Skimmer Q&A Thread

[gannmann9876]

Hey Mojo I have a 90g with a PM Redline rated 100g. I believe my skimmer is not enough and I want to improve it, but my main problem I am limited to 21" height in my sump area.

My options so far are:

1. AquaC EV-180 with Rio 3100
2. Reef Octopus NWB 110
3. Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 1000INT
4. Wait, upgrade my sump area first and get a bigger Octopus

Please let me know your opinions and I am open to any suggestions.

i have a aqua c ev 180 and it is a good skimmer. it has to be cleaned quite often and is very sensitive. it will pull out some of the most foul smelling skimmate i have every smelt. i have recently swiched to a needle wheel skimmer. mojo will help you with the other ones just wanted to give you my imput on the aqua c

 

[Viajeque]

Thanks a lot! At the moment I am leaning more on the Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 1000INT, for its price and 20" height. I just need some final advice to make sure it will be worth it. BTW if you EV worked well why did you end up with a needle wheel?

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo I have a 90g with a PM Redline rated 100g. I believe my skimmer is not enough and I want to improve it, but my main problem I am limited to 21" height in my sump area.

My options so far are:

1. AquaC EV-180 with Rio 3100
2. Reef Octopus NWB 110
3. Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 1000INT
4. Wait, upgrade my sump area first and get a bigger Octopus

Please let me know your opinions and I am open to any suggestions.

For your setup I would actually go with the sro 2000 int. That would be a really good fit.

 

[Viajeque]

Mojo I dont have room for the sro 200 int, I am limited to 21" height. I found out that the 1000 int water depth is only 5.5". I was researching and I found the SWC160 Extreme cone skimmer, would that be a good option? its rated for 150 g, the optimal water depth its between 7-9".

Thanks!

 

[mojo~]

the bm nac7 and swc 160 are about the same. The 160 would work if it will fit. its not really that small either. it uses an atman 2500 pump not bad but not as good as the newer sicce pumps or the bubble blaster pumps. Another option is the vertex in 100 gen 3.

in this case the 160 or the nac 7 would probably be the way to go. too bad the 2000 would not fit as it would be a great fit.

Mojo~

 

[chessmanmark]

Hi Mojo,

A skimmer guy, just what I was looking for. I posted a question last night but didn't get a response. Can you give me some advice or some information. I'd appreciate it. Here's what I posted-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2053922

 

[gannmann9876]

Thanks a lot! At the moment I am leaning more on the Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 1000INT, for its price and 20" height. I just need some final advice to make sure it will be worth it. BTW if you EV worked well why did you end up with a needle wheel?

The pump I had running it died and mojo recommends needle wheel skimmers for smaller tanks. I also like trying different skimmers. I have the aqua c and a reef devil in the garage. Now I have a bubble magus.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo,

A skimmer guy, just what I was looking for. I posted a question last night but didn't get a response. Can you give me some advice or some information. I'd appreciate it. Here's what I posted-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2053922

The sro 2000 int would be a great fit. If what you have really works for you thenjust get a new pump for your deltec. Nothing wrong with it. Still great simple design skimmers and a good fit for your 90g

 

[jeffesaurusrex]

Looking for some advice on a skimmer. I just took back my Marineland 100 because it sucked. :hammer:

I had my eye on the Reef Octopus NWB150 but then somebody reccomended the Eshopps PSK150. It's 60 bucks cheaper than the octopus, so I could then afford a much needed circulation improvement now instead of later (currently running just one Koralia 1050) or a power filter and carbon bags. The most I can spend is 200 bucks and it has to fit through a 7" opening.

Tank is a 75g with a 20g sump, load is light right now (1 clown, a blenny and some hermits and snails) but I plan on adding 5 or 6 chromis, a couple tangs and three more clowns. Maybe a wrasse. Also need elbow room in case I want to get more later.

Thanks!!

 

[mojo~]

the nwb 150 is a better unit than the eshopps, Ican honelstly say I would not buy a eshopps skimmer of any size. Nothing wrong with them. Just so much better for the money. The pump is the most important pump. The 150 will cycle more water than the eshopps.

if you could swing it the SRO 2000 int would be a great fit. look for something used like a warner marine as 150. great skimmers and they are cheap now too. ( used ) a better used skimmer is better than a cheap new one.

 

[chessmanmark]

The sro 2000 int would be a great fit. If what you have really works for you thenjust get a new pump for your deltec. Nothing wrong with it. Still great simple design skimmers and a good fit for your 90g

Thanks for your feedback. This is a terrific thread. The Deltec was my 4th skimmer, but I bought it a few years back before cone skimmers became popular. I was impressed by the quality and design of the Deltec skimmer compared to the Euro-Reef and knock-off skimmer I owned for which I could compare. I as I read up on these new pumps I feel the German Aquabee pump would be a better investment. They are pricey but the skimmer worked well and my tank grew out quickly. It puts my mind at ease that you are up on the latest skimmers and still have confidence in Deltec.

The difficult part of choosing a skimmer for me is not being able to see it in person. A lot of people rave about their skimmers because they don't have the opportunity to change it out with different brands for comparison. My first skimmer was a Remora which lots of people raved about online when I got into this hobby. In reality that skimmer really was ineffective.

 

[yellowbellied]

Reef Octopus 1000-Int

Reef Octopus 1000-Int

Mojo, please help.

I'm trying to put together a new reef octopus 1000-int and noticed the instructions were horrible! It came with 2 hoses, one stiff and one soft. Which one do I use? Also, the silencer that comes with it doesn't even fit the holder they supplied with the kit. Am I suppose to modify the silencer?

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, please help.

I'm trying to put together a new reef octopus 1000-int and noticed the instructions were horrible! It came with 2 hoses, one stiff and one soft. Which one do I use? Also, the silencer that comes with it doesn't even fit the holder they supplied with the kit. Am I suppose to modify the silencer?

Take a pic of the silencer. It should fit. If I remember correctly it had a mount. As far as the two hoses. The one should go to the pump. the flimsy one is for the drain on the collection cup.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks for your feedback. This is a terrific thread. The Deltec was my 4th skimmer, but I bought it a few years back before cone skimmers became popular. I was impressed by the quality and design of the Deltec skimmer compared to the Euro-Reef and knock-off skimmer I owned for which I could compare. I as I read up on these new pumps I feel the German Aquabee pump would be a better investment. They are pricey but the skimmer worked well and my tank grew out quickly. It puts my mind at ease that you are up on the latest skimmers and still have confidence in Deltec.

The difficult part of choosing a skimmer for me is not being able to see it in person. A lot of people rave about their skimmers because they don't have the opportunity to change it out with different brands for comparison. My first skimmer was a Remora which lots of people raved about online when I got into this hobby. In reality that skimmer really was ineffective.

No problem at all. The biggest problem now days is people get caught up on air draw #'s. Some pumps pull too much air and not enough water. They may pull enough air for a 200g tank but only cycle enough water for a 75g tank.

The aquabee pump is one of those pumps that work well but on paper it just doesnt look that impressive. Still a good pump and does everything you will need it too.

 

[BADGUS]

I have a skimmer question,i recently purchased a 3yr old Custom made Orca skimmer,it's 12''diameter 25inches tall,bubble plate,6'' neck,recirculating external,has 4 aquabee 2000/1 pumps doing the skimming,1 pump stopped working,should i replace it with a better pump?or should i wait and replace all 4 pumps with say 2 really nice pumps?I'm thinking 2 HY5000's?or plugging 2 holes and using 2 sicce psk 2500's with atb purple wheel?What advice can you give me?

I have 420gallons total water,light bio-load will eventually be a heavy-bio-load,but that's ways away.
Any input/help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks Mojo

 

[Lynnka]

Guys, help!
I have a 55 gal reef tank (Elos 70) with original NS500 skimmer, which doesn't seem to function properly. I'm on the verge of buying a new one (the nitrate levels are overwhelming - over 50 now (o more number of the scale!)) plus I might be in for changing both Eheim 1250 pumps. How do I choose the right skimmer? I don't want to waste money and buy a news one every six months. I'll be happy and grateful for any advice. Thanks.
Oh, one more point. THe tank is INSIDE an apartment so I'd rather have a skimmer that's not too noisy.
NB. I live in Russia so there might be a problem with getting a particular brand. Several options would be great.

 

[RaKe]

I have a question. I currently have an octo extreme 200 with a RDPW that I am running on about 300g of water with a heavy bio load. Can you recommend an cost effective skimmer for my system or does anyone know of mods that would help me reach my required level?

 

[mojo~]

I have a skimmer question,i recently purchased a 3yr old Custom made Orca skimmer,it's 12''diameter 25inches tall,bubble plate,6'' neck,recirculating external,has 4 aquabee 2000/1 pumps doing the skimming,1 pump stopped working,should i replace it with a better pump?or should i wait and replace all 4 pumps with say 2 really nice pumps?I'm thinking 2 HY5000's?or plugging 2 holes and using 2 sicce psk 2500's with atb purple wheel?What advice can you give me?

I have 420gallons total water,light bio-load will eventually be a heavy-bio-load,but that's ways away.
Any input/help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks Mojo

well the 2 psk 2500 wouldnot move enough water compared to the 4 aquabees.

you could go with maybe 2 hy 3000's but rather than re invent the wheel I would just replace the stock pump.

 

[mojo~]

Guys, help!
I have a 55 gal reef tank (Elos 70) with original NS500 skimmer, which doesn't seem to function properly. I'm on the verge of buying a new one (the nitrate levels are overwhelming - over 50 now (o more number of the scale!)) plus I might be in for changing both Eheim 1250 pumps. How do I choose the right skimmer? I don't want to waste money and buy a news one every six months. I'll be happy and grateful for any advice. Thanks.
Oh, one more point. THe tank is INSIDE an apartment so I'd rather have a skimmer that's not too noisy.
NB. I live in Russia so there might be a problem with getting a particular brand. Several options would be great.

The sro 1000 and the tunze 9006 would be the top two for your tank that are at the top of my head. I have the skimz 121 (WM MF 121) but they are not really quiet yet. still waiting for final pinwheel design.

 

[mojo~]

I have a question. I currently have an octo extreme 200 with a RDPW that I am running on about 300g of water with a heavy bio load. Can you recommend an cost effective skimmer for my system or does anyone know of mods that would help me reach my required level?

your skimmer is a bit under sized. you could just go withe the newer version. Octo xs 250. This will give you 2 sicce psk 1000 pumps. These are much better than the psk 2500 you have already.

The sro 5000 would be the next choice. an ATB 1050A would be awesome but they are about 900 bucks.