Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
This is interesting. How would you pair sump water level with each of these skimmers?
Also, how should one match each skimmer vs. the amount of water flowing through a sump. A lot of people run a return pump at 4 to 5 times display tank water volume to save energy, and let their powerheads (tunze, koralias, vortechs) do the water movement in the display tank.
Thanks
Crazed
New member
I have a question that's been bugging me for a while; is the water that ends up in the collection cup salty or fresh? I have a brtu low bioload right now (just cured LR and hitchihkers), and to get any skimmate I run it rather wet (about half a cup of skimmate shows up in half a week's time). Since my system is of a decent size, I haven't been able to notice any change in salinity, since the skimmer pulls out such a small volume of water, but I just wanted to know since maybe this might change the salinity downward over time. When it bubbles over into the collection cup, is it saltwater, or does this process make it fresh water?
Thanks
How should one match each skimmer vs. the amount of water flowing through a sump. A lot of people run a return pump at 4 to 5 times display tank water volume to save energy, and let their powerheads (tunze, koralias, vortechs) do the water movement in the display tank.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Well you cant really match a skmmer to sump flow to be effective. You need a skimmer that will cycle enough water to skim your system volume. Even aif you are at 5 times system volume through your sump your skimmer if sized correctly wont be skimming the same water over and over in the sump. I think that is what you are wondering correct. if the water is too slow you wil keep skimming the same water over and over and never really getting all the tank volume skimmed correctly.
For example. My system is a 90g display tank and a custom sump made by me.(large skimmer area)lol. aBut it holds abou 30 gallons.So lets just say Ihave a 100g for simple math. MY return pump is a rated at 3000lph.aprox 790gph. Take off the head pressure and it is closer to about 600 gph I would imagine.
So with that being said my sumpprobably holds about 20 g when running. So that means my sump is flowing 600gph and has the water replaced every 2 minutes.
Most skimmers in my size range will pull from 150 to 300 gph of water. So the skimmer should still be getting fed with fresh tank water all the time. Now grant it some of the skimmed water will make it back around through the skimmer But not enough to make a difference. Unless you have the output of the skimmer pointed towards the input of the skimmer pump.
Most skimmer pumps are designed to pull about 1 part air to two parts water. some go as much as a 1 to 1 ratio.
So for more precise math lll use a bk mini 160 as their specs for air and water are posted.
THe Bk mini pulls 600 lph of air at 265 gph of water. If you convert 600lph to gph you would be at about 158 gph of air. Thats a 1 to 1.6 ratio
So as you can see it would take a really large skimmer for me to get to a point where it would cycle more water than what my sump flow could provide for it.
The old standby for recirc skimmers was 1.5 to 2 times your system volume for a feed pump. THis pretty much holds true for in sump models as well. However most of us like to push that even more as well want to skim more and more of our system volume. So does that mean you can run a larger skimmer? well in theory yes. But you will run out of organics eventually if you run to large of a skimmer.
Sorry for rambling on but I hope that helps answer you question.
Mojo~
For example. My system is a 90g display tank and a custom sump made by me.(large skimmer area)lol. aBut it holds abou 30 gallons.So lets just say Ihave a 100g for simple math. MY return pump is a rated at 3000lph.aprox 790gph. Take off the head pressure and it is closer to about 600 gph I would imagine.
So with that being said my sumpprobably holds about 20 g when running. So that means my sump is flowing 600gph and has the water replaced every 2 minutes.
Most skimmers in my size range will pull from 150 to 300 gph of water. So the skimmer should still be getting fed with fresh tank water all the time. Now grant it some of the skimmed water will make it back around through the skimmer But not enough to make a difference. Unless you have the output of the skimmer pointed towards the input of the skimmer pump.
Most skimmer pumps are designed to pull about 1 part air to two parts water. some go as much as a 1 to 1 ratio.
So for more precise math lll use a bk mini 160 as their specs for air and water are posted.
THe Bk mini pulls 600 lph of air at 265 gph of water. If you convert 600lph to gph you would be at about 158 gph of air. Thats a 1 to 1.6 ratio
So as you can see it would take a really large skimmer for me to get to a point where it would cycle more water than what my sump flow could provide for it.
The old standby for recirc skimmers was 1.5 to 2 times your system volume for a feed pump. THis pretty much holds true for in sump models as well. However most of us like to push that even more as well want to skim more and more of our system volume. So does that mean you can run a larger skimmer? well in theory yes. But you will run out of organics eventually if you run to large of a skimmer.
Sorry for rambling on but I hope that helps answer you question.
Mojo~
Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
Mjo That was very well put.
Daniel
Daniel
Mojo-
What is your opinion regarding the Tunze Hydrofoamer Silence 9420.040 in comparison to the Sicce PSK 2500?
I am currently using an SWC200 skimmer, with the stock pinwheel, and while I like the skimmer's body design, the pump leaves much to be desired. It is by far the loudest thing in my system, and while it pulls a good deal of air, the bubble size is highly variable. I see alot of tiny bubbles being produced by the Sicce, but they are accompanied by some fairly large bubbles exiting the bubble plate.
Initially I felt that the skimmer body and pump needed time to break in. It has been several weeks, and still the performance of this pump is lackluster.
So, I am considering replacing it with either a Hydrofoamer Silence 9420.040 or an Eheim Compact+ skimmer pump. (I'm leaning toward the Hydrofoamer since I can't seem to find ANY information on the Eheim unit apart from manufacturer specs and basic marketing literature.) Both are very close together in price, so that isn't an issue.
Do you have any experience with either of these? What can I expect relatuve to the Sicce in terms of air draw, water draw, bubble size, and noise/vibration? Will changing pumps yield an increase in performance, or only a quieter skimmer?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts on the subject.
What is your opinion regarding the Tunze Hydrofoamer Silence 9420.040 in comparison to the Sicce PSK 2500?
I am currently using an SWC200 skimmer, with the stock pinwheel, and while I like the skimmer's body design, the pump leaves much to be desired. It is by far the loudest thing in my system, and while it pulls a good deal of air, the bubble size is highly variable. I see alot of tiny bubbles being produced by the Sicce, but they are accompanied by some fairly large bubbles exiting the bubble plate.
Initially I felt that the skimmer body and pump needed time to break in. It has been several weeks, and still the performance of this pump is lackluster.
So, I am considering replacing it with either a Hydrofoamer Silence 9420.040 or an Eheim Compact+ skimmer pump. (I'm leaning toward the Hydrofoamer since I can't seem to find ANY information on the Eheim unit apart from manufacturer specs and basic marketing literature.) Both are very close together in price, so that isn't an issue.
Do you have any experience with either of these? What can I expect relatuve to the Sicce in terms of air draw, water draw, bubble size, and noise/vibration? Will changing pumps yield an increase in performance, or only a quieter skimmer?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts on the subject.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
The tunze will be a pretty close comparison. They dont deal with head pressure well nor does the sicce. The tunze is a little nice pump as far as the volute goes. the pinwheel assembly is a lot different from the sicce pinwheel assembly. The Tunze is pretty costly as well. you would almost be better off selling your skimmer and going with something with a different pump that is already designed for that particular pump.
thorsky
New member
SPS20, I have very limited experience with the Tunze as it just arrived 
but let me say so far I'm impressed. The pump is silent, has the stongest magnet I've ever felt and is immediately pulling 35SCFH in about 7 inches of water.
To elaborate on the strong magnet comment, the first thing I did was take the pump apart (of course!) to check out the guts. Pulling the needlewheel out takes some strength! I've played with many a pump and this things magnetic pull is insane.
Anywho, take it for what it's worth...as I said I've only had it for a couple hours. Time will tell...
but let me say so far I'm impressed. The pump is silent, has the stongest magnet I've ever felt and is immediately pulling 35SCFH in about 7 inches of water.To elaborate on the strong magnet comment, the first thing I did was take the pump apart (of course!) to check out the guts. Pulling the needlewheel out takes some strength! I've played with many a pump and this things magnetic pull is insane.
Anywho, take it for what it's worth...as I said I've only had it for a couple hours. Time will tell...
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