Positive or negative experiences of using an oversized skimmer

[adtravels]

I would like everyone's experiences of those who have used an oversized skimmer on a heavily stocked sps tank

I have just purchased a deltec tc2060 for my new build which will be a 30x30x24 high sps cube there will be around. I plan on using full zeo but packing the tank with sps and anthias.

How have others found using a way way overrated skimmer on their tank.

 

[mutateddogbone]

i run a skimmer rated for a 250g on my 75. it doesnt skim as fast if the tank was larger and heavier stocked, but i have no nitrate issues. a lot of people shoot for skimmers rated for twice their volume just to have that extra ooomph for higher nutrient loads

 

[sedor]

The only negative experience you might encounter is that just because its big doesn't mean its going to pull out more skimmate. It will however do a great job removing nutrients from your tank.

 

[MrKite24]

Most people will say it is impossible to over skim a tank. One of the big benefits is extra oxygen in the water. You also have to make sure you have a good bubble trap in the sump. With a larger skimmer you may have problems with micro bubbles if the sump is small.

I'd say go for it!

 

[ChuckG]

I dont think ratings supplied by manufacutuers account for the increased load when dosing carbon sources. Using zeo you are probably wise to oversize the skimmer.

I use an ATB 8.5 with a large pinwheel (boosts performance) rated up to 240G on a 75G carbon dosed tank and dont have any problems. Some skimmers might be better at running oversized than others as I understand alot has to do with the neck size.

 

[adtravels]

I am pretty confident it will be fine, The problem that may occur seems to be that as the tank develops it will start to produce less and less skimmate, I suppose then I will have to start feeding more and more to counterbalance this.
The system will also be full zeo so I am a little concerned about the amounts of zeo product I will be getting through.

 

[adtravels]

I am pretty confident it will be fine, The problem that may occur seems to be that as the tank develops it will start to produce less and less skimmate, I suppose then I will have to start feeding more and more to counterbalance this.
The system will also be full zeo so I am a little concerned about the amounts of zeo product I will be getting through.

 

[E.intheC]

Most people will say it is impossible to over skim a tank. One of the big benefits is extra oxygen in the water. You also have to make sure you have a good bubble trap in the sump. With a larger skimmer you may have problems with micro bubbles if the sump is small.

I'd say go for it!

I'm one of the minority then. If the neck is too large for the bioload, you won't have enough organics in the tank for the skimmer to work effectively.

 

[Allmost]

In a zeo system, there is almost no way to overskimm.

but it would be wise to turn the skimmer off some times a day when adding zeo bacteria and ... just to be able to use all of the dosed products before skimmer removes them aggressively. more trace elements will be removed, which is not bad at all in a zeo system as the whole methodology is to strip the water from everything and add as needed.

only Issue could be micro bubbles, but nothing a set of baffles cant fight

 

[reefer31]

I have an octo extreme 250 on my 120 gallon. I have to agree with those that have commented on the neck diameter. The octo 250 has a very wide neck and so it seems to not create enough skimmate to get over into the skimmer cup. It does create a ton of skimmate bubbles/scum on the inside of the cup but not much goes over into the cup. I have had no real problems with nutrients and barely have to scrape the glass in the tank.

However, I added a spare turboflotor skimmer in the sump next to the octo 250 and it skims alot faster/takes out more than the 250. I have also noticed that after my hand was in the tank or after a WC the turboflotor begins to skim out stuff alot faster. The 250 just has a bunch of bubbles and no skimmate production but it starts to kick in after a couple of hours. I would say that an oversized skimmer is nice for overstocked/overfed tanks. Also, when I was dosing vodka the skimmate production went up like crazy and I actually had skimmate in the cup!
So I would say if you are planning on carbon dosing go for a larger skimmer.