New Skimmers Worth It?

[falconut]

I've had my 90 gallon reef setup since December 2004 and it's been using an ASM G-2 Skimmer the entire time. I have modified it by replacing the venturi and increasing the air tube to 3/8" O.D. and added the mesh mod impeller and it performs good. The first is a photo of the foam, just an hour after cleaning out the cup and the other shows the skimmate. I'm curious if I should be seeing a darker skimmate.

I was wondering if these newer skimmer really do make a difference. My tank shows no PO4 or NO3 levels on tests, I am running pellets. I'm getting some gunky algae and I've got a decent bioload, so I was just curious if changing the skimmer really would make a difference?

Has anybody replaced their ASM with another skimmer and did you see better results?

 

[phyber]

biopellets, along with bio load, are giving you that color.

 

[Garage1217]

The ASM line were quite good back in the day, but that was many days ago! They function but are built like tupperware and compared to modern skimmers / pumps, they just cannot compare.

Bottom line however, if your tank is healthy and you feel the skimmer is doing its job then keep until it craps out.

 

[reefernutz]

I don't buy into the new skimmer philosophy. There may be new pumps that create better foam or run more efficiently, but the ASM, EuroReef, H&S and older Deltecs perform just as well as the newer models. My H&S still kicks butt and I would put it up against any cone skimmer.

 

[rwessels]

I had a ASM and replaced it with a SRO Cone Skimmer. The increase in performance was night and day. They are very much worth it.

 

[curthendrix]

I replaced an old Octopus with a SRO 3000-sss and the difference was night and day as far as performance.

 

[emooring37]

replaced my asm with a itech cone---huge difference in skimmate

 

[reefernutz]

There's a lot more to it than just the skimmer. Take a look at the Tank of the Month.....he's using dual ASM's.

 

[d0ughb0y]

looks fine to me. I say save your money. if you sleep on it, the idea of trying to justify why you need a new skimmer will fade away.

 

[Garage1217]

Agreed there is a lot more to it than just the skimmer. However those of us that have modern, efficient and powerful skimmers understand the differences between a skimmer line like an ASM vs say an SRO or other top performer. There really is no comparison. The tank of the month person has some beautiful tanks indeed. Yet he could get away with one modern skimmer / even a smaller skimmer vs the pair of ASM skimmers. I assume this was for budget purposes as you can buy a used ASM for practically pennies.

For the OP, just some of the benefits of a hot rod skimmer are...
- More efficient, saves you cash every year in electricity if the skimmer is sized properly
- With the increase in efficiency, you do not need as large of a skimmer or body to yank out a LOT of skim
- Better build quality and overall design. Makes cleaning and so forth easier
- You can increase your feedings which makes the whole tank healthier as the skimmer will not have a problem keeping up
- More modern reef keeping methods such as carbon dosing, pellets and so forth will increase bacteria growth and die off which can be aided by a really good skimmer as it can remove more, faster.

But as I said, if the skimmer is doing the job you want it to do, then by all means stick with it. No point in replacing equipment if all is going well with your tank.

 

[falconut]

I've been wondering if a new skimmer would work better for about a year. I purchased a new pump two years ago and it didn't change anything. I also tried a friends Sicce PSK-2500 pump on this skimmer and no increase. I'd be upset if I spent the money for a new one and got the same results. I wish we could test them first to see if they're worth the money. Like maybe rent-a-skimmer. Ha ha. Keep the suggestions comming.

With the above suggestions about SRO being a great skimmer, a Super Reef Octopus XP1000 might be the right choice if I decide to get a new one.

 

[Garage1217]

What size tank / fish-bioload and so forth? Also to note, a PSK2500 is nothing to write home about pump wise. Does ok for what it is but nothing spectacular stock and can be a pain to start when modded with mesh and so forth (yes I have owned one) I have an SRO5000INT now for my 225G and good lord almighty. One heck of a skimmer and pump.

If you were trying to better the PSK2500 + your ASM body, I would give a SRO3000INT a run. Uses 5W less than the sicce PSK and will rock your socks.

 

[ksed]

If you are interested in which skimmers are good , here is a scientific read.
BTW the cone performed as one of the worst skimmers.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

 

[reefernutz]

Agreed there is a lot more to it than just the skimmer.

Yes, I have a modern, efficient H&S A200-1260, and yes my skimmate is a different color than his. I've just started to wonder if the new designs are getting TOO efficient and pulling out things that healthy algea needs to survive.

I did read the article on skimmer comparisons and found it interesting that the downdraft and beckett skimmers were the best performing. Yet they are probably the least used in the hobby.

I would have to just say, do your research, look at multiple factors (types of corals, bio-load, presence of a fuge) and make an informed choice. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Now, if I can just figure out how to get my downdraft skimmer dialed in I'll be in good shape!!:spin1:

BTW - Pics of my H&S.......not sure if this color nog is better or worse!!

 

[ksed]

The BK mini removed the most TOC.

Yes, I have a modern, efficient H&S A200-1260, and yes my skimmate is a different color than his. I've just started to wonder if the new designs are getting TOO efficient and pulling out things that healthy algea needs to survive.

I did read the article on skimmer comparisons and found it interesting that the downdraft and beckett skimmers were the best performing. Yet they are probably the least used in the hobby.

I would have to just say, do your research, look at multiple factors (types of corals, bio-load, presence of a fuge) and make an informed choice. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Now, if I can just figure out how to get my downdraft skimmer dialed in I'll be in good shape!!:spin1:

BTW - Pics of my H&S.......not sure if this color nog is better or worse!!

 

[Garage1217]

They did not test many of the top rated skimmers besides the BK. The reef octopus was their bottom of the line with their cheap pump. They do not perform even close to an SRO. No MSX, or Askoll pump skimmers and so on. But for a bang for the buck chart and overall data, it is a great read.

 

[username in use]

The point of the article is not that "they didn't test the most expensive skimmers out there" or "they didn't use this pump"

They essentially proved that you can only really remove so much from the water utilizing a skimmer. And just because it is new and expensive does not make it work any better. This chart is all you need to be skeptical of new "better" skimmers.

I say keep the skimmer you have if its working. When it stops working for good, get a new one.

 

[Garage1217]

The point is, there are not any newer designs tested other than the bk160 and a re170. And not one skimmer I would actually purchase in this test. No one said anything about most expensive. Most expensive rarely = best.

What is useful is the fact that this is more of a test of skimmer types. Such as needle wheel, pin wheel, downdraft, airstone, venturi, internal pump, external pump, recirc and so on. Just overall a good read and a lot to digest if one actually reads all of the data.

The sort of test that needs to be done or that I would like to see is a test using the same skimmer body with the test being different pumps from different manufactures rated for the proper amount of flow for said skimmer body. Also have all internal water levels set equally. That will show the clear differences in pumps between say a sedra and an askoll or bb. Then move on and test different types of skimmer bodies with the best pump from the group to find the most favorable body type.

 

[username in use]

Something tells me the test results will be fairly similar no matter what in that no skimmer will remove more than a certain percentage. The graph up there is a little misleading in that there looks like a big difference between the top and bottom one, but the reality is that they are all removing a relatively small amount of organics.

 

[ksed]

You wouldn't call the Vertex Alpha cone with an Askoll pump, a new skimmer design? That a cone which is all the rave, and it performed worse than an airstone driven skimmer.

The point is, there are not any newer designs tested other than the bk160 and a re170. And not one skimmer I would actually purchase in this test. No one said anything about most expensive. Most expensive rarely = best.

What is useful is the fact that this is more of a test of skimmer types. Such as needle wheel, pin wheel, downdraft, airstone, venturi, internal pump, external pump, recirc and so on. Just overall a good read and a lot to digest if one actually reads all of the data.

The sort of test that needs to be done or that I would like to see is a test using the same skimmer body with the test being different pumps from different manufactures rated for the proper amount of flow for said skimmer body. Also have all internal water levels set equally. That will show the clear differences in pumps between say a sedra and an askoll or bb. Then move on and test different types of skimmer bodies with the best pump from the group to find the most favorable body type.