Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Frobozz0249]

sounds like the skimmer is working well!

try lowering the water level and when the level in skimmer lowers raise the level in the skimmer

Your GHA could be because of phosphates, are you using GFO?

One other thing I'd like to note is that I haven't been able to achieve even a wet skim with this skimmer. What I mean is, if I set the water level really high inside the skimmer (say halfway between the bottom of the skimmer cup and the top where the foam spills over) it doesn't produce any foam. If I lower the water level to the bottom of the neck, which still seems pretty high to me, then I get very little skim in the cup.

Basically, it seems like no matter how I set the wedge pipe for air/water mix I don't get much of anything into the skimmer cup. I would think I should be able to get it to wet skim, even if it's mostly clear seawater.


Is it possible this skimmer hasn't broken it yet (after more than three weeks) or is it too big a skimmer for my tank?

 

[azjohnny]

I tried the skimmer overnight with the sump set at 7.5". In order to get the water level to where the foam is building at the bottom of the cup, I had to almost completely close the air valve. The SSA CS1 doesn't have a water output valve so the only way to regulate the water height in the skimmer is by closing down the air valve which brings in more water. There is only one pump which provides both the air and water mix controlled through a wedge pipe.

Anyway, this setting produced no skim overnight and hardly any foam in the neck. I don't think setting the sump level so low is going to work as the air level has to be almost completely shut down.

The manufacturer recommends a sump depth of 25-27cm which works out to 9.8" to 10.6". Today I set the sump depth to 9" and it's producing some foam, but mostly clear with just a hint of yellow. Seems like my DOCs have all been sucked up by the skimmer over the last few weeks although I never got more than 1/8" of medium brown in any 24 hour period. Much less than that now...:worried2:

As you noted my current bio load is pretty light, but I plan to add to soon with more fish and corals. Seems like I've reached the end of my experimenting and that this is all I'm going to get out of the skimmer with my current bio load. I should see the hair algae start to die off if the nutrients are being removed, but I suppose it could take some time as the nitrate and phosphate may still be in the system even with no DOCs:sad1:

After doing some research on your skimmer, the word is to run in 8-10" of water and you can control the water level in the skimmer with the vertical pipe, it has a round dial with numbers on it. You want to have as much air as possible going to the pump

I do feel the skimmer is working like it should you just need more of a bio load.

IMO when your skimmate is a light color your skimmer is being efficient and getting the organics out quickly. When the skimmate is dark that is just a higher concentration of organics and I feel the skimmer is too weak to get the organics out and they build up in the water column or skimmer body. By the time they make it to the collection cup they are a high concentration

 

[Brando457]

i need an external skimmer for a 180g tank w/ a 75g sump. It will be a fish only with live rock and pretty heavily stocked (15 fish or so of small to large size).

Thanks!

Any tips on running an external skimmer? I have the avast skimmate locker for auto cut off if it overflows already.

 

[azjohnny]

i need an external skimmer for a 180g tank w/ a 75g sump. It will be a fish only with live rock and pretty heavily stocked (15 fish or so of small to large size).

Thanks!

Any tips on running an external skimmer? I have the avast skimmate locker for auto cut off if it overflows already.

my vote goes to an SRO 3000EXT

 

[Frobozz0249]

After doing some research on your skimmer, the word is to run in 8-10" of water and you can control the water level in the skimmer with the vertical pipe, it has a round dial with numbers on it. You want to have as much air as possible going to the pump

I do feel the skimmer is working like it should you just need more of a bio load.

IMO when your skimmate is a light color your skimmer is being efficient and getting the organics out quickly. When the skimmate is dark that is just a higher concentration of organics and I feel the skimmer is too weak to get the organics out and they build up in the water column or skimmer body. By the time they make it to the collection cup they are a high concentration

Thanks for your help and suggestions. After running it in 9" of sump water with the bubble column right at the bottom of the cup, I have about 1/4" of medium brown skimmate over the last 24 hours. :headwally: Not great, but at least it's doing something now. I'm going to just leave it alone for a week or so and see if it settles in. I'll post some more pics of the skimmate I'm collecting later this week.

I also rearranged my rockwork in the DT and moved some pumps to make sure I'm circulating the water behind the rocks so waste isn't settling there. Hopefully, it will keep everything suspended that I want to get to the skimmer. Keep in mind this is a 54g corner tank so the aquascape is not as spread out as it would be in a normal rectangular tank.

Eventually, I might mod the SSA CS1 by putting a gate valve on the water output, which is just a simple pvc pipe so I'd think I could find a plastic fitting that would work. This would allow me to raise the water level in the skimmer without having to turn down the air flow.

 

[swcc]

Thanks for your help and suggestions. After running it in 9" of sump water with the bubble column right at the bottom of the cup, I have about 1/4" of medium brown skimmate over the last 24 hours. :headwally: Not great, but at least it's doing something now. I'm going to just leave it alone for a week or so and see if it settles in. I'll post some more pics of the skimmate I'm collecting later this week.

I also rearranged my rockwork in the DT and moved some pumps to make sure I'm circulating the water behind the rocks so waste isn't settling there. Hopefully, it will keep everything suspended that I want to get to the skimmer. Keep in mind this is a 54g corner tank so the aquascape is not as spread out as it would be in a normal rectangular tank.

Eventually, I might mod the SSA CS1 by putting a gate valve on the water output, which is just a simple pvc pipe so I'd think I could find a plastic fitting that would work. This would allow me to raise the water level in the skimmer without having to turn down the air flow.

your skimmer is working fine. med brown is good. Do not mod the skimmer with a gate valve, keep it as it is. Best thing to do is leave it alone right now and let it run as it is set.

 

[Brando457]

So I lied (not really), but decided to move my sump from under my tank since the 8" of height clearance to work in there is going to be a HUGE PITA. Now I will be able to use an internal skimmer!!

I am torn between the SRO 3000XP, JNS SK2, and the new ATI power cone.

 

[Brando457]

So I lied (not really), but decided to move my sump from under my tank since the 8" of height clearance to work in there is going to be a HUGE PITA. Now I will be able to use an internal skimmer!!

I am torn between the SRO 3000XP, JNS SK2, and the new ATI power cone.

 

[dan223]

Bm-180ex

Bm-180ex

Looking for a skimmer to handle about 140g of display with another 140g or so of sump fish load will be light. Limited budget so Im looking at BM 220A BM180EX and SRO2000. I can get the BM 180EX for almost $100 less than the sro, a friend has the BM220A and I was very impressed with its performance and very surprised I never heard of it before on the forums. The 180EX pulls the same amount of air but with a smoother transition in the cone. Does anyone have any experience with the BM180EX?

 

[Frobozz0249]

Here is a nog shot from my SeaSide Aquatics CS1. This is about a week's worth of skimmate from my 54g and is my first week of production since the skimmer fully broke in. I'm happy with that, especially the color. If anything, I could possibly run it a little wetter as the skim is really dark, but the volume isn't quite where I'd like it.

I was on here several weeks ago indicating I wasn't getting much from the CS1 through the first three weeks, but things have changed. It looks like it just needed 3-4 weeks to fully break in. I run this skimmer in 10-10.25" of water and have the wedge pipe set to "4" in case anyone is wondering. This creates really tiny bubbles in the neck that break about 2/3 the way up (a few inches from the top of the cup).

Any questions, just ask, but this skimmer is pulling some really nasty stuff and I have a pretty light biolode. Runs very quiet and is doing great now and my hair algae is disappearing rather rapidly :thumbsup:

 

[swcc]

Here is a nog shot from my SeaSide Aquatics CS1. This is about a week's worth of skimmate from my 54g and is my first week of production since the skimmer fully broke in. I'm happy with that, especially the color. If anything, I could possibly run it a little wetter as the skim is really dark, but the volume isn't quite where I'd like it.

I was on here several weeks ago indicating I wasn't getting much from the CS1 through the first three weeks, but things have changed. It looks like it just needed 3-4 weeks to fully break in. I run this skimmer in 10-10.25" of water and have the wedge pipe set to "4" in case anyone is wondering. This creates really tiny bubbles in the neck that break about 2/3 the way up (a few inches from the top of the cup).

Any questions, just ask, but this skimmer is pulling some really nasty stuff and I have a pretty light biolode. Runs very quiet and is doing great now and my hair algae is disappearing rather rapidly :thumbsup:

skimmate looks tremendous.. any change you can post a close up of the skimmer running with a clean cup and where the water/bubble level is set?

 

[tmulrney]

I'm looking for recommendations on a Reef Octopus skimmer for 210gal tank with small footprint. 11"x15" is the largest I can go. Any thoughts?

 

[Nizz]

I would think a SRO3000 would be for you.

 

[swcc]

I'm looking for recommendations on a Reef Octopus skimmer for 210gal tank with small footprint. 11"x15" is the largest I can go. Any thoughts?

sro 5000sss will fit. The 3000 series may be more 'size appropriate'... It really depends on bioload plans...if you plan to stock the tank with heavy feeding fish, get the 5000.

 

[mfinn]

Hello Mojo and others

Looking at setting up a 50g mixed tank. I will run a 29g sump with about 20 usable gallons in it. The skimmer chamber will be 11x8 and the baffles will be 10" high. I was thinking about getting a bubble magus curve 5 because of the small footprint and it runs at the baffle depth. Do you have any suggestions on something that might be better or more appropriate? I Can adjust the sump as its not done but don't want to lose to much space to the skimmer. Thanks

I am also looking at the Bubble Magus Curve 5. The size would be perfect for my 50 gallon tank/25 gallon sump, lps/sps tank.
A local store has the for sale at $180 right now.
Is it worth it?

 

[footballcs12]

I have had my RO BH2000 for a couple of months now up and running without a problem. I broke it all down about 2 weeks ago to clean it all out as I do every 3-4 weeks. About a week ago it started producing WAY too many bubbles. The collection cup has to be up all the way or I need to empty it about ever half hour. Theres a hole that allows for water/bubbles to drain directly out without going to the cup but all that is doing is making my tank fill with microbubbles.

Anyone have any ideas about this?

 

[azjohnny]

I'm looking for recommendations on a Reef Octopus skimmer for 210gal tank with small footprint. 11"x15" is the largest I can go. Any thoughts?

We need more info than just a 210 gal tank. Such as what kind of equipment, size of sump, bioload

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[s@ltydog]

Recommendations Please

Recommendations Please

New tank build specs:

Tank: 250 Gallon (82"L*27"W*26"H)
Sump: 40 Breeder
Bioload: Med-Heavy
Mixed Reef
Feeding 3 times a day

Was looking at Aquamaxx AM350 or Aquamaxx Cone 5. The cone pulls 1500 /lph of air and uses half the voltage. AM350 pulls like 1610 lph but uses 2 pumps doubling the voltage used. Rating wise i dont want it to go idle trying to skim, but i will not be upgrading the tank in the foreseeable future. Anything better out there you guys would recommend? Or are either of those good choices?

Thanks for your help!

 

[staggeringwade]

Hi guys, I was wondering if an older used ATI 250 bubble master for a 210 gallon reef tank plus a 40 gallon sump is good. The skimmers dual sicce pumps have been replaced with a single bubble blaster 5000.
Because of the skimmers age (pump is new) are there better choices out there? I'm on a tight budget and don't want to waste money.
Thanks
Wade

 

[meegwell]

Need skimmer that fits a 11x8.5 footprint....

Need skimmer that fits a 11x8.5 footprint....

Setting up a new 90g+30g sump mixed reef. The sump section for the skimmer is about 11.5 x 9 internal dimensions. Any suggestions appreciated.