Skimmer Q&A Thread

[reefgeek31]

Hello I have asked this question some where else but think I will get more response here.
Tank is 130 gals 30 in sump. The tank will be SPS and heavy bio load. I have the swc 200 and wondering if i should upgrade to either the red demon set up or do I need to step up to the bubble blaster. Pump is running now with 3 layers of pf4 and fishing line and start on its on after a few seconds of chattering. Thanks for the responses.

 

[sbleile]

Thanks Mojo,

 

[jason2459]

Mojo or anyone else that would like to give some input on this...

I'm very interested in the new super reef octopus HOB models that are soon to be released. Curious on what you think of their design and potential particularly for a 55g w/ hob refug setup will be a mixed reef (lps/softy mostly with some sps) and load of 7-8 fish in the 3-4" and smaller range.

The sro-lx1000s has the hy1000 bb listed with a rating of 400-480lph of air and listed for up to a 100g tank.

sro-lx2000s w/ the hy2000 bb jumps up to a listed rating of 1000-1200lph of air and listed for up to a 150g tank.

From what I've found listed on xp-2000 cones is getting close to 50scfh and around 550gph of water flow. Didn't know if the sro-lx2000 would be too much of a skimmer for my tank. Also, what kind of scares me about this model is looking at the pictures for this one shows a reduced neck line possibly like the bh800s has which has caused issues and mods needed. Don't know if the picture and labels are correct yet. Still waiting for some confirmation back on what the collection cups neck line is like for this model.

Also, a third model has popped up which interests me as well which is the sro-xp1000hob which is a cone. It has the hy1000 bb in use, what looks like a gate valve for adjustments and is listed to be good for up to 135g tanks . Curious on your thoughts on the neck line as it looks kind of long?

A couple pics of the SRO HOB cone that I've found.

Best back picture I could find.

All three look to have the same front intake and output setup.

 

[ssm05rsx]

Hey guys, I am looking into upgrading my Protein Skimmer on my Tank.

I am using a Octopus NW-150 that is about a year old, I was satisfied with it at first when I had a 29g Sump, on my 90Gal Bow front Reef Tank, But now that I have upgraded to a 100G rubbermaid sump that holds about 30+-G of water, and then It is T'd off to a 55G fuge/frag tank. that holds about 40G of water. 55 isn't a true frag tank, only housing buttons and mushrooms due to lighting needs new bulbs.

My Display tank is a 90g bow, with 2-250MH and 2-54W T5HO, All Brand new from Icecap themselves. Running Carbon and Phosban, and a Geo Calcium Reactor.​

My SPS doesn't look as good as it should and thats the only thing I can think of thats on the weak side in my setup this is why I'm telling you everything about my setup so hopefully you don't have to wait for a response from me asking what else I'm running.

livestock contains 2 Clarkii Clowns, 1 Green Grass Wrasse, 1 Kole Tang, and ! Bicolor Blenny,

I will have 3 Lyretail Anthias in the tank once they're out of QT, then possibly one or 2 more fish, wanting a Yellow Tang, and a Goby. Then I'll be done with Livestock, for Corals I have Softies, to LPS and SPS, so it is a mixed reef, and if I ever get big with holding alot of Frags I'd want the skimmer to be able to Handle the larger bioload.

Price Range: 250-350$ ish​

Looking for a Skimmer that has a output to go to a larger waste bucket,

Space is not an issue, was an issue in old 29g sump. not in 100g sump!

Also have an extra Mag 9.5 pump, that I use for water changes, but if it helps with getting a better skimmer, I'm down with going the old fashion way of water changes with buckets until I have more money to buy another water change pump.
​

Open to all opinions.

- Dan

 

[tangtang clown]

Hello I have asked this question some where else but think I will get more response here.
Tank is 130 gals 30 in sump. The tank will be SPS and heavy bio load. I have the swc 200 and wondering if i should upgrade to either the red demon set up or do I need to step up to the bubble blaster. Pump is running now with 3 layers of pf4 and fishing line and start on its on after a few seconds of chattering. Thanks for the responses.

Try a better pump. Them mesh is about the best a sicce can do. Trust me, I have meshed it many times, ran a ppw, the MSX pw, and the stock pw. The bb3000 out performs them all.

 

[mojo~]

Hey guys, I am looking into upgrading my Protein Skimmer on my Tank.

I am using a Octopus NW-150 that is about a year old, I was satisfied with it at first when I had a 29g Sump, on my 90Gal Bow front Reef Tank, But now that I have upgraded to a 100G rubbermaid sump that holds about 30+-G of water, and then It is T'd off to a 55G fuge/frag tank. that holds about 40G of water. 55 isn't a true frag tank, only housing buttons and mushrooms due to lighting needs new bulbs.

My Display tank is a 90g bow, with 2-250MH and 2-54W T5HO, All Brand new from Icecap themselves. Running Carbon and Phosban, and a Geo Calcium Reactor.​

My SPS doesn't look as good as it should and thats the only thing I can think of thats on the weak side in my setup this is why I'm telling you everything about my setup so hopefully you don't have to wait for a response from me asking what else I'm running.

livestock contains 2 Clarkii Clowns, 1 Green Grass Wrasse, 1 Kole Tang, and ! Bicolor Blenny,

I will have 3 Lyretail Anthias in the tank once they're out of QT, then possibly one or 2 more fish, wanting a Yellow Tang, and a Goby. Then I'll be done with Livestock, for Corals I have Softies, to LPS and SPS, so it is a mixed reef, and if I ever get big with holding alot of Frags I'd want the skimmer to be able to Handle the larger bioload.

Price Range: 250-350$ ish​

Looking for a Skimmer that has a output to go to a larger waste bucket,

Space is not an issue, was an issue in old 29g sump. not in 100g sump!

Also have an extra Mag 9.5 pump, that I use for water changes, but if it helps with getting a better skimmer, I'm down with going the old fashion way of water changes with buckets until I have more money to buy another water change pump.
​

Open to all opinions.

- Dan

These are all in your price range and work pretty well

The Vertex in 180 gen 2
Bubble magnus NA 7
The new SWC 160 cone
The super reef octo with bubble blaster pump.

 

[reefgeek31]

thanks tangtang. Where can i get the extended neck at i think Im going to just get the bb 5000 after your post on the other thread.

 

[reefgeek31]

I found it thanks any ways.

 

[mojo~]

yea sorry been bouncing back and forth from site 2 to site and a lot going on. Sometimes i can get to everyone within a couple hours sometimes it might take a say or two.

 

[jason2459]

yea sorry been bouncing back and forth from site 2 to site and a lot going on. Sometimes i can get to everyone within a couple hours sometimes it might take a say or two.

You still need to check out the T5 Q&A and figure out how to maintain a proper thread!!!!!!!!!!! :spin3::hammer:





Seriously though no problem on this end. This thread has been great and love keeping up with it. Thanks for starting it up and answering questions when you can.

 

[ssm05rsx]

Yea your response was quick and to the point! Thank you, once I do my own research on those I'm sure I'll ask you questions,

What skimmer do you use Mojo?

Whats better Cone shaped or cylinder?

 

[jason2459]

Mojo or anyone else that would like to give some input on this...

I'm very interested in the new super reef octopus HOB models that are soon to be released. Curious on what you think of their design and potential particularly for a 55g w/ hob refug setup will be a mixed reef (lps/softy mostly with some sps) and load of 7-8 fish in the 3-4" and smaller range.

The sro-lx1000s has the hy1000 bb listed with a rating of 400-480lph of air and listed for up to a 100g tank.

sro-lx2000s w/ the hy2000 bb jumps up to a listed rating of 1000-1200lph of air and listed for up to a 150g tank.

From what I've found listed on xp-2000 cones is getting close to 50scfh and around 550gph of water flow. Didn't know if the sro-lx2000 would be too much of a skimmer for my tank. Also, what kind of scares me about this model is looking at the pictures for this one shows a reduced neck line possibly like the bh800s has which has caused issues and mods needed. Don't know if the picture and labels are correct yet. Still waiting for some confirmation back on what the collection cups neck line is like for this model.

Also, a third model has popped up which interests me as well which is the sro-xp1000hob which is a cone. It has the hy1000 bb in use, what looks like a gate valve for adjustments and is listed to be good for up to 135g tanks . Curious on your thoughts on the neck line as it looks kind of long?

A couple pics of the SRO HOB cone that I've found.
... snipped, shown above...

Best back picture I could find.

... snipped, shown above...


All three look to have the same front intake and output setup.

Got an email back from CoralVue confirming what picture/setup goes with what model of HOB. They didn't give me the dimensions of the cone however.

They also sent me a full set of pictures of each model:

lx-2000s front and back

lx-1000s front and back

xp-1000s front and back

I'm still up in the air between the lx-2000s and the xp-1000s hob cone.

 

[serum153]

Dang...My IN 180 is a tad too tall for my 75 gallon with 40 g sump. I sold it to a friend, but now whatever skimmer I get needs to be less than 23"tall. Will the IN100 be ok or should I look at the new swc's?

 

[Buganddoug]

jason2459 Have you seen Warner Marine H1 or H2 HOB skimmer just flat out awesome.
http://www.warnermarine.com/Skimmers/indexK2.html

 

[jason2459]

jason2459 Have you seen Warner Marine H1 or H2 HOB skimmer just flat out awesome.
http://www.warnermarine.com/Skimmers/indexK2.html

Yeah, I saw those and they definitely have some great reviews on several forums. What I like about the new sro HOB units is their intake and output setup which is perfect for a bag of carbon to fit in to force more water through the carbon bag and not around it. Also like the surface skimming capabilities. I was also looking at the SWC HOB extreme as it has the same type of front setup but little tighter with space in the out take. Also, the bubleblaster pumps on the SRO's look really promising.

I was also checking out the Bermuda rogue but just not a fan of it's venturi or having a pump in the tank. The mce-600 looks awesome but I think I could get the same kind of performance cheaper out of the SWC or SRO skimmers?

Edit: BTW, thanks for the suggestions as those two seem to be great HOB skimmers.

 

[mojo~]

Yea your response was quick and to the point! Thank you, once I do my own research on those I'm sure I'll ask you questions,

What skimmer do you use Mojo?

Whats better Cone shaped or cylinder?

Well I think a well balanced cylinder skimmer will still skim better than a non balanced cone. If they are both well balanced then I would say about a 10% gain in performance on a cone skimmer. Its more about balance of pump to body and neck and height.

I am running the SWC 120 cone at the moment. And playing around with the bubble magus NA7 as well.

 

[serum153]

Dang...My IN 180 is a tad too tall for my 75 gallon with 40 g sump. I sold it to a friend, but now whatever skimmer I get needs to be less than 23"tall. Will the IN100 be ok or should I look at the new swc's?

Mojo - In100, nac6, or swc120? I would prefer to stay in that $ range, unless you really think that I need a nac7 or swc160 for my 75. Thank you sir.

 

[TNTFISHY]

Two questions: Aqua-C ev120 and Mag 7

Two questions: Aqua-C ev120 and Mag 7

Hi folks. What are your opinions of the Aqua-C EV120? And my Mag 7 seems pretty noisy. Is this typical? I see alot of recommendations for the Eheim 1260, but it's a bit pricey. Thanks.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo - In100, nac6, or swc120? I would prefer to stay in that $ range, unless you really think that I need a nac7 or swc160 for my 75. Thank you sir.

The in 100 and NAC 6 and SWC 120 are all good. The NAC 6 and in 100 will move a little more water than the 120. If you are going to stock the 75 pretty well then stick with the nac6 or in 100. Both will work well.

 

[mojo~]

Hi folks. What are your opinions of the Aqua-C EV120? And my Mag 7 seems pretty noisy. Is this typical? I see alot of recommendations for the Eheim 1260, but it's a bit pricey. Thanks.

he 1260 is a quiet pump. but the design of the skimmer is noisy. the way the water sprays into the body and the air is sucked in will make for some noise.