Least Finicky Skimmers

[reefez]

My Octopus NW 3000 Recirc was the poster skimmer for overflows and sensetivity. I fried a Iwaki 40 rlt, and have had a total of 3 floods in the past month and a half all due to this skimmer. It was very finicky and took a solid month to break in good and start skimming reliably on a daily basis.
I originaly had it fed by a Maxi jet fed by sump water. I soon changed that to a direct feed from one of the tanks overflows. The next day I had a flood. If I had it to do over again I would keep my hands off it and just let it run with a lower then normal water level for 3 weeks. And like any skimmer the bubble head collapses when hands are in the tank, and during feedings. Now that it is broken in I'm happy with it.

 

[sjm817]

All skimmers are sensitive to water chemistry changes. I've run recir and non recirc and both types react to foods/hands in tank/additives etc. Meshwheel skimmers with the very high air draw such as the ATI BMs are more sensitive. I've never had a Beckett, but from what I understand, they are like a MW in this regard as well.

 

[pjf]

Gravity-Fed or Feed-Pump

Gravity-Fed or Feed-Pump

For those with recirculating skimmers, have you noticed if a direct overflow feed results in greater sensitivity than when using a feed pump?

Overall, which type of installation (overflow-fed versus pump-fed) is most successful?

Thanks!