LF - skimmer that actually works!

khanb31

khanb31

SLim Jim
Hey hey CMAS,

Ive had it up to as much as I can take with my current skimmer. Its been used and abused and while attempting to fix the problems has lead to one leak after the next.....im ready for a new one.

SO, Whos got a skimmer I can buy? Internal? External? Ive heard good things on the ASM G2 through G4's. Ive also heard good things about the ETSS sump buddy skimmer.

Im working with around 190 gallons of water to skim and the bioload is pretty light compared to most.

Im looking to buy something that is less than $300.

Thanks!

SLim Jim
 
i have 2 different one i'm using the i-tech 200 and the cs200 by royal aquariums both american made. i perfer the i-tech 200 it will cost you $400.00
but its well worth the extra cost, its equiped with the tunze hydrofoamer pump, the best out their, and that's my opinion.
 
ALRIGHT, well this thread has had some great turnout....

THANKS GUYS!!

I just got back from my bridal shower so, Ill have to read up on sizes and info on all of these skimmers tomorrow or tuesday. Ive gotten some really awesome offers as well as some great info from people.

Ive taken the dimensions and figured out that I have these space limitations to work with.

Max base dimensions of skimmer with pump = 10" W x 17"D
Max working height underneath my stand = 35"
Given 8" of skimmer underwater with a water level of 20" above the floor, I can only have a maximum of 23" of skimmer height. (The 8 inches I think is pretty reasonable?)

So, Based off of the skimmers water level height, I can get a skimmer anywhere under 10" W x 17"D x ~24"H

I think that allows me JUST enough room to fit a pretty decent sized skimmer in there.

Now I just need to figure out what type of skimmer to get.....some of them are so fancy with bubble plates and injectors and needle wheels.
 
Alright,

So ive narrowed my choices down to a few of the following.

octo extreme 160 (dont think I can fit the 200 but Ill have to do some more intense measuring).

Vertex 100

Warner Marine AS150 (used....)

Thoughts? Comments?

Anyone have some used?
 
IMO, all of those skimmers are way undersized for 190g of water volume....

I would be looking into some other options, like maybe save some more money and get an Octopus Super Reef 3000SSS or something like that....
 
khanb31 said:
Alright,

So ive narrowed my choices down to a few of the following.

octo extreme 160 (dont think I can fit the 200 but Ill have to do some more intense measuring).

Vertex 100

Warner Marine AS150 (used....)

Thoughts? Comments?

Anyone have some used?
Click to expand...

pm sent
 
badazztealcobra said:
IMO, all of those skimmers are way undersized for 190g of water volume....

I would be looking into some other options, like maybe save some more money and get an Octopus Super Reef 3000SSS or something like that....
Click to expand...

Duley noted.....and im glad someone actually took a peek into them. Thanks for the recommendation....That skimmer is actually a pretty mean looking skimmer. :eek: however I must admit that im going about this in an entirely different methodology than the norm. Im trying to effectively pick my skimmer to my bioload. :hmm2:

Now, Everyone can say that....but there are a lot of people out there that completely dismiss the fact that your skimmer does NOT produce skimmate at a consistent rate. :thumbsup: Everyone has always stated that a good rule of thumb is to have a skimmer "rated" at twice the water volume your working with. But, what amount of skimmate at what time interval and for how long is this massive honking skimmer actually producing?

If you actually sit there and look at your skimmer throughout the day, you can see that there are specific times that your skimmer will produce skimmate. The majority of the time though, your skimmer is just wasting electricity and producing lots of oxygen rich water while not producing any skimmate.

SO, with this, I made a simple design criteria that dictates a few setbacks on common sayings throughout the hobby.

1- reduce the skimmer and pump size
2- Get a really WELL designed and consistent skimmer
3- Turn on the skimmer at set intervals which are determined through observation and note taking.

Its a fairly simple plan that really helps me save electricity as well as other possible positive outcomes! :thumbsup:

Go take a look at your skimmer every so often and actually PAY ATTENTION to what its producing. yours could be just sitting there producing oxygenated water and making some heat/noise......and we wouldnt want that now would we?:lol2:
 
I've checked mine a few times at random times, it's always rock solid unless I just fed the tank. My bubble break line never fluctuates and I produce the same amount of skimmate on a weekly basis.... I really can't complain. Ontop of that, it uses $2.31 per month to run 24/7 unless its on food pause. FAR from being an energy hog, especially in this hobby. :lmao:

Those skimmers would be really undersized if you're only planning to run them part time.... They usually say get one for twice your water volume because most manufacturers over rate their equipment.... Just my .02 though. :thumbsup:
 
hmmm interesting.... So your saying that your always producing skimmate? And when I say that, I mean, bubbles are making it into your collection cup and depositing skimmate? what is your total water volume and how loaded would you say your system is?

Ive only used skimmers consistently on smaller systems (less than 75 gallons)....so maybe there is quite a big difference that ive not seen with larger water volume?

Are there others that can vouch for this type of performance on a larger system?


hmmm....choices choice choices.
 
there are many reasons that skimmers only pull skimmate once is while. feeding and thats normal but the most common are oversized skimmers and poor performing skimmers and by poor performing i mean anything from cheep skimmers to skimmers that are nor properly maintained and cleaned. a good quality skimmer thats kept clean and maintaind properly always pulls skimmate other than at feeding times.
 
I tend to skim a little on the dry side, so bubbles arent constantly going over, but its at a consistent rate and my bubble break line is always in the same location so thats as good as you can ask for......

I would say my total water volume is around 110 gallons after taking out for the rock and sand.......

I would consider my bioload as a medium personally. I have a few fish but theyre all small except for my Radiant Wrasse.....

Here's my stocking list:
Onyx Clownfish pair
Midas Blenny
Radiant Wrasse
Fridmani Pseudochromis
Green Mandarin
Flame Angelfish
Flame Hawkfish
Red Firefish (2)
Two Spot Bristletooth Tang


So I have 11 total fish, but theyre all smaller so I don't think theres too large a load coming from them. I'm hoping to add a few bangaii cardinals to finish off the list.
 
Ive got an aqua-c EV 180 i would sell for 225 with a mag 7 pump. And Ill ship it to you if you want.
 
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