fishoutawater
New member
Hey Mojo, I like to play with skimmers. Could you give me some guide lines for max air flow through different sized neck diameters? Example: 2"neck= x scfh. 2 1/2"= x scfh. Up to 4". Thanks in advance.
Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
rkaires
Active member
The ATB volute should fit the Sicce motor block. You may have a slight difference in height for the skimmer body inlet.
mojo~ had both so he will be able to answer this.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
The AT volute will fit all sicce motor blocks.
The only issue on the k2 is the stand. The stand for the motor on the k2 had to be machined to go around the motor block instead of the ring around the pump side of the volute.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Well around a 3" neck would be 400 to 600 lph
3.5" 500 to 700
4" 700 to 900
4.5 in 900 to 1100
These are just approximations but its a good starting point. Depends some on body size and water flow as well.
Skimmer over flowing
Skimmer over flowing
This is a question I posted in the Tunze forum but it ties into my skimmer. I have a Octopus 300 Pro with the askol pump that I am constantly having to tweek and I have had it for over 7mos. I have spoken to Dave at Coralvue and the skimmer is raised out of the water at the proper height. One day it fine and the nesxt day it will start to wet skim and the cup may fill up a noticable amount. Sometimes as the filter sock starts to get clogged I see the cup fill up more rapidly. I am confused as to what the problem could be. Here was my initial Q: in the Tunze forum:
Me:
I am thinking about purchasing a osmolator as my new auto top-off to replace my existing one and here's the reason why. The top-off unit I have on my tank now is a small cylinder like tube with suction cups that is mounted in my return section. When the water level gets below the mouth of the cylinder the pumps turns on and tops off my water. The thing is when it's time to top off my tank, a couple of gallons is pumped into my tank and I am constantly dealing with overflow issues with my skimmer. A guy a a LFS told me I needed the Tunze osmolator . The reason is because when water isn't in contact with the senor it will pump water into the sump and it won't be gallons at a time thus keeping the water level stable in my sump. My sump is composed of three sections with baffles. In my skimmer section the water level is constant. So if my water level in my return section is lowered and then filled, how does that affect my skimmer water level in that section since I have baffles? I am looking for a fix to my skimmer over flowing. Is what the guy in the lfs said to me true?
Reply:
If your sump is baffled properly the skimmer should not be affected by a top off system as the baffle would keep the water level constant in that section thus I dont think the top off could be the problem. If there is a drastic different in salinity I guess it could possibly effect the skimmer but I doubt that would be the case as I think it would take a multiple point change. How big is the tank and how much water does it add?
I am familiar with the units you are talking about such as the LLC-PH from Spectrapure and they typically take a .5 - 1" change to trigger where the Osmolator is more like 1-3 millimeters if I had to guess.
If I were to guess I would point the problem at the skimmer and or setup of skimmer based on the little info posted.
Me:
I have a Octopus 300 Pro skimmer and my tank is a 150. I just can't get this skimmer dialed in properly and I have had it over 6mos. One moment it is fine and the next moment it's overflowing. I have to keep adjusting it.
Reply:
Have you tried the skimmer at different depths?
Me:
Yes I have and I have spoken to Dave at CoralVue. I think I may have found part of the problem. I decreased my water level in my return section and since then my skimmer hasn't been consistent. Now at the level it is at, it is more stable but from time to time my skimmer cup will start to fill quicker than usual. My skimmer is supposed to be a piece of equipment I am not supposed to worry about. Now if the water level in my return section can affect my skimmer performance, that means that although my skimmer section water level looks stable maybe it isn't.? I am trying to narrow the possibilities down before making this purchase.
I just can't find the reason I am constanly having to mess with this skimmer and I need help.
Skimmer over flowing
This is a question I posted in the Tunze forum but it ties into my skimmer. I have a Octopus 300 Pro with the askol pump that I am constantly having to tweek and I have had it for over 7mos. I have spoken to Dave at Coralvue and the skimmer is raised out of the water at the proper height. One day it fine and the nesxt day it will start to wet skim and the cup may fill up a noticable amount. Sometimes as the filter sock starts to get clogged I see the cup fill up more rapidly. I am confused as to what the problem could be. Here was my initial Q: in the Tunze forum:
Me:
I am thinking about purchasing a osmolator as my new auto top-off to replace my existing one and here's the reason why. The top-off unit I have on my tank now is a small cylinder like tube with suction cups that is mounted in my return section. When the water level gets below the mouth of the cylinder the pumps turns on and tops off my water. The thing is when it's time to top off my tank, a couple of gallons is pumped into my tank and I am constantly dealing with overflow issues with my skimmer. A guy a a LFS told me I needed the Tunze osmolator . The reason is because when water isn't in contact with the senor it will pump water into the sump and it won't be gallons at a time thus keeping the water level stable in my sump. My sump is composed of three sections with baffles. In my skimmer section the water level is constant. So if my water level in my return section is lowered and then filled, how does that affect my skimmer water level in that section since I have baffles? I am looking for a fix to my skimmer over flowing. Is what the guy in the lfs said to me true?
Reply:
If your sump is baffled properly the skimmer should not be affected by a top off system as the baffle would keep the water level constant in that section thus I dont think the top off could be the problem. If there is a drastic different in salinity I guess it could possibly effect the skimmer but I doubt that would be the case as I think it would take a multiple point change. How big is the tank and how much water does it add?
I am familiar with the units you are talking about such as the LLC-PH from Spectrapure and they typically take a .5 - 1" change to trigger where the Osmolator is more like 1-3 millimeters if I had to guess.
If I were to guess I would point the problem at the skimmer and or setup of skimmer based on the little info posted.
Me:
I have a Octopus 300 Pro skimmer and my tank is a 150. I just can't get this skimmer dialed in properly and I have had it over 6mos. One moment it is fine and the next moment it's overflowing. I have to keep adjusting it.
Reply:
Have you tried the skimmer at different depths?
Me:
Yes I have and I have spoken to Dave at CoralVue. I think I may have found part of the problem. I decreased my water level in my return section and since then my skimmer hasn't been consistent. Now at the level it is at, it is more stable but from time to time my skimmer cup will start to fill quicker than usual. My skimmer is supposed to be a piece of equipment I am not supposed to worry about. Now if the water level in my return section can affect my skimmer performance, that means that although my skimmer section water level looks stable maybe it isn't.? I am trying to narrow the possibilities down before making this purchase.
I just can't find the reason I am constanly having to mess with this skimmer and I need help.
STEELERFAN747
Active member
Could you give an example
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
The NAc 6, THe Grey seas 6. The MRC ocean Force are all small foot print skimmers if you need one. THe MRC is built like a tank.
fishoutawater
New member
I just got a used ASM G1x skimmer with the sedra 3500 pump. It was completely stock. I drilled out the airline and dremelled out the pump output and got the airflow up to 15scfh/420lph. The neck is only 2 1/2", how much air can I get in there? I was thinking about meshing the impellar but I'm worried about getting too much air.
fishoutawater
New member
I just got it. I have never had an ASM before and from what I have read they are underpowered and people have modded them extensively. I like to tinker but before I cut up the impellar I just thought I would get some other opinions. It has only been in my sump for a day. Am I correct in my understanding that mesh would decrease water flow and increase air? Which would translate into less turbulence in the body.
Great thread..tons of info. My question is i have a 29g reef in the process with a 20 gal sump. I am debating on skimmers and the ones i have found are the aquac 120 and eshopps. this is my first skimmer so im new to this area. is it possible to buy a skimmer rated higher than my tank size and it over power the tank? any suggestions on a skimmers that would fit my set up?? 75% of water from drain goes to skimmer section, 25% goes to refugium. eheim or mag return either one will do. thank
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
If it were my tank I would look at the tunze 9002 or the swc 120
Those 2 would be my top choices for your tank.
Hal
New member
Mojo,
I'm getting a 260g tank to run mixed reef. Mostly sps, but some LPS, softies too. I vodka dose, and plan to continue.
I've been looking at the SWC/MSX 250A and 300A as a good combo of performance and price. I'm not willing to spend the $1000 for an ATB 1050A. Are there other skimmers in the same price range that you would recommend over the 250A or 300A? I don't mind paying a little more if I get a corresponding improvement in performance. Would you recommend the 250A or the 300A for my system?
Thanks.
I'm getting a 260g tank to run mixed reef. Mostly sps, but some LPS, softies too. I vodka dose, and plan to continue.
I've been looking at the SWC/MSX 250A and 300A as a good combo of performance and price. I'm not willing to spend the $1000 for an ATB 1050A. Are there other skimmers in the same price range that you would recommend over the 250A or 300A? I don't mind paying a little more if I get a corresponding improvement in performance. Would you recommend the 250A or the 300A for my system?
Thanks.
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