Skimmer Q&A Thread

[inktomi]

Would anyone be able to give me a suggestion on an upgraded skimmer for my ~300g (total volume) tank? I have my current skimmer (Reef Octopus INT-200 "Elite") plumbed to the outside and I'm looking for something with a little more "power" so that the long airline doesn't bog it down. My tank is full of anthias, so there's a lot of food to get skimmed out.

I've been looking at the Deltec SC 2060, though after reading the last several pages of this thread I'm thinking about the Nyos Quantum 220. I like that the Nyos is listed as pulling in more air: 2,200 l/h vs the Deltec at 1,200 l/h. I have a budget around $1000 to work with for this upgrade. My current skimmer pulls ~1,200 l/h but this is somewhat reduced due to the line to outside.

Is Nyos a good brand? I like that Deltec has been around since I started reefing years and years ago. What do you all think?

 

[willper]

Bubble Magus Curve 5

Bubble Magus Curve 5

I am returning to the Aquarium Reef hobby after a long absence. I have a Red Sea XL425 controlled by Apex Fusion. A new aquisition is a Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer. The consensus is to plug it in and wait until it stops overflowing. The skimmer "muffler' keeps getting water in it causing an annoying "bubbling" sound. My question: is this normal and will it go away. I have sucked the water out of it and it keeps getting more. If i cover the hole on top, it stops.

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated

 

[kalan850]

Skimmer Q&A Thread

Skimmer Q&A Thread

Hello everyone!
Just put water in my 40 breeder today needless to say I'm STOKED!

Question though... I have a vertex somatic 60s that I installed today but this thing is kinda loud! And it's putting a crazy amount of micro bubbles out of the return. The tank is a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I plan on keeping around 4 or 5 small fish and mostly lps and softies. I will be feeding once a day. NLS pellets one day and mysis the next so on and so forth. I plan on doing 25% wc once a week. Do I really need to run a skimmer with this bioload? Would it benefit me to keep it or is it a bit overkill?


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[shred5]

Hello everyone!
Just put water in my 40 breeder today needless to say I'm STOKED!

Question though... I have a vertex somatic 60s that I installed today but this thing is kinda loud! And it's putting a crazy amount of micro bubbles out of the return. The tank is a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I plan on keeping around 4 or 5 small fish and mostly lps and softies. I will be feeding once a day. NLS pellets one day and mysis the next so on and so forth. I plan on doing 25% wc once a week. Do I really need to run a skimmer with this bioload? Would it benefit me to keep it or is it a bit overkill?


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Do not own that skimmer but a few things. The skimmer will take a few days to over a week to break in. I just rebooted my tank cleaned my skimmer well and it was not in use for a few weeks and when I put it back in service it put out micro bubbles for about a week.


Did you use epoxy or any putty.. That will make it way worse for a bit.

Make sure the water height is right and make sure the water level is close to the neck.

Nice rock work not too much rock and nice negative space. Makes the tank look bigger than it is.

 

[shred5]

I am returning to the Aquarium Reef hobby after a long absence. I have a Red Sea XL425 controlled by Apex Fusion. A new aquisition is a Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer. The consensus is to plug it in and wait until it stops overflowing. The skimmer "muffler' keeps getting water in it causing an annoying "bubbling" sound. My question: is this normal and will it go away. I have sucked the water out of it and it keeps getting more. If i cover the hole on top, it stops.

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated

Do not have a bubble Magnus but if it is getting water in it the water level might be to high. Also had a skimmer do this once and the silencer had a leak in it.

 

[shred5]

Would anyone be able to give me a suggestion on an upgraded skimmer for my ~300g (total volume) tank? I have my current skimmer (Reef Octopus INT-200 "Elite") plumbed to the outside and I'm looking for something with a little more "power" so that the long airline doesn't bog it down. My tank is full of anthias, so there's a lot of food to get skimmed out.

I've been looking at the Deltec SC 2060, though after reading the last several pages of this thread I'm thinking about the Nyos Quantum 220. I like that the Nyos is listed as pulling in more air: 2,200 l/h vs the Deltec at 1,200 l/h. I have a budget around $1000 to work with for this upgrade. My current skimmer pulls ~1,200 l/h but this is somewhat reduced due to the line to outside.

Is Nyos a good brand? I like that Deltec has been around since I started reefing years and years ago. What do you all think?

Deltec is a good skimmer but that model is a little small. only pulls 1200 l/h.

Nyos is a decent skimmer too but people have had a few issues.

Not just about air but design but it is a huge difference. your tank is large and you need to feed anthias often. Just remember anthias do not need allot of food they just need to be fed often, so there does not need to be allot of extra waste.


Might check out ATB 1050A they are super efficient.

 

[VoiceInTheDeser]

Hey everyone. I'm starting a 40g cube build and looking for the right skimmer. It's going to be home to a Dwarf Lion and possibly nothing else, fish wise. For corals, I wasn't planning much, maybe some mushrooms, maybe some LPS, but the tank is about the Lion and whatever can live with him.

Been looking into a couple skimmers. The sump I have is smallish, skimmer chamber about 7 inches wide and 11 inches long. As a result, the K2-50/120, Eshopps X-120, Skimz SN-123 and Simplicity 120 have been my main research candidates.

I know the Lion is gonna make a mess, but I don't want to oversize the skimmer and have it perform inconsistently. Thoughts on the models I've found? Something else entirely?

 

[VoiceInTheDeser]

Hello everyone!
Just put water in my 40 breeder today needless to say I'm STOKED!

Question though... I have a vertex somatic 60s that I installed today but this thing is kinda loud! And it's putting a crazy amount of micro bubbles out of the return. The tank is a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I plan on keeping around 4 or 5 small fish and mostly lps and softies. I will be feeding once a day. NLS pellets one day and mysis the next so on and so forth. I plan on doing 25% wc once a week. Do I really need to run a skimmer with this bioload? Would it benefit me to keep it or is it a bit overkill?


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As others have said, the break-in is normal. A good skimmer will stop producing those bubbles and stop making as much noise somewhere between a few days and a week. Placement in the sump will also affect this. The bubbles going through a couple baffles will reduce them significantly.

As far as "is it worth it," I'd say yes. You'll get some people telling you that skimmers aren't necessary under a certain size tank, but I think most also get better growth and more stable tanks from using one. If anything, I would cut down a bit on the WC. Not because they're bad, but I just don't think it's necessary with your plans.

 

[kalan850]

As others have said, the break-in is normal. A good skimmer will stop producing those bubbles and stop making as much noise somewhere between a few days and a week. Placement in the sump will also affect this. The bubbles going through a couple baffles will reduce them significantly.



As far as "is it worth it," I'd say yes. You'll get some people telling you that skimmers aren't necessary under a certain size tank, but I think most also get better growth and more stable tanks from using one. If anything, I would cut down a bit on the WC. Not because they're bad, but I just don't think it's necessary with your plans.

I appreciate you sharing your wisdom [emoji106] the skimmer stays for now. I'm cycling the tank so running the skimmer during the cycle would be counterproductive considering it would pull the organic materials from the water column before the bacteria can colonies and consume them right?


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[kalan850]

Water level is 10". for now I have the skimmer running without air going to it. Will this help the break in period or should I not run it at all until the system is fully cycled?


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[VoiceInTheDeser]

I appreciate you sharing your wisdom [emoji106] the skimmer stays for now. I'm cycling the tank so running the skimmer during the cycle would be counterproductive considering it would pull the organic materials from the water column before the bacteria can colonies and consume them right?


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Yeah, I wouldn't bother with the skimmer until it cycles. Someone smarter than me might chime in and correct me, but my understanding is that you'll be removing a lot of the stuff that's necessary for the cycle to actually occur. Once you have the cycle finished, you could fire it up, but it still won't catch much until there's an actual bioload in the tank.

 

[shred5]

Hey everyone. I'm starting a 40g cube build and looking for the right skimmer. It's going to be home to a Dwarf Lion and possibly nothing else, fish wise. For corals, I wasn't planning much, maybe some mushrooms, maybe some LPS, but the tank is about the Lion and whatever can live with him.

Been looking into a couple skimmers. The sump I have is smallish, skimmer chamber about 7 inches wide and 11 inches long. As a result, the K2-50/120, Eshopps X-120, Skimz SN-123 and Simplicity 120 have been my main research candidates.

I know the Lion is gonna make a mess, but I don't want to oversize the skimmer and have it perform inconsistently. Thoughts on the models I've found? Something else entirely?

Nothing better for small tanks Aquamaxx CO-1 if you can provide the correct water height.

 

[shred5]

I appreciate you sharing your wisdom [emoji106] the skimmer stays for now. I'm cycling the tank so running the skimmer during the cycle would be counterproductive considering it would pull the organic materials from the water column before the bacteria can colonies and consume them right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you leave the cup off and let it overflows and does not remove anything. I rely mostly on skimming nowadays and bacteria will still colonize, , just need to start slow and not throw as much in. Plus if I have rock that needs to be cured the skimmer can help. Really depends on what you are doing.

Unless you use live rock there is not much of a ammonia cycle and personally you should cycle your rock in a different container.

 

[reeftivo]

Does anyone have experience with the Italian Ultra Reef Akula skimmers?

If so, what are your opinions on build and performance. Looks solid and a decent size chamber with the effluent going into the base, but that neck transition looks odd and abrupt.

thanks in advance

Tivo

 

[shred5]

Does anyone have experience with the Italian Ultra Reef Akula skimmers?

If so, what are your opinions on build and performance. Looks solid and a decent size chamber with the effluent going into the base, but that neck transition looks odd and abrupt.

thanks in advance

Tivo

Best skimmer I have owned and I have owned allot. Very high quality.. Everything comes apart for cleaning including the neck in the cup.

JB NY has one on a tank that is larger than what the skimmer is rated and it handles it fine. That is rare and BK skimmers are the only other skimmer that comes close to their rating.. BK still has a better pump but at a premium.
Highly recommended.

 

[reeftivo]

Thanks David. I was looking at the BK double cone 130 and wasn't overwhelmed by the reviews. The Akula is on my list now.
What does the neck transition at the collar look like? Short & Smooth like the BK mini. I'd imagine it has some sort off taper. Just curious

 

[shred5]

Thanks David. I was looking at the BK double cone 130 and wasn't overwhelmed by the reviews. The Akula is on my list now.
What does the neck transition at the collar look like? Short & Smooth like the BK mini. I'd imagine it has some sort off taper. Just curious

Never heard anything bad about the mini or Supermarin. I have heard the double cone can be a little touchy and a little harder to dial in.

 

[reeftivo]

Best skimmer I have owned and I have owned allot. Very high quality.. Everything comes apart for cleaning including the neck in the cup.

JB NY has one on a tank that is larger than what the skimmer is rated and it handles it fine. That is rare and BK skimmers are the only other skimmer that comes close to their rating.. BK still has a better pump but at a premium.
Highly recommended.

The search is on for the elusive akula. Two places I'vetried don't know when they'll get them again. Figures!

 

[shred5]

The search is on for the elusive akula. Two places I'vetried don't know when they'll get them again. Figures!

Where did you look? The only place I know is Unique Corals? They have the smaller sized one. They do not know when they will have more larger ones. There is a new dc one with the new Sicce dc pump.

I got mine on EBay.

If you find one let me know I need a larger one for another system,
.

Wonder if Ultrareef will sell direct.

 

[CuseReefer84]

I have a Question. I have a Eshopps PSK 150 protein skimmer and I'm getting about 3/4s cup of skim a day, but when I look up through the glass I can still see a film at the top. I thought maybe it was the flow, cuz neither the power head nor the returns water flow was breaking the surface so I positioned one of them to do so, that was about 12 hours ago and while it did improve a tad, there's still film. Plz any feed back would be appreciated. Oh and I have a 75g w/20g refugium.