Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Mj75]

Hello all. I have a 100 g sps dominated system medium bioload (for now) with a total of 125 g water volume. I need to upgrade my skimmer ASAP and I have these 3 in mind.

Bubble Magus Nac 8 or 9

Reef Octopus xp2000sss or

Bubble Magus 180-CS with the aquabee pump


I appreciate the input and I wish you guys a happy new year.

 

[mojo~]

the SRO 2000sss is the better of the 3 based on pump.

The sro 2000 is a gret skimmer, the Sea Side Aquatics CS2, JNS sk2, THe BM NAC 8 the octo xs 200 would all be really good skimmers for your setup. I imagine you need a small footprint ?

 

[tnorthern]

The SRO would be great. Is the dispay a 250 or is it a 180 with a 70g sump.

if its a 180 I would go with the 3000 int. If its a 250 display Then I would say you could jump up to the 5000 int.

Both are great skimmers. Just trying to make sure you will get the best possible performance.

Thanks for the quick response Mojo, the display is a 210 with a 40 gallon sump and a 40 gallon frag tank, 250 gallons is a rough estimate. I like having a little more skimmer than I need, if necessary I can always feed more I'm sure my fish won't mind.

 

[mojo~]

I would actually go with the 3000 int. If you go larger its not that you are going to skim more. You will actually skim less. As the neck of the skimmer is larger and your system will have to maintain a certain load before the skimmer can extract. Yes the pump is bigger ect.. but 1500 lph of air and good water flow is enough. you will be happier with teh 3000 over the 5000. You will have to trust me here.

Mojo~

 

[bif24701]

Mojo,
I'm looking at the sro 3000 int, for my 120+40 sump+ 40 refugium, LPS and SPS, and about 30"-40" of fish total. What do you think? Too big, just right?

 

[JohnV8r]

How many GPH to maximize performance?

How many GPH to maximize performance?

I have an ASM G3 that I have done the gate valve mod, mesh mod, and recirc mod to. Photos & info are here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2109714

After the recirc mod, I decided to use a MaxiJet 900 rated at 230 gph for the intake pump. The Sedra 5000 that the skimmer came with was rated at 500 gph. The Sedra 5000 is now strictly the recirc pump. The recirc mod increased the volume of bubble production by 100% since the bubbles now come all the way up the skimmer body. I am getting good skimmate production with the increased dwell time from 230 gph intake and 500 gph recirc.

Here is two days of skimmate production:

And the skimmer:

My system is 194 gallons. Nitrates = 0, Phosphate = 0...all chemistry is good. However, I am curious if I should be running more gph through the intake.

Please let me know if there is a rule of thumb on gph through put on the skimmer or number of times I should be turning over my system over in the skimmer.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
I'm looking at the sro 3000 int, for my 120+40 sump+ 40 refugium, LPS and SPS, and about 30"-40" of fish total. What do you think? Too big, just right?

I would think the 3000 is too big. I would go to the 3000 until about 180 gallons diplay. The 40g refugium shouldnt add too load. it shouldbea wash or take away from load.

I would get the 2000 xp. I think it would be a good fit.

 

[mojo~]

I have an ASM G3 that I have done the gate valve mod, mesh mod, and recirc mod to. Photos & info are here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2109714

After the recirc mod, I decided to use a MaxiJet 900 rated at 230 gph for the intake pump. The Sedra 5000 that the skimmer came with was rated at 500 gph. The Sedra 5000 is now strictly the recirc pump. The recirc mod increased the volume of bubble production by 100% since the bubbles now come all the way up the skimmer body. I am getting good skimmate production with the increased dwell time from 230 gph intake and 500 gph recirc.

Here is two days of skimmate production:

And the skimmer:

My system is 194 gallons. Nitrates = 0, Phosphate = 0...all chemistry is good. However, I am curious if I should be running more gph through the intake.

Please let me know if there is a rule of thumb on gph through put on the skimmer or number of times I should be turning over my system over in the skimmer.

Thanks in advance.

roughly 2x your display volume.

ex
75g tank 150gph feed pump.

 

[Mj75]

the SRO 2000sss is the better of the 3 based on pump.

The sro 2000 is a gret skimmer, the Sea Side Aquatics CS2, JNS sk2, THe BM NAC 8 the octo xs 200 would all be really good skimmers for your setup. I imagine you need a small footprint ?

Thanks Mojo. Yes room is an issue. I have a 40g breeder sump. What are the pros and cons of these pump? ATman, Aquabee, Sicce Syncra PSK-1000, Bubble Blaster HY2000S. Sorry loaded question here.

 

[bif24701]

I would think the 3000 is too big. I would go to the 3000 until about 180 gallons diplay. The 40g refugium shouldnt add too load. it shouldbea wash or take away from load.

I would get the 2000 xp. I think it would be a good fit.

Thanks so much for the reply, just one more question. What is the difference between the SRO and the XP line of octopus skimmers? Thanks agian.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks Mojo. Yes room is an issue. I have a 40g breeder sump. What are the pros and cons of these pump? ATman, Aquabee, Sicce Syncra PSK-1000, Bubble Blaster HY2000S. Sorry loaded question here.

The atman is a cheaper pump that is being used quite a bit here lately. The aquabee pump is good but overpriced as a skimmer pump being imported from germany, the New italian psk 1000 and 600 pumps are really nice goodbang for your buck. The bubble blaster pumps are nice pumps too.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks so much for the reply, just one more question. What is the difference between the SRO and the XP line of octopus skimmers? Thanks agian.

the xp is a sro skimmer the xp is a full cone. The xp line usually has a slightly larger neck than the sro Int model.

 

[Mj75]

The atman is a cheaper pump that is being used quite a bit here lately. The aquabee pump is good but overpriced as a skimmer pump being imported from germany, the New italian psk 1000 and 600 pumps are really nice goodbang for your buck. The bubble blaster pumps are nice pumps too.

Thanks Mojo. Happy new year:celeb3:

 

[biecacka]

mojo, question, i have a GEO skimmer that i operate and I'm struggling finding the sweet spot as far as the water level goes. its either too low and produces a great foam but nothing for days or week in the collection cup. then i raise the level up just a bit and it overflows like crazy. its and older skimmer so I'm not sure it needs ":broken in". but I'm looking for a good start point on the water level.......any thoughts
thanks corey

 

[mojo~]

Well lets start with this, Geo used sedra and ehiem pumps. Which pump are you using? The sedra would most likely be a 9000. LMK what one you have and we can go from there.

 

[Testutar]

Just hooked up my new BK Mini 200 to my 210. That thing is built like a tank, and runs near silent. Can't wait to see how it performs!

 

[1sleeper]

Reef Octopus NWB-110 vs Warner Marine MF 161

Reef Octopus NWB-110 vs Warner Marine MF 161

I have an Aqua C urchin pro, I think its a POS! or my water is too high.
I'm looking to upgrade my 75 bow/20g sump. My two choices so far are the Reef Octopus NWB-110 or Warner Marine MF 161. I have 7.5"x7.5" with a little extra for maybe a pump next to my overflow. The other part of the equation is it has to sit in 10" of water. The NWB has a nice price point but I am more interested in getting the right skimmer for the job. It's a reef with 7 small fish.
thanks

 

[biecacka]

its the sedra 9000.

 

[andrewbram]

Ok so here goes. hope everone gets good laugh. I have used two seaclones with good success with only minor mods. Well I think my second one is finally about to croak. What is a decent skimmer that I can get for hopefully well under 200 150 or lower be even better. Or with having such tight budget should I search craigslist and find a free one and run same mods. I have had success by way of patients which I feel most dont have. My skimmate is currently comming out really really wet. I dont know if anyone actually knows what green tea is supposed to look like but its just a tad lighter then that. and get half collector cup to cup a day. Thanks in advance.

 

[sheac12]

Hey mojo!

I have a 180 DT and a 40B sump. Bio load is an emperor angel, two tangs, pair of clowns, LPS and SPS.

I am currently running an algae scrubber and need to add a new skimmer. I had an Aqua ev240, but hated it. I was looking at the skimz monster 201, the WM MF201, or the Avast CS1 with the recir. mod. I would love to do the RO XP3000 int but I think it is out of the price range. Suggestions?