Skimmer Q&A Thread

[jason2459]

is mojo still around ?

nvm, he's not moved on anymore.

 

[Drae]

Mojo was never "moved on" haha. He put that as a joke I believe. I've been gone for awhile so pardon me if I'm mistaken.

 

[shred5]

Sorry for posting in an independent thread before this, but I didn't realize there was a thread for skimmer recommendations.

After over two years struggling with my Tunze 9410, I am just generally unhappy with its finicky nature and lack of controllability. I don't know if it's oversized or not for my tank, but I'm ready to move on to a better skimmer.

My tank is 90 gallons total water volume mixed reef with a focus on SPS, medium bioload (1 tang, 1 foxface, 2 ocellaris, midas blenny, yellow watchman, carpenter wrasse, coris wrasse, and 2 bartlett anthias), heavy feeding for the anthias.

However, my sump is quite tight so I can only fit a 12x12 square skimmer in it (or less), and I have 23" in height available. Sump height is 7.5".

I've been thinking about a few options that would work with my constraints - which would be the best for my tank?
1. RLSS R6i
2. Bubble Magus Curve 5
3. AquaMaxx C-01

I've used Reef Octopus before and have had mixed results, so I'm omitting their line for the moment.

RLSS would be the best out of those.. Too me the C-01 is borderline for that size tank, I prefer it 75 gallons and under.

I have not used Bubble magus, they are not bad skimmers I just feel there are better skimmers for the money. But that model looks like it would be ok for about a 75 gallon too..

 

[jason2459]

Mojo was never "moved on" haha. He put that as a joke I believe. I've been gone for awhile so pardon me if I'm mistaken.

Could be. I thought I remember that he was moved on officially though. He was a great resource a disappointed when it happened. I do know he is active online and started a discussion on skimmers again just not on this forum.

 

[gdwats1]

I have a question about the output from the skimmer gate valve to the sump. I am wondering if anybody's come up with a solution to silence the water coming out from the gate valve and hitting the sump water I put a phone block on under the output did not help. Thinking about maybe wrapping some cloth around it like a filter cut open?

 

[gdwats1]

Trying to figure out weather to go with a Reef Octopus Prime 150 or the Vertex Omega 150 for a 90 gal medium stocked tank with a 40 gal sump. Any advice would be appreciated.

AquaC EV120-180

 

[cvore2004]

I've got a reef octopus AC20287, which is basically(from what I've read) a nwb 150 with a different pump. I'm not home a whole lot, and I've seen mentions about a mod to basically add a summary reservoir, but can't find any info on how to do it.can anyone enlighten me on this?

 

[cvore2004]

I have a question about the output from the skimmer gate valve to the sump. I am wondering if anybody's come up with a solution to silence the water coming out from the gate valve and hitting the sump water I put a phone block on under the output did not help. Thinking about maybe wrapping some cloth around it like a filter cut open?

There's a mod I ran across which basically just runs pvc from the gate valve to a 90 that runs under the water, then drill holes in the top of the 90 to let air vent and prevent back-pressure. I haven't tried it myself but it seems pretty common. I think I google "protein skimmer mods" and it was one of the first results.

 

[jason2459]

I've got a reef octopus AC20287, which is basically(from what I've read) a nwb 150 with a different pump. I'm not home a whole lot, and I've seen mentions about a mod to basically add a summary reservoir, but can't find any info on how to do it.can anyone enlighten me on this?

There should be a capped nub or elbow on the bottom of that collection cup. Remove the cap and slide a tube over top that runs to a collection device. Make sure to secure that tube from falling off. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a couple switches to let me know when it needs dumped or is completely full and shuts down my skimmer.

 

[jason2459]

There's a mod I ran across which basically just runs pvc from the gate valve to a 90 that runs under the water, then drill holes in the top of the 90 to let air vent and prevent back-pressure. I haven't tried it myself but it seems pretty common. I think I google "protein skimmer mods" and it was one of the first results.

Did this on my SRO3000. Coral vue has one they sell for like $50. I used a sanitary T that directs the water down. Then I put a pipe on top with a cap over it with a few holes drilled in the top. This reduced the noise and the jet of water streaming out splashing everywhere.


Pictures with out the pipe added going up. Stand pipe.

 

[cvore2004]

There should be a capped nub or elbow on the bottom of that collection cup. Remove the cap and slide a tube over top that runs to a collection device. Make sure to secure that tube from falling off. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a couple switches to let me know when it needs dumped or is completely full and shuts down my skimmer.

Awesome, thank you. I guess I should have mentioned that it's not in my possession yet, it just got delivered today while I was at work, so I hadn't seen it yet.

 

[ashrafz]

Looking for the best skimmer for a 120 gallon medium load mixed reef. I currently have a Super Reef Octopus internal 3000 XP and it just doesnt perform. itll skim sometimes but mostly it is doing nothing. I barely collect any skim and yet I still have 6ppm nitrates in my water.

Looking for a top 3. Thank you.

 

[Drae]

Looking for the best skimmer for a 120 gallon medium load mixed reef. I currently have a Super Reef Octopus internal 3000 XP and it just doesnt perform. itll skim sometimes but mostly it is doing nothing. I barely collect any skim and yet I still have 6ppm nitrates in my water.

Looking for a top 3. Thank you.

Atb 840
Aquamaxx cones co-2
You wouldn't regret either of these.

 

[ashrafz]

Atb 840

Aquamaxx cones co-2

You wouldn't regret either of these.

Im from Canada so are there any equivalents over here?

Does anyone know why my super reef octopus doesnt skim. Like ive been pulling my hair out.
Ive cleaned the skimmer in a vinegar bath running, made sure air hoses can flow freely, adjusted the gate valve to hell and back, have the exact water depth it wants. Like I dont know what more I can do.

 

[WolfInRed]

I have a trigger system skimmer that is great but they don't make them any more - maybe you can talk him into making one or find a used one. Not sure anyone would want to give it up. If anything it can be too aggressive. It's a cone style which i think works better than the tube.

 

[Drae]

Im from Canada so are there any equivalents over here?

Does anyone know why my super reef octopus doesnt skim. Like ive been pulling my hair out.
Ive cleaned the skimmer in a vinegar bath running, made sure air hoses can flow freely, adjusted the gate valve to hell and back, have the exact water depth it wants. Like I dont know what more I can do.

Your skimmer isn't producing because it's too large for your system. That's a 10" cone skimmer better suited for a tank twice the size of yours. Skimmer balance is key to production and yours is struggling to keep a stable foam head because there's simply not enough doc's in your tank for it to skim. You need a well balanced 6" skimmer and I guarantee the difference will be night and day. The aquamaxx is a 6" skimmer and the atb is an 8" cone. The atb is slightly large but it's one of the most balanced skimmers out there and would work extremely well on a 120. If you can't get these what brands are available in Canada? I have a ton of skimmer experience and I could make a better suggestion if I knew what brands are available to you.

 

[biecacka]

Yeah, it's too large. I looked at the 3000 model for my 240 gallon cube with 30 fish in it....

Corey

 

[ashrafz]

Your skimmer isn't producing because it's too large for your system. That's a 10" cone skimmer better suited for a tank twice the size of yours. Skimmer balance is key to production and yours is struggling to keep a stable foam head because there's simply not enough doc's in your tank for it to skim. You need a well balanced 6" skimmer and I guarantee the difference will be night and day. The aquamaxx is a 6" skimmer and the atb is an 8" cone. The atb is slightly large but it's one of the most balanced skimmers out there and would work extremely well on a 120. If you can't get these what brands are available in Canada? I have a ton of skimmer experience and I could make a better suggestion if I knew what brands are available to you.

Thanks a lot for your help! Bought the JNS CO-2, it is the Canadian equivalent of the Aquamaxx CO-2. GOOD LORD, plugged this thing in expecting a break in time of at least a week. Set the water depth in the sump to 9" and there is ALREADY a foam head barely 2 hours later.

 

[ashrafz]

Skimmer Q&A Thread

Your skimmer isn't producing because it's too large for your system. That's a 10" cone skimmer better suited for a tank twice the size of yours. Skimmer balance is key to production and yours is struggling to keep a stable foam head because there's simply not enough doc's in your tank for it to skim. You need a well balanced 6" skimmer and I guarantee the difference will be night and day. The aquamaxx is a 6" skimmer and the atb is an 8" cone. The atb is slightly large but it's one of the most balanced skimmers out there and would work extremely well on a 120. If you can't get these what brands are available in Canada? I have a ton of skimmer experience and I could make a better suggestion if I knew what brands are available to you.

So I researched a bit and found an Aquamaxx CO-2 equivalent in Canada called the JNS CO-2. I was expecting a one week break in period, dialing the sump in at 9 inches amd leaving the valve on the skimmer wide open but GOOD LORD it ALREADY has a foam head. Thanks a lot Drae! If you're ever in Toronto, I owe you a cold one.

I can't wait till this skimmer is truly broken in. It is going to be a beast.

Also a sidenote, will this skimmer be able to handle a full blown SPS reef with heavy bioload for the 120gallon? I have almost 200 pounds of live rock in the tank as well so the actual water volume is closer to 90 gallons.

 

[Drae]

So I researched a bit and found an Aquamaxx CO-2 equivalent in Canada called the JNS CO-2. I was expecting a one week break in period, dialing the sump in at 9 inches amd leaving the valve on the skimmer wide open but GOOD LORD it ALREADY has a foam head. Thanks a lot Drae! If you're ever in Toronto, I owe you a cold one.

I can't wait till this skimmer is truly broken in. It is going to be a beast.

Also a sidenote, will this skimmer be able to handle a full blown SPS reef with heavy bioload for the 120gallon? I have almost 200 pounds of live rock in the tank as well so the actual water volume is closer to 90 gallons.

I ran the jns sk2. Same skimmer without the lil cones. That skimmer will skim a 150 heavy load tank. You picked a winner. Just wait for full break in! Your skimmate is going to be black and stink to high heaven. Good pick.