Reef Dynamics skimmer
- Thread starter meat1974
- Start date
moondoggy4
Team RC
not so happy
not so happy
More info will be helpful. What size is your tank? How old is the skimmer? I have that skimmer also. This skimmer is kinda of the weak link in their line. You need a big bio load for this one to work correctly. I am putting mine back in tonight while my other skimmer is being cleaned.
not so happy
More info will be helpful. What size is your tank? How old is the skimmer? I have that skimmer also. This skimmer is kinda of the weak link in their line. You need a big bio load for this one to work correctly. I am putting mine back in tonight while my other skimmer is being cleaned.
moondoggy4
Team RC
I would not over size a RD skimmer, I added the eheim pump to my RS 180 skimmer problem if you oversize it just will make it worse, my skimmer would make a lot of dirty bubbles but would not break and then the neck would get so dirty but not much skimmate, a proper size RD skimmer works great a oversize not so much.
meat1974
New member
Moondoggy4 my tank is a 72 gallon bowfront with 20 gallon sump. The skimmer is a week old and is doing great so far. Ehiem pumps are better than the Eco pumps, but I plan on keeping the maintenace really tight on the Eco pump. I went with a bigger skimmer because I think you should go as big as possible. Plus someday I plan for a bigger tank. Back to the pump, I couldn't bring myself to spend another $200, and I was getting impatient. I've been wanting this skimmer for a year. I did alot of research on skimmers and believe I made the right choice. Moondoggy what do you think your doing wrong?
needmore-reef
New member
Wow, I just saw the pic of your tank being held up by the jack! Great looking skimmer.
moondoggy4
Team RC
wrong
wrong
I bought my ER CS8/2 aka 180 skimmer used. This model has the many turns to remove the skimmer cup. This model is different than the newer generation ER and RD 180 skimmers. The cylinder was much taller and had a very short neck transition with a big neck, so this skimmer needed a very large bio load to keep a steady skimmate production. So I upgrade the pump to a Eheim while I was at ER's shop, it helped but my bio load is still too low, 120 tank. So the next I went to the shop I had Jeff cut 4'' off the cylinder and hot weld on a new style neck bringing the total height to 22'' tall not 24'' This skimmer works a lot better but the turbulence is pretty high, so if I set it it at the lowest setting and get a good climb on the shaving foam lather it is working great. I just put it back in while I did some heavy spring cleaning on my sump and another skimmer I have. So the skimmer started to generate skimmate right away even though it has to break in again. Sorry for the long story.
wrong
I bought my ER CS8/2 aka 180 skimmer used. This model has the many turns to remove the skimmer cup. This model is different than the newer generation ER and RD 180 skimmers. The cylinder was much taller and had a very short neck transition with a big neck, so this skimmer needed a very large bio load to keep a steady skimmate production. So I upgrade the pump to a Eheim while I was at ER's shop, it helped but my bio load is still too low, 120 tank. So the next I went to the shop I had Jeff cut 4'' off the cylinder and hot weld on a new style neck bringing the total height to 22'' tall not 24'' This skimmer works a lot better but the turbulence is pretty high, so if I set it it at the lowest setting and get a good climb on the shaving foam lather it is working great. I just put it back in while I did some heavy spring cleaning on my sump and another skimmer I have. So the skimmer started to generate skimmate right away even though it has to break in again. Sorry for the long story.
moondoggy4
Team RC
I have a eheim pump for my ER skimmer, they are expensive, I would just get the stock pump then upgrade later to a Bubble Blaster pump or a tunze 9420 about 100 bucks cheaper. If you have a really big bioload and are pushing the upper limits of the stock pump you may have to go with the eheim. The impeller are really expensive also.
Nizz
New member
I might have to tag along. I have been watching the videos on YouTube also. Can't wait to pick my skimmer up.
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.459562,-99.713967
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.459562,-99.713967
meat1974
New member
Moondoggy, whats the flow rate through your sump? That might have something to do with bad skimming. @ need more reef I was waiting for somebody to comment on my install with the jack. I would do it that way again if I had to. I'm a millwright in maintenance at a steel mill, so it was like being at work jacking the tank up. @ nizz I'm happy with the skimmer I chose. Set it and forget it. The build quality on it is awesome. I love watching it in action.
reefernutz
New member
Stick with the pump that was designed for that skimmer. The skimmer reaction chamber and neck have been designed to work with the specific pumps. If you change pumps the skimmer will not perform as well. I tried upgrading pumps and it's just too much for the size reaction chamber I have. Now I have a new EcoPlus 1056 pump when I need an Ecoplus 633. Any body want to buy a pump cheap? lol
azjohnny
Active member
The Eheim pump will be more quiet and last longer, no difference in performance
Thanks azjohnny - I actually already bought an INS400 with the Eco pumps and have had it up and runny for a little over a month now. Love this thing. The Eco pumps are pretty quiet, but a bit louder than the Eheims I have for returns. Performance is awesome though. I agree the Eheims are a better bump and plan on switching down the road. I have been out of town the last 3 weeks though and the wife says the tank has gotten loud again, so I am curious to get home this weekend and find out who the culprit is.
