travel and shipping taking weeks for some reason, I can't have the better half doing water changes, she's too little to haul water up the stairs. Sooo, small skimmer in the mean time, and I needed one for my frag tank anyways.

The box says it's rated at 135 gallons, and I'm guessing that's a load of you-know-what, it is literally half the size of my other skimmer. My tank is 125gal with a 37 gallon sump.

And back to the beginning, does this look right?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QTa3oqluAN8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ColoReefer970]

more bubbles more better

 

[bundybear1981]

Looks good to me, plenty of foam forming in the neck, decent contact in the body.

It could have just been that your old skimmer was less efficient then some of the modern skimmers are and it could be capable of handing 135 gal. Although the basic theory and science on skimmers is still the same they have improved the design.

 

[SFish]

The box says it's rated at 135 gallons, and I'm guessing that's a load of you-know-what, it is literally half the size of my other skimmer. My tank is 125gal with a 37 gallon

When they only have one number listed for the rating it's for a light BIO load. They list the biggest number. As a guess it's probably about 1/2 of that number for a heavy BIO load roughly. They got me with that crap when I bought my first skimmer. I thought oh this will work then I found out the skimmer wasn't big enough. I was POed. Sometimes you have to dig around for the ratings. You want to see where it says light medium and heavy BIO load. You would probably have to go online and look for the ratings for that skimmer. Some cheap skimmers won't list that information they just list the light BIO load.

 

[Jscwerve]

Looks good to me, plenty of foam forming in the neck, decent contact in the body.

It could have just been that your old skimmer was less efficient then some of the modern skimmers are and it could be capable of handing 135 gal. Although the basic theory and science on skimmers is still the same they have improved the design.

I think that is part of the case. Holy COW this works so much better. I'm kind of regretting buying a new pump for my relic of a skimmer if newer ones work this good. I haven't been skimming for a week since the last one gave up the ghost. This guy filled up 1/3 of the cup overnight (wet skim though).

When they only have one number listed for the rating it's for a light BIO load. They list the biggest number. As a guess it's probably about 1/2 of that number for a heavy BIO load roughly. They got me with that crap when I bought my first skimmer. I thought oh this will work then I found out the skimmer wasn't big enough. I was POed. Sometimes you have to dig around for the ratings. You want to see where it says light medium and heavy BIO load. You would probably have to go online and look for the ratings for that skimmer. Some cheap skimmers won't list that information they just list the light BIO load.

Ya, I knew that somewhat. That's why I picked this one up for a temporary. I need a skimmer for my frag tank so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone.

If the replacement pump doesn't produce foam like this one does, I'll be investing in a new unit.

 

[MidTnMike41]

I ran the same skimmer on my 90 gallon for 6 months and then decided I wanted a bigger fancier skimmer. That skimmer pulled out much more and darker skimmate than the vertex 150 that I am using now. I keep debating putting it back in my sump, just haven't gotten around to doing it. I keep telling myself this vertex is going to wake up and start skimming like a rock star one day. Its been 4 months and that still hasn't happened.

 

[Jscwerve]

I'm blown away by what's coming out of it. I think it has more to do with that little Aquatrance pump more than anything. I'm sold on it that's for sure.