Skimmer Q&A Thread

[maxtor]

msx200 or vertex 180?

msx200 or vertex 180?

I have a 90 gallon reef with a 30 gallon fuge. Currently I am running a Sealife Systems impact 100 skimmer. This skimmer has been great but I dont think it can keep up with the bioload now that the tank has grown in. I am currently building a new fuge(also 30 gallons) to accomodate a larger skimmer and was hoping to get some suggestions. I was considering the msx200 or the vertex 180. Would like to stay within the 300-350 dollar price range.Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

 

[fredflinstone]

Hi Mojo, I have a 80G tank with 20G sump. I currently have a G1 with G500 pump with mesh mod. I am not sure if its able to keep up. Would it be better for me to get a Sicce pump instead of the G500? I do not want to spend a lot right now. Please advice.

 

[mojo~]

I have a 90 gallon reef with a 30 gallon fuge. Currently I am running a Sealife Systems impact 100 skimmer. This skimmer has been great but I dont think it can keep up with the bioload now that the tank has grown in. I am currently building a new fuge(also 30 gallons) to accomodate a larger skimmer and was hoping to get some suggestions. I was considering the msx200 or the vertex 180. Would like to stay within the 300-350 dollar price range.Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

The vertex in 180, or super reef octo 2000 would both be great.

 

[happyface888]

Hi Mojo
I hope you can help me out with my skimmer problem.
I have a 45g tank with a 15g sump.
Tank has a medium load of fish, and is composed of mostly softies with some lps. I feed once a day pellets and flakes.

The skimmer that I am using is a OctoEx 160 old version with a msx pin wheel and not the new semi cone one. I have been running this skimmer for about 2 years and I am not impressed with it. It is sitting in 10-12inch of water, and I have the bubble line start right under the cup. If I set it any lower it cant skim anything. And its quite touchy, not sure where to go from here. The skimmer usually fills the collection cup 1/5 of the way with light green colored water.

So right now I am wondering if I should raise my skimmer out of the water, could a skimmer that is sitting in too deep of water mess with its skimming production??

Or is this skimmer to over-sized??

And if the skimmer is sitting to deep, care to explain why this effects its skimming performance?? I need to explain it to someone and its quite hard to explain why.
Thanks

 

[summer6]

Hey Mojo, have you had a chance to get your hands on the xp 2000 yet? Saw one in person today and was pretty impressed with its build quality. I've been interested in it since first hearing about it but want to see some good reviews first before I buy. Don't want to make the same mistake I did when I bought an Alpha 200 a few months ago (since sold it). I've been looking at the octo cone or a i-tech 200.

I've had the Alpha 200 on my short list of skimmers (to buy) and wonder if you care to share some reasons why you chose to sell over keeping it.

I couldn't find out how to PM with this new set-up, so please feel free to pm me since I want to keep this thread on track.

After reading more of what mojo said about this line of skimmers (R&D lacking) I don't want to get pulled into another skimmer line (after my BM250) that requires a lot of messing with to get to work.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo
I hope you can help me out with my skimmer problem.
I have a 45g tank with a 15g sump.
Tank has a medium load of fish, and is composed of mostly softies with some lps. I feed once a day pellets and flakes.

The skimmer that I am using is a OctoEx 160 old version with a msx pin wheel and not the new semi cone one. I have been running this skimmer for about 2 years and I am not impressed with it. It is sitting in 10-12inch of water, and I have the bubble line start right under the cup. If I set it any lower it cant skim anything. And its quite touchy, not sure where to go from here. The skimmer usually fills the collection cup 1/5 of the way with light green colored water.

So right now I am wondering if I should raise my skimmer out of the water, could a skimmer that is sitting in too deep of water mess with its skimming production??

Or is this skimmer to over-sized??

And if the skimmer is sitting to deep, care to explain why this effects its skimming performance?? I need to explain it to someone and its quite hard to explain why.
Thanks

Ok yes it is oversized for your system. Too large of a neck and it takes too much bioload before the neck fills up.

yes its too deep, the skimmer should be around 9 inches. Too deep makes it more unstable and hard too adjust.

If it were my tank I would look into a SWC 120 or vertex in 80 or 100

the 120 cone is a better fit but you will have to raise it to run in about 7 inches of water.

 

[mojo~]

I've had the Alpha 200 on my short list of skimmers (to buy) and wonder if you care to share some reasons why you chose to sell over keeping it.

I couldn't find out how to PM with this new set-up, so please feel free to pm me since I want to keep this thread on track.

After reading more of what mojo said about this line of skimmers (R&D lacking) I don't want to get pulled into another skimmer line (after my BM250) that requires a lot of messing with to get to work.

There are a lot of mixed thoughts on the Alpha skimmers., But get a few guys that have had a lot of skimmers and tested a lot of skimmers talking and most will agree that the Alpha series needed a little more testing before it came out. I fist had the 250 model and I said it needed more air draw. I was told it ran fine on a 100 gallon system. Well not too long after I returned it they revamped the 250 to pull more air and is now a more usuable skimmer.

I thought ok, I ll try the 170. I had surging and other stability issues. I was told that couldnt be. We tested it..... I made some new parts for it and got it working well. A month later they came out with an update that they were coming out with a different volute and adjustable venturi. So with that being said. For the specs. the 200 was the best balanced of the bottom 3. 170,200, 250. I dont think the skimmers are well balanced compared some of the competition. I had a alpha 170 and a bk mini 180 side by side and the alpha's are not built the same as a bk. Same type of material yes. but he bk's are built even better. The skimmers are good. but not great in my opinion. I would look for something that doesnt have all the drama around it. why not get something that everyone says works.

As far as cones I would put the small cones in this order (tanks 125g or less)
ATB 840 1.5 7 in water slevel
WM k2 is a great skimmer, if it wasnt for the rotational issues of the sicce.. run this one about 8 inches
Octo xp2000, run it around 6 to 7 inches water
The SWC 160 cone. about 7 inches as well
The Bubble magus NAC 7.... 7 inches
alpha 170 8 to 9 inches of water.

Again just my opinion.

Mojo~
Octo xp2000, run it around 6 to 7 inches water

 

[Reefobsession]

I talked to Luke and he said the SWC 160 cone runs best at 8-9". I would agree because my skimmer is performing much better at 8.5" then 7". The air draw is higher in the 8"-9" range.
Great thread.

 

[Guillaume]

Hi,
Great thread. Posted this question without answer but here is the place.

I'm upgrading from one 33g to a 65g with the 33g as a sump. 1/3 of the sump will contain fuge with sand, cheato and letuce.

I have this "custom" hang on skimmer sold (250$ too much!) by the LFS who make it. They told me it is rated up to 100g and is working fine on my 33g.

I question the need to replace it with a bigger skimmer (180g rated Vertex or other) considering the macro algeas that will be filtering in the fuge.

Note that the tank will have a low load of coral and medium load of fish (1 oscelaris, 1 six line wrasse, 3 chromis, 1 flame wrasse, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 britle star, a few snails) and I'm a low fish feed freak and not lasy on water changes. Will use RO/DI.

See those picks from my current skimmer which I will put in the sump:
<a href="http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/?action=view&current=Dsc05581.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/Dsc05581.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

An idea of the output size (2 X 1 inches):
<a href="http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/?action=view&current=Dsc05585.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/Dsc05585.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Would you replace it? See problems on keeping this one with the future set-up?

Thanks in advance Mojo..or others!

G

 

[maxtor]

Thanks for the reply mojo!! Is there any reason why the msx200 would not be a good choice for my tank? I was really leaning toward that one.

 

[summer6]

This thread has been very useful (not being skimmer savvy) so thanks, Mojo, for your time and prompt responses.

I've decided to go with the SRO xp3000 for my 225. It's got the bubble blaster pump, and everything I've read about the cone design sounds favorable from my current skimmer. It's also more reasonably priced than the ATB - which helps when I informed my husband that I really needed a new skimmer after 3 years.

 

[NyReefNoob]

one thing i will note on skimmer's not that i have had as many as mojo but ive had my fair share 15-20 in last 5 yr's, you truelly cant tell the performance of a skimmer till it has been running atleast 2 month's, given enough time for the bacteria to build in the body and for it to really settle in, and the old statement you cant go to big, well you can, finding a skimmer apropriate for your size tank will result far much better results than a high dollar over size skimmer, over size skimmer = not constant nog

 

[mojo~]

Hi,
Great thread. Posted this question without answer but here is the place.

I'm upgrading from one 33g to a 65g with the 33g as a sump. 1/3 of the sump will contain fuge with sand, cheato and letuce.

I have this "custom" hang on skimmer sold (250$ too much!) by the LFS who make it. They told me it is rated up to 100g and is working fine on my 33g.

I question the need to replace it with a bigger skimmer (180g rated Vertex or other) considering the macro algeas that will be filtering in the fuge.

Note that the tank will have a low load of coral and medium load of fish (1 oscelaris, 1 six line wrasse, 3 chromis, 1 flame wrasse, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 britle star, a few snails) and I'm a low fish feed freak and not lasy on water changes. Will use RO/DI.

See those picks from my current skimmer which I will put in the sump:
<a href="http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/?action=view&current=Dsc05581.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/Dsc05581.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

An idea of the output size (2 X 1 inches):
<a href="http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/?action=view&current=Dsc05585.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/gouaill/Dsc05585.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Would you replace it? See problems on keeping this one with the future set-up?

Thanks in advance Mojo..or others!

G

If it isnt broke dont fix it... lol
WHat pump is on it and it might help me determine water turnover. Bt I think you are going to be ok.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks for the reply mojo!! Is there any reason why the msx200 would not be a good choice for my tank? I was really leaning toward that one.

the mxx 200 is nice but does use the sicce pump which can start backwards. I would probably look at the swc 160 cone, vertex in 180 or the SRO 200 instead.

 

[mojo~]

one thing i will note on skimmer's not that i have had as many as mojo but ive had my fair share 15-20 in last 5 yr's, you truelly cant tell the performance of a skimmer till it has been running atleast 2 month's, given enough time for the bacteria to build in the body and for it to really settle in, and the old statement you cant go to big, well you can, finding a skimmer apropriate for your size tank will result far much better results than a high dollar over size skimmer, over size skimmer = not constant nog

I agree and dissagree. I dont think you need to wait two months to determine how it will perform. I think after two weeks it is going to give you a pretty fair idea. After two months I would agree that performance will improve slightly. but not at the curve from day one to two weeks.

I totally agree with what you said about going too big. you can go too big and your right. too big ='s non constant skimmate production.

 

[chubby hugs]

Need a little skimmer help... currently running a premium aquatics "75 Gallon" wet/ dry skimmer as my sump on my 75G. No bio-balls and have some carbon down there, but am running the skimmer that comes with the system. It seems to put off very little skimmate, although I have a very small bio load (2 small perc clowns, 2 firefish). Question 1 is should I be seeing more skimmate or is a tablespoon every few days appropriate for this load? Second, if I am going to upgrade I have VERY limited space (4"W x 8" L). As best I can tell, I will need to run a skimmer that can run outside of the sump or a HOB. I am looking at the Turboflotor multi 1000 as an out of sump skimmer. Any thoughts on that model or other recommendations of out of sump skimmers? Also open to suggestions of HOB or something that fits my sump footprint. I will be increasing my bioload with more fish and some corals down the road, but am trying to move SLOWLY to make sure I am doing things right. THANKS!

 

[mojo~]

The SRO 1000, the WM H1 HOB, check out the small octo Ext skimmers. THe WM h1 is one nice HOB skimmer too.

 

[Guillaume]

If it isnt broke dont fix it... lol
WHat pump is on it and it might help me determine water turnover. Bt I think you are going to be ok.

Hi Mojo,
The pump is a Maxi-jet 1200 (295gph) fitted with a brush like impeller(don't know right name).
I had in mind that an ideal skimmer must be reated 2 times the volume of a tank (in my case around 85g total system, so ideal = skimmer at 170g max). Isn't that right?

I want also to fight an HA issue. This is why I want to add a phosphate reactor + carbon + RODI. And this is why my question on the need to upgrade the skimmer.
(BTW, HA coming probably from PO4 accumulated in LR from a old bad habit to use baking soda for alk balance and from a steady 5-10mg/l NO3)

Thanks again helping on the planning

G

 

[happyface888]

Ok yes it is oversized for your system. Too large of a neck and it takes too much bioload before the neck fills up.

yes its too deep, the skimmer should be around 9 inches. Too deep makes it more unstable and hard too adjust.

If it were my tank I would look into a SWC 120 or vertex in 80 or 100

the 120 cone is a better fit but you will have to raise it to run in about 7 inches of water.

Hey Mojo
Thanks for the info, I wished this thread was here earlier lol. It would of helped me get a better choice of skimmer than the one I am using. Looks like I will have to look for another skimmer, its quite sad that I got a bad recommendation on this. Thinking it could skim good.

And in regards to the skimmers you listed, out of the 3 which one is the best and most effective?? And whats the price for that swc 120 cone and where can get it?? I looked up marinesolutions and its not there.
Thanks

 

[mojo~]

google swc 120 and its about the 3rd choice down or so. They have them and they are about $225

Mojo~