New Skimmer or Reefkeeper - Help me Decide

[sedor]

So i've been slowly building my new 72 tank and when I first bought the tank I bought the only skimmer my LFS had to offer because I just wanted to get the thing up and running. Its a Sea Storm by Sealife Systems and isn't a bad skimmer, but i'm looking at getting an Octopus Extreme 200 to replace it which i'm sure will be much better.

My other option would be to wait on the skimmer for another month or so and get the reefkeeper lite - level 3 i've had my eye on so I can start controlling everything, setting up safeguards etc etc.

Help me decide...if you had to make the decision what would you do right now? As mentioned i've got a 72 with a light bioload of fish right now (4 chromis, a true perc, and a watchman goby) and 6 SPS frags. I don't have much a problem with nitrates at all, and I haven't started testing PO4 yet because a hannah PO4 meter is on my list as well

 

[Toddrtrex]

If it was me, I would get the ReefKeeper. With the bio-load that you have your current skimmer and water changes should be more then enough.

 

[YogiBoo]

skimmer should to fine with a light bioload... Take the Reefkeeper

 

[muttley000]

I'd go with the controller too, program it to tell you when you need a new skimmer!

 

[sedor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15554767#post15554767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by muttley000
I'd go with the controller too, program it to tell you when you need a new skimmer!

LOL...so 3 for 3 so far, looks like its going to be the reefkeeper. Thanks for everyones responses so far!

 

[PSU REEFER]

Octo would be my choice. Skimmers more important then a controller. Upgrade that 1st then the controller. I have an Oct skimmer and the RKE which does make things easiers but do whats best for the tank 1st and then whats easiest for you

 

[sedor]

Way to make it easy on me

To reiterate, I do have a skimmer right now that's rated for 150G, but its more of a no-name brand one and I think an Octo will definitely be more powerful and better overall for the system. I may even save and go with a Vertex cone instead of going the Octo route, but that would have to be in a few months. Would you still go with the skimmer?

 

[unbreakable]

make sure to plan out what you want to be hooked up to the RKL3 to see if it will be enough. I have the RKE and already have hooked up 3 PC4 modules and 1 SL1 module. I also got two float switches for it and the pH, ORP, and Temp probes

I have a 75g tank, my small nano has the RKL1 since I know itll only need 2 PC4 modules tops

 

[sedor]

What are the benefits of having your return pump hooked up the the RK? What about the skimmer? I'm asking because i'm counting how many controllable outlets I would need, and want to know whether or not I should consider those items I need plugged into the RK.

 

[addicted2reefin]

it would waste an outlet for return pump or skimmer on the rkl imo. the rkl can have 12 outlets tops if u want ph, or 16 with out any extras. the only benefit of the skimmer would be shutdown on a float switch, which u could do with a cheap ato anyways.

if u wanted to do an auto waterchange u would need the return pump hooked up to the pc4. shutdown return/topoff pump at X time. drain pump on at x+1 min time until low float switch activated, pump fresh seawater activated by low float switch until high/top off float switch activated. turn on return pump/top off at x+y time. y=time this all take approx 5 minutes

the only way u wouldnt need the return pump hooked up is if ur low float switch would be above the pump inlet

what i would hook up the a rkl when i get one.
powerheads wavemaker, lights timer/temp controlled, heater temp controlled, chiller(if applicable) temp controlled, fuge light timer, ozone(if applicable) orp controlled, top off pump for kalk ph, and float switch controlled(if applicable), top off pump for fresh float controlled/ph controlled, ca reactor ph controlled(if applicable),

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15556233#post15556233 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryandlf
What are the benefits of having your return pump hooked up the the RK? What about the skimmer? I'm asking because i'm counting how many controllable outlets I would need, and want to know whether or not I should consider those items I need plugged into the RK.

i have them on my neptune so i can when i hit the feed button, the skimmer and return pump go off for a specific amount of time.

 

[luther1200]

I also have my skimmer on my RKE so when I dose AA, tec. I can turn it off for a while on standby. But its not a must, and if you don't dose AA or anything that would get skimmed out fast you wouldn't need it at all.

 

[sedor]

Thanks for all the replies. Ya, the only method I could see needing the return and skimmer for would be to set a feed mode button, but I leave mine on for feeding anyways.

Addicted2reefing, I never thought about being able to use the RKL for auto water changes...very cool!

 

[addicted2reefin]

also u could use them for failsafes with a float valve, but in that case i would use a simple float switch on a relay, instead of taking up a pc4 slot

 

[addicted2reefin]

also i dont know the programming code for the rkl... yet, but thats a simple english version of it.

 

[michael.lemke]

the reefkeeper programming is simple! I would go with the skimmer... get yourself the skimmer 1st though

 

[sedor]

I do have a skimmer rated for 150G but its not quite as powerful as i'd like. Its more of a no name brand and although it does pull out a good amount of skimmate I don't think it will be able to hold up to well when my tank is fully stocked.

 

[addicted2reefin]

u could always mod the skimmer. skimmer bodies are pretty much the same, except for a few minor details. throw a sicce on it and bam u should be fine.

 

[sedor]

Not a bad idea...what about a mag7? My only concern there would be that I don't think the mags have a venturi port? Am I wrong? Or would I need to buy a skimmer specific pump?

 

[unbreakable]

i use a float switch to cutoff my return pump in case the pump is about to run dry. i also have the skimmer and return pump on standby when i have to service them or when im adding something i dont want skimmed out

I have another float switch for ATO. So both my switches i pretty much make an almost automatic water change.. I just put the ATO pump in the SW reservoir, put the return pump in standby, siphon water, and then take it out of standby.. The rest the float switches do on their own.. Shuts the pump off when its going to run dry, turns back on once the water in the sump is filling up and then the last switch shuts off the pump in the reservoir


Between the controller or skimmer i would go with a skimmer. You could always put the lights on digital timers and leave everything else running. The skimmer will allow you to add better corals down the road like SPS or take care of the waste your fish produce