need recommendations skimmer for 210

[LisaD]

I love my 210, it took me almost three years to get around to setting it up the way I want it. I was unable to sell/adopt out my large zebra moray or an 8" blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus). As a result, my tank is pretty full.

Can anyone recommend a good skimmer that will fit in the sump, under a standard AGA black pine stand? The stand has 26 inches between the floor of the stand and the bottom of the tank. The sump compartment where I can fit the skimmer is about 15 x 13", with a typical water depth of 7-10". I have a Euroreef skimmer, not sure of the model, in there now, and it is doing a decent job. But it's only 5 or 6 inches in diameter, and I'm pretty sure it's not rated for a tank this size. Currently, water quality is good. But the fish are not full grown, and I want to consider a higher rated skimmer. I was planning to see if I could cram my AquaC EV-120 in there with the Euroreef, but recently dropped and broke it (aaargh!)

Please give me your recommendations for an efficient skimmer that will fit in my sump to replace the Euroreef. I have two AquaC Remora Pros, and am willing to hang one or both on the back of the tank to supplement the skimming in the sump. I'd like the best value for the money, but ultimately want a very good, pretty much plug-n-play skimmer.

Currently in the tank:
6" emperor angel
4" porcupine puffer
5" dogface puffer
8" black tip grouper
6" Australian harlequin tuskfish
24-30" Brazilian dragon moray
3.5+ foot zebra moray

I was not planning to keep the zebra moray and grouper.

I have a niger trigger and blue spotted rabbitfish I have been growing out for this tank in a 55, they are each about 3". I prefer not to get rid of them. So we are talking nine fish, all of which get good-sized as adults. In the future, as the fish grow, I will tear out the rock to get the grouper and zebra moray new homes (once I have a commitment)!

FYI, tank set-up:

300+ lbs mature live rock
1/3 hp Aqua-Logic chiller
Orbit 72" 6 x 96-watt PC fixture with moonlights
Dolphin DP-2000 return pump
36 x 15 x 16"H Berlin sump

This is my dream tank, and it's already too small!

In the meantime, what do you suggest for skimming?

If I can talk my husband into it, I'll upgrade in a few years to an eight or ten foot tank. In the meantime, I want to keep this crowd as healthy as possible.

 

[elecbzerk]

Lisa, the Aqua C EV would fit the area in your sump and stand height that you describe. IMO, Aqua C makes excellent skimmers, and even have out performed skimmers rated for larger tanks. The 120 or the 180 will work, even though they are rated up to 200G on paper.

 

[RoWall]

Please, post FTS!

 

[Hargitai]

Deltec 701 would fit

 

[LisaD]

Lisa, the Aqua C EV would fit the area in your sump and stand height that you describe. IMO, Aqua C makes excellent skimmers, and even have out performed skimmers rated for larger tanks. The 120 or the 180 will work, even though they are rated up to 200G on paper.

thanks elecbzerk, I *had* one until last week, when it fell off a shelf in the garage and shattered. I'll look into replacing it.

I'll check out the Deltec too, thanks!

 

[Tweaker]

skimmer

skimmer

YGPM

 

[virginiabreeze6]

df

 

[LisaD]

df

???

Does anyone have suggestions, besides the AquaC, for what is the best skimmer that will fit under a standard canopy?

I think I can use the AquaC EV-120 or -180, but the 240 is too high. I only have 26" between stand floor and the bottom of the tank, and need clearance to get the skimmer into the sump, and to remove the collection cup for cleaning.

I read some reviews of the Deltec 701, and they were less than stellar for this model, even from Deltec fans.

 

[JustinReef]

Bubblemaster 200 or 250. They will fit under pretty much any stand and are AMAZING! Best skimmer I have ever owned (and I have owned way too many). I have the 200 on my tank (a bit overkill) and its so incredible. I have nothing bad to say about the ATI Bubblemaster skimmers. Man, it sounds like I work for them! But seriously I went through about a dozen skimmers in 3 years until this one and now its been a year and a half and I have not even thought about replacing it.

This is after two days in my tank. I have to empty it every 5-7 days and its thick, dark stuff. The neck of the skimmer is all mud. Its really gross actually and its also really gross that I am so excited about it...

 

[jda]

I would keep your current skimmer and replace the pump to the next size Sedra. I would also put a meshwheel on the pump.

If you need to pull out more gunk, then a bag of sugar is about $3, will last a long time and will create awesome results. You can make a first gen EuroReef skim like a Deltec with a little bit of sugar. Here is 1 day's skim on my 210G (with a similar stocking level) with my ASM G4 with standard Sen 9000 pump (no mods):

3 hours after cleaning the cup:

 

[danorth]

Lisa, I don't know your budget, but what I have purchased is one of these:

http://www.reefspecialty.com/bnewb-octopus-extreme-skimmer-series-p-291.html

Another RC person said that if you twist the exit pipe around it will make a 13 x 15 footprint. I will hopefully be able to confirm this later this week when mine shows up. It will be the beast for the 240 going up. You've got me beat on the livestock with those eels, but I'm okay with losing the stocking fight....with the 240 that is, but with the current 135 I've got you cornered!

Check out the thread here for a pic of what the 300 can do:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1432724&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[danorth]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12992395#post12992395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jda
I would keep your current skimmer and replace the pump to the next size Sedra. I would also put a meshwheel on the pump.

If you need to pull out more gunk, then a bag of sugar is about $3, will last a long time and will create awesome results. You can make a first gen EuroReef skim like a Deltec with a little bit of sugar. Here is 1 day's skim on my 210G (with a similar stocking level) with my ASM G4 with standard Sen 9000 pump (no mods):

3 hours after cleaning the cup:

So the sugar increases the bacteria produced and that is what is being pulled out? If not, why would sugar make for more dirty skimmate?

 

[jda]

Basically. It is more complicated than this, but in 2-3 sentences... it grows bacteria that use nitrogen, phosphate and DOC as they grow, and then they get skimmed out. It makes the water crystal clear and will lower your nitrate and phosphate levels until they are near zero. There are some risks in a reef tank where low N and P can kill coral, but not very many risks in a FOWLR as long as you dose it appropriately (like anything else).

 

[saltyESQ]

it creates anarobic bact and removes nitrates. In the chemistry forum there is a thread that is about 5k pages long on the topic. (vodka dosing)

 

[danorth]

I thought it was the same, but wanted to make sure. I'll have to read up on that for my own tank and see what happens.

 

[StayPuft]

I personally wouldn't dose with sugar as nobody knows what the long term effects are. I'm for not adding stuff to my tank and doing things the hard way with a good skimmer, deep sand bed and some chaeto. Right now I'm using an AquaC EV-240 for my 150gal and it works ok. But I don't have a very heavy load as most of my fish are still small.

 

[LisaD]

I think, for now, anyway, I will stay away from dosing as well. Thanks for the suggestions.

Remember, mine needs to fit under a standard canopy in a space about 15 x 13" in my sump.

I'm looking into Bubblemaster, Octopus, maybe another AquaC. Any other comments, opinions?

Thanks so much for the input, everyone.

 

[JustinReef]

Do not dose sugar. The few people I have heard of doing it for longer periods of time have ended up having their tank crash. Dosing something like sugar does not make up for bad husbandry. If your too lazy (not you Lisa ) to do proper water changes and keep too many fish in your tank, then you should not be in this hobby. Please don't give people this terrible advice.

 

[LisaD]

I'm leaning heavily toward the ATI Bubble Master 200. The price I see is ~$600. The BM 250 is over $200 more. Three questions:

1) Is there any reason I shouldn't get a BM for my 210?

2) Should I make the painful decision to get the BM 250 over the 200?

3) Any recommendations for the best place to get one? I know reefgeek and premium aquatics both stock them at around the same price.

 

[jda]

With "pretty much plug-n-play" as one of your requirements, then either BM would be a good choice.