Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

Hey MOjo!

What are my options for a 125G with 30G sump that will be heavily stocked?!

Here are a few things to narrow it down............My sump is 12" wide, i don't care for Sicce pumps.............

Looking at the SRO-5000SSSINT or the XP-2000sss not sure which would be better

is there a better skimmer in that price range? i know i want a skimmer with a bubble blaster or an askol and that one will fit in my sump........

well if you are stuck with the bubble blaster then you choose between the two. Otherwise look at the WM as 150/200, the ATB 840, or the msx 250A although I think that is too much and will not perform consistantly as your tank will give it enough load.

 

[mojo~]

what about for a 40g sps system

i like the kz revolution s

The are ok, Not much air draw but move a good amount of water. uses a injector so its a bit different. What about saving some money and getting a BM NA7 or a warner marine as150.

 

[rick88]

have you heard good things about the BMs i know you get what you pay for in this hobby

 

[jcmccue]

Octopus Xtreme 160 not running well

Octopus Xtreme 160 not running well

Thanks in advance for the help

I installed a new Octopus Xtreme 160 about 3 weeks ago. My system is a 90 gallon system that is about 6 months old. I have 6 small fish and a few corals

The skimmer is not making an y skimmate. I have the discharge fully closed and while it is making foam, none is rising up into the cup

Any help is welcome

Thanks
This picture is a bit dated, but you get the idea

 

[mojo~]

It cant be closed all the way or it would overflow non stop. pull the pipe out and look at it. make sure the stickers are on right.

 

[mojo~]

have you heard good things about the BMs i know you get what you pay for in this hobby

Well ill know more as I ll get one thursday night.

 

[holdyourlight]

well if you are stuck with the bubble blaster then you choose between the two. Otherwise look at the WM as 150/200, the ATB 840, or the msx 250A although I think that is too much and will not perform consistantly as your tank will give it enough load.

I am not "stuck" with the bubble blaster..just wondering if there is a better option for me than the super reef octopus???..but since you put it that way are you saying the the bubble blaster is inferior to the pumps used on the other skimmers you mentioned?
doesnt the ATB 840 use a Sicce? the bb is superior to the sicce, correct?

and are you are saying the MSX would be too much for my system? i know askoll is a great pump....

help me make up my mind

 

[mojo~]

For a 125 the ATB 840 uses a modified pump that uses a sicce motor block with a custom volute.

Your tank isnt really big enough to support the load a msx 250 A would need.The bubble blaster is a good pump but it is pretty good size.

 

[luther1200]

Hey MOjo!

What are my options for a 125G with 30G sump that will be heavily stocked?!

Here are a few things to narrow it down............My sump is 12" wide, i don't care for Sicce pumps.............

Looking at the SRO-5000SSSINT or the XP-2000sss not sure which would be better

is there a better skimmer in that price range? i know i want a skimmer with a bubble blaster or an askol and that one will fit in my sump........

I am no skimmer expert, but if you are not wanting a Sicce, maybe look at I-Techs. Which use a Tunze Hydrofoamer, or the bigger models use modified Askoll's. I should have mine in a few days. I chose them because they are in the US, have great customer service, and I also wasn't wanting to use a Sicce after reading about all the startup and reversing issues they can have.

 

[mojo~]

before buying a itech I would look at a cs 200 cone with the quiet one pump.

 

[holdyourlight]

For a 125 the ATB 840 uses a modified pump that uses a sicce motor block with a custom volute.

Your tank isnt really big enough to support the load a msx 250 A would need.The bubble blaster is a good pump but it is pretty good size.

what about a bubble king mini 180 any reason you did not mention this one?

 

[mojo~]

its it $1000 new. I really like it and model my skimmers a little after this line.

 

[holdyourlight]

its it $1000 new. I really like it and model my skimmers a little after this line.

would it be better than any of the skimmers mentioned? (super octo, atb, warner marine.....) for my tank?

 

[mojo~]

nt really its the easiest to clean but the others will perform as well.

 

[jcmccue]

mojo

This skimmer has a wedge type flow control, so it can not truly ever get fully closed.

I and I checked and the labels are correct

 

[mojo~]

it actull will be about 90 % closed and it will overflow like mad at that point. if not something else is seriously wrong.

 

[mojo~]

I even build wedge pipes I dont build them like that anymore. I build them like the ATB does theres with a hole cut in the pipe rather than a 45 degree wedge.

 

[carolina reefer]

Why not an IN180 vertex for the 125 with the 30 sump?

 

[mojo~]

it would be a good in expensive option

 

[prodman]

I am looking for a good bang for the buck skimmer. It will be going on a 100g tank
Thanks