Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Drae]

I have a SRO 5000 on my 180 gal FOWLR and I get good results after a few skimmer mods. I agree with getting a 10" body skimmer

That's a big skimmer for a 180 but I can't argue with results. You can fit a lot of fish in a 180 and those fish need to be fed a lot. I can only imagine how much you need to feed that tank. I tend to get skimmers at the top end of their capabilities. I don't disagree with az johnny.

 

[Bunkerbean]

AZJOHNNY I have heard the RO are hard to tune and finicky? How long have you had yours.

 

[azjohnny]

I have had my SRO 5000 for about 12 mos and I had overflow problems in the beginning and it would only happen at night. I looked at the skimmer and noticed a few things that were different from similar skimmers. The shorter neck and the short return. I tried the neck extension and that seemed to help a bit and than I made a vented "T" section from a few dollars worth of PVC from HD, and both those mods helped to stabilize the skimmer enough it can be run in 9" of water

I am happy with how the skimmer operates now. Coralvue was giving the excuse you need to run in shallow water because of back pressure issues on the pump which I never felt should be an issue

Another thing that I don't agree with is the idea of consistent skimming. I feel if your skimmer never stops skimming and idles for a period of time than it will never catch up to you bioload and getting rid of the organics as quickly as possible is the name of the game. I would run a beckett/downdraft skimmer if it wasn't for the energy consumption and noise. They get rid of the organics fast than will be idle for longer periods of time but they get your water really clean

IMO running a big skimmer is similar to running a down draft skimmer, it will get the organics out quicker and give you more idle time

 

[goreef170]

I have had my SRO 5000 for about 12 mos and I had overflow problems in the beginning and it would only happen at night. I looked at the skimmer and noticed a few things that were different from similar skimmers. The shorter neck and the short return. I tried the neck extension and that seemed to help a bit and than I made a vented "T" section from a few dollars worth of PVC from HD, and both those mods helped to stabilize the skimmer enough it can be run in 9" of water

I am happy with how the skimmer operates now. Coralvue was giving the excuse you need to run in shallow water because of back pressure issues on the pump which I never felt should be an issue

Another thing that I don't agree with is the idea of consistent skimming. I feel if your skimmer never stops skimming and idles for a period of time than it will never catch up to you bioload and getting rid of the organics as quickly as possible is the name of the game. I would run a beckett/downdraft skimmer if it wasn't for the energy consumption and noise. They get rid of the organics fast than will be idle for longer periods of time but they get your water really clean

IMO running a big skimmer is similar to running a down draft skimmer, it will get the organics out quicker and give you more idle time

I also agree.... Many people will say your skimmer should always have a foam head.... This just tells me your skimmer is not capable of handling your bio load... It is always trying to catch up... If it has some idle time... then its doing its job of removing all the organics from the water column...

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I have the aquamaxx hob1,and wondering what others are using to clean the skimmer cup with.I get most of it clean except down on the very bottom on the edges. Tia

 

[ksed]

Get a fluval brush. Comes in a multi kit.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Hagen_Fluval_Brush_Kit_%28Set_of_3%29_Cleaning_Brushes_for_Saltwater_Aquarium_Pumps_Filters-Hagen-HG10683-FIMTMB-vi.html

 

[Bunkerbean]

Man with all the back orders on aquamaxx I may have to just go with skimz

 

[Drae]

Man with all the back orders on aquamaxx I may have to just go with skimz

They're back ordered for a reason.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Thanks ksed.

 

[azjohnny]

Man with all the back orders on aquamaxx I may have to just go with skimz

I looked into them before I bought my SRO, I didn't like the Eden pumps or the fact that they are made in Singapore, I had concerns regarding service if it was needed

 

[Bunkerbean]

Yeah that worries me a little. They have some DC models as well. I thought some skimmers were sicce pumps?

 

[jbeanz]

I am working on a 120G mixed reef build, my skimmer budget is $300.00 any recommendations?

 

[Bunkerbean]

Well do to my schedule on this product I think I am going with the skimz sm253 dc monzter skimmer.

 

[Drae]

I am working on a 120G mixed reef build, my skimmer budget is $300.00 any recommendations?

Aquamaxx em200 for 299$ at marine depot. You'd be hard pressed to find better for cheaper.

 

[TimeConsumer]

I am working on a 120G mixed reef build, my skimmer budget is $300.00 any recommendations?

How much bioload are you planning on having? Or, how many cubes/day do you plan to feed?

 

[tuber]

I have had my SRO 5000 for about 12 mos and I had overflow problems in the beginning and it would only happen at night. I looked at the skimmer and noticed a few things that were different from similar skimmers. The shorter neck and the short return. I tried the neck extension and that seemed to help a bit and than I made a vented "T" section from a few dollars worth of PVC from HD, and both those mods helped to stabilize the skimmer enough it can be run in 9" of water

I am happy with how the skimmer operates now. Coralvue was giving the excuse you need to run in shallow water because of back pressure issues on the pump which I never felt should be an issue

Another thing that I don't agree with is the idea of consistent skimming. I feel if your skimmer never stops skimming and idles for a period of time than it will never catch up to you bioload and getting rid of the organics as quickly as possible is the name of the game. I would run a beckett/downdraft skimmer if it wasn't for the energy consumption and noise. They get rid of the organics fast than will be idle for longer periods of time but they get your water really clean

IMO running a big skimmer is similar to running a down draft skimmer, it will get the organics out quicker and give you more idle time

just wondering if downdraft / beckett users shut off their skimmers during idle-time or use timers to save on electric. how 'bout a 50W -12hr/day downdraft
vs a 25W 24/7 pin-wheel for TOC removal :hmm6:?

 

[azjohnny]

I think most of the DD/beckett users do not shut them off, and depending on the pump the skimmer could use up to 300 watts per hour and I have my doubts about a 25 watt pinwheel skimmer. For an effective pump I would expect at least 50

 

[jfeva0049]

could anyone with a aquamaxx em200 tell me how high up the outlet port is??? i read alot of complaints on how the water shoots and sprays out of the outlet. they say it makes alot of mess and noise. to avoid this the outlet must be under water, so im curious just how many inches up does the water level need to be in order to cover the outlet port. thanks for any info or help.

 

[Drae]

could anyone with a aquamaxx em200 tell me how high up the outlet port is??? i read alot of complaints on how the water shoots and sprays out of the outlet. they say it makes alot of mess and noise. to avoid this the outlet must be under water, so im curious just how many inches up does the water level need to be in order to cover the outlet port. thanks for any info or help.

That's the em100 I believe your thinking about. I have the am200 (em predecessor) and the outlet pipe is the same as the em200 and it's only about an inch or so above the pumps venturi intake. The pump being under the body of the 100 makes the body higher up hence the outlet needs to be higher up. You could run the em200 @ 7" if Need be. Hth

 

[jfeva0049]

thanks Drae, would you happen to know if the skimmer body/neck has a smooth transition to the neck or not? from the looks of the outside it looks like its just a rigid step rather than a smooth transition. it could be smooth on the inside but i dont know. i would think that not having a smooth transition would affect the performance. thanks.