Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Drae]

Been following along for a new skimmer for my 120 heavy bioload reef with a 20g sump and 15 gallon refugium.
Had a BK MINI 200, but the motor block just went out and can't afford to pay 200 for a new one right now.
Sold the Mini and based on the posts looks like the EM200 is the way to go for a budget skimmer.
but a friend offering the Bubble Magus Curve 7 at a great price.
Regardless, I don't see it being recommended as much.
How does it compare with the EM200?
The Mini 200 was awesome, do you think I would see a big performance difference?

The curve 7 is a decent skimmer but the pumps are kinda cheap. You'd be a lot better off with the aquamaxx with the sicce pump for sure. The only thing you'll miss about the BK is the thought of having a BK. The aquamaxx will skim just as good.

 

[ulysses191]

Thanks! Aquamaxx it is.

 

[Bunkerbean]

So I am setting up my 180 again after a marine velvet episode. I have my CO-3 in about 8" of water and no matter what I do this thing is overflowing. Should I just turn it off till i out fish back in?

 

[phk36]

Hi all , I have about 250 gallons total water and want to keep sps . I have a sro 3000 xp cone exterior and its not doing a good job . I use ro water and have po3 20 po4 50 did a few months of changing 40 gallons a week running gfo with no help. I started vodka dosing two weeks ago. What skimmer would be good for my tank ? It can be big as I have a basement sump and also feed two times a day frozen flake and nori so heavy load . I was told that the 3000 was big enough I wanted to go 5000 and you know I can not return the skimmer. Thanks, Pete

 

[reeftivo]

So I am setting up my 180 again after a marine velvet episode. I have my CO-3 in about 8" of water and no matter what I do this thing is overflowing. Should I just turn it off till i out fish back in?

Sounds like a chemistry issue. I would run carbon for a couple days and either leave the skimmer off OR run it, keep some make up water on hand and keep emptying the cup until it settles down.

 

[Bunkerbean]

Yeah I dumped live sand and a good sized piece of live rock into just before turning it on

 

[Seanymac045]

I am in the market to upgrade my skimmer for my 200 gal reef dt with 40gal sump. I would like the sro 3000 but am wondering if that will be overkill? Bio load is

sps and lps corals

med achilles tang
med lavender tang
med yellow tang
med scopas tang
large naso tang
med mandarin dragonet
small lemon peel angel
med fairy wrasse
2 ocellaris clowns

 

[Drae]

I am in the market to upgrade my skimmer for my 200 gal reef dt with 40gal sump. I would like the sro 3000 but am wondering if that will be overkill? Bio load is

sps and lps corals

med achilles tang
med lavender tang
med yellow tang
med scopas tang
large naso tang
med mandarin dragonet
small lemon peel angel
med fairy wrasse
2 ocellaris clowns

You should get a nice 8" diameter skimmer. I believe the sro2000 is an 8". A skimmer that is balanced to your system would run circles around a bigger one that isn't. You bioload for a 200 is medium and the 3000 would be a little large.

 

[Seanymac045]

thanks for the advice. I only ask because i was am able to get the 3000 for $350 ha

 

[archangel91]

I'm looking at turning an old 10 gal tank (or a 15 gal high if i can find one) into a sump under my 46 gal bowfront (bigger would be nice but unfortunately that's the biggest I can fit through the cabinet door)

I'm leaning toward the Bubble Magus NAC Skimmer but cant figure out if I should go with the 3.5 (rated 80 gal) or the 5.5 (rated 135 gal)... I've seen a lot of "bigger is always better" doing research, however I'm also seeing quite a few people saying a skimmer wont work properly if you put it into a smaller system than it is designed for, any of the vets around here have any advice? If it makes any difference, the tank will most likely end up on the heavier side stock wise.

 

[Drae]

I'm looking at turning an old 10 gal tank (or a 15 gal high if i can find one) into a sump under my 46 gal bowfront (bigger would be nice but unfortunately that's the biggest I can fit through the cabinet door)

I'm leaning toward the Bubble Magus NAC Skimmer but cant figure out if I should go with the 3.5 (rated 80 gal) or the 5.5 (rated 135 gal)... I've seen a lot of "bigger is always better" doing research, however I'm also seeing quite a few people saying a skimmer wont work properly if you put it into a smaller system than it is designed for, any of the vets around here have any advice? If it makes any difference, the tank will most likely end up on the heavier side stock wise.

The 3.5 is 4" with around 200 lph of air pull... I'd say that skimmer would be good up to a 50 gallon display medium bioload. If you plan on having a heavy bioload I'd go with the 5.5

 

[jfeva0049]

just an update on my skimmer. some time ago i bought a em200 for my 90 gal with 30 gal sump/fuge. i had to take my em200 offline to replace the collection cup, because of this i put back my old euro reef 100. to be honest, i think my old euro performs better on my tank than the em200. i am only basing this off of the amount/color of skim mate it produces. i do love how easy the em200 is to adjust and the pump is alot better than the eco on the euro. but if i compare the amount of skim per the same amount of time, the euro produces more.

 

[sirreal63]

just an update on my skimmer. some time ago i bought a em200 for my 90 gal with 30 gal sump/fuge. i had to take my em200 offline to replace the collection cup, because of this i put back my old euro reef 100. to be honest, i think my old euro performs better on my tank than the em200. i am only basing this off of the amount/color of skim mate it produces. i do love how easy the em200 is to adjust and the pump is alot better than the eco on the euro. but if i compare the amount of skim per the same amount of time, the euro produces more.

That doesn't surprise me in the least, the old ER's were a very well balanced skimmer that had no need for marketing glitz or people hyping them, they simply performed and it is a more appropriate size for your tank.

 

[Drae]

just an update on my skimmer. some time ago i bought a em200 for my 90 gal with 30 gal sump/fuge. i had to take my em200 offline to replace the collection cup, because of this i put back my old euro reef 100. to be honest, i think my old euro performs better on my tank than the em200. i am only basing this off of the amount/color of skim mate it produces. i do love how easy the em200 is to adjust and the pump is alot better than the eco on the euro. but if i compare the amount of skim per the same amount of time, the euro produces more.

The em200 is too big for your tank. I skimmerd a heavy 150 with the 200. I bet the em100 would out perform the 200 on your tank. The in100 is the same size as the em100

 

[jfeva0049]

The em200 is too big for your tank. I skimmerd a heavy 150 with the 200. I bet the em100 would out perform the 200 on your tank. The in100 is the same size as the em100

thanks, well the reason i went with the em200 was because of all the recommendations on it. many people said that it would be great for my tank and even outperform my old euro by 75% plus....

im not sure what to do now, do i leave my euro on and let $300 plus just collect dust or put the em200 back online, oh well.

 

[sirreal63]

Sell the EM200 and leave the ER on the tank, at least that is what I would do, unless there is a larger tank in your near future.

 

[jfeva0049]

well one of the main reasons i wanted a new skimmer was i just cant stand the eco/sedra pump on the euro. 75% of the time that i stop my skimmer to do water changes, the pump will not start back up properly. i will have to take it out and play with it in order for it to start again. i just got feed up with the hassle. i wish they sold a better pump for the euro.

i have had a sicce as my RP and have never had a problem with it. just wish euro/RD used a better pump. and i think they also grossly over price there ehiem pump

 

[sirreal63]

That pump is (supposedly) the equivalent of the old Sedra KSP3500, which can be replaced with a Tunze Hydrofoamer or Sicce PSK600. FWIW I have two of the old style KSP5000's that are very very old, I have replaced the impeller on one of them which saw almost 8 years of action and never failed to start or perform.

 

[jfeva0049]

how do you think the euro would perform if i installed the em200 sicce pump on it? here is the specs for both;

https://www.reefdynamics.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=P-SP2-C

http://www.marinedepot.com/Replacem...cement_Parts-AquaMaxx-UJ1431-FIPSRPAX-vi.html

or would a smaller sicce pump like this be better?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Replacem...cement_Parts-AquaMaxx-UJ1411-FIPSRPAX-vi.html

 

[viggen]

Rd has their almost $400 eheims which do perform much better vs the Eco/Sandra pumps.... Jeff does state every few months the pumps should be serviced/cleaned..... And yes they are expensive! My biggest issue with buying their stuff

If you don't want to caugh up the dough for a new eheim check out the sicce and tuze pumps listed above.


I am skimmer shopping for my tank.... Been debating for a few months and need something soon... my 10-15yr old euro reef is to small for my 475g fowlr. I am leaning towards another reef dynamics skimmer, any thoughts on their xrc750 or xrc1000? Very heavy bio load and I might add a bio pellet reactor as well to the tank thus further increasing the load.