Skimmer Q&A Thread

The MSX 300 is greatly helped by upgrading to an SWC askoll 1500 pump, the sicces are known to struggle on the huge body of the 300.
 
mborkush said:
I was wondering if anyone has any set up experience with a SWC MX300 skimmer. Nice skimmer, just cant seem to get it to form any real foam. I bought it used from a fellow reefer. He said it worked fine for him. For me its just bubbling water below the cup. I have it set up per the mfg. recommendations and been tweaking the out let pipe a pinch up to 3 times a day (1st, with coffiee, 2nd with a sandwich, and 3rd with a few beers at night) for almost 2 weeks now. Im not sure what's going on here. Its in 9" of water in sump, constant Via foat top off. Its in with an established mixed reef, loded with stuff to be skimmed. This is a replacement for an ETSS skimmer. ~300 gal. system volume. I just ordered a gate valve to change the out let pipe over and some mesh to do the pumps. It is running the 2x Sicce PSK-2500 pumps with needle wheels. Any thoughts or help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

I agree with Nick, The askoll 1500 upgrade is almosta must have on the 300 body.
 
OceanLandlord said:
Hey Mojo,
Was hoping you could recommend a new skimmer for my 300gal DT with a 70 gal sump. Preferably with an external skimmer. I previously had a custom 30 gal sump with 2 custom skimmers but have since upgraded sump and would like to go with more efficient skimmers.
Click to expand...

SRO 5000 Ext is what I would suggest.
 
Is there any real difference in performance between the SWC 250A and 300A? I'm looking to upgrade for my heavy loaded 180 and besides the shape of the skimmer, everything looks about the same but a bit of a price difference. Is the "cone" worth the extra digits?
 
Trying to pin down the best skimmer for my set up, both price/performance. I'm also trying to balance the skimmer with the size of the tank. I want power, but dont what to over skim (if possible). I'm also looking at ease of maintenance (I would like to be able to take it apart for cleaning) and easy adjustments. i like the set it and forget it types, just empty every couple days and good clean once a month. I would rather not have a mesh mod style. I would also like as small of foot print as possible since i will need to be sticking heaters and overflow sock in the same chamber.
My tank is a 55 gal, med to heavy bio load with at 20 gal sump. Foot print is 11"x8". Price range is around 200ish...

Fish are (what kind of bio-load would these fish produce?):
Turret Fish
Diamond goby
bi-color blenny
pigmy flameback angel fish
clean up crew

Skimmers I'm looking at:
SWC 120 or 160 (like these because they can be broken down completely)
bubble magus NAC5 (if i can find one at 110V)
bubble magus NAC6 (or BM100v2 for better price)
Reef octopus 110 (not sure how much it can be taken apart for cleaning)
Vertex IN 100 (not sure how much it can be taken apart for cleaning)

Thanks for any info/experience with them you may have.
 
mojo~ said:
I agree with Nick, The askoll 1500 upgrade is almosta must have on the 300 body.
Click to expand...

Thank you, How would I go about that since this skimmer has two pumps? Would I change them both or just one? If one is changed, do I leave the other one and run it or remove and cap?
Thank you again.
 
Rich123 said:
Trying to pin down the best skimmer for my set up, both price/performance. I'm also trying to balance the skimmer with the size of the tank. I want power, but dont what to over skim (if possible). I'm also looking at ease of maintenance (I would like to be able to take it apart for cleaning) and easy adjustments. i like the set it and forget it types, just empty every couple days and good clean once a month. I would rather not have a mesh mod style. I would also like as small of foot print as possible since i will need to be sticking heaters and overflow sock in the same chamber.
My tank is a 55 gal, med to heavy bio load with at 20 gal sump. Foot print is 11"x8". Price range is around 200ish...

Fish are (what kind of bio-load would these fish produce?):
Turret Fish
Diamond goby
bi-color blenny
pigmy flameback angel fish
clean up crew

Skimmers I'm looking at:
SWC 120 or 160 (like these because they can be broken down completely)
bubble magus NAC5 (if i can find one at 110V)
bubble magus NAC6 (or BM100v2 for better price)
Reef octopus 110 (not sure how much it can be taken apart for cleaning)
Vertex IN 100 (not sure how much it can be taken apart for cleaning)

Thanks for any info/experience with them you may have.
Click to expand...
you will want to get teh swc 160 :hammer:
 
Hey guys,
I bought an Vertex IN-180 about 6 months ago and I'm having problems with air water mix. The pump runs fine for several weeks then will all of a sudden start overflowing like mad. It seems to be an issue with the impeller and I heard that vertex is replacing impellers if you experience the issue. Who/where do I go to get this resolved. It sucks having to pull the motor every week or two to clean/ vineger dip the impeller.

Thanks

RW
 
Skimmer Recommendation for 20gal

Skimmer Recommendation for 20gal

i am very new and am setting up a 20 reef tank to start. i purchased a sea clone 100 for $120 but after reading many poor reviews i am bringing it back. any suggestions on what i should get? i hear that the bak pak 2 is a good one but the guy from the store is trying to get me to get something from reef octopus. thanks for your help.
 
Can a skimmer be to big for a tank?

Like a 40g breeder, Say i use a Super Reef Octopus 2000. Is that to much skimmer?
 
yes way to much skimmer. The 1000 series would be a big skimmer for it but would work much better. Too large of a skimmer and it actually skims less.
 
Tunze Hydrofoamer is Awesome.

Tunze Hydrofoamer is Awesome.

mojo~ said:
the tunze 9410 or 9420 hydrofoamer.
Click to expand...

Mojo,

That tunze 9420 hydrofoamer you recommended is freaking incredible. My skimmer which has always worked well is going gang busters; it is so quiet I have to check to make sure it's working and sure enough it's going crazy.

Thanks for the help and keep up this great service.

Ryan
 
Hey mojo~, would love your input on my skimmer selection. I built my sump with a BK Mini 160 in mind, so my skimmer compartment is 10x11.5 with 23" of clearance. However, that was a while ago and now when I go to Premium Aquatics to actually drop the change on the skimmer + a set of Aquaillumination lights I lose my courage.

The system is ~75g and specced towards the Heavy Bioload spectrum. Is there any other skimmers that would fit in the space alloted and runs very quiet you'd recommend? I don't want to skimp, and if the BK mini is all that fits the bill then I'm prepared to lay down the cash.

Just want to get some input before I drop $900 on a skimmer for a 42 gallon display.


Thanks man.
 
Last edited:
rdlisby said:
Mojo,

That tunze 9420 hydrofoamer you recommended is freaking incredible. My skimmer which has always worked well is going gang busters; it is so quiet I have to check to make sure it's working and sure enough it's going crazy.

Thanks for the help and keep up this great service.

Ryan
Click to expand...

No problem. I wish more skimmers used this pump. Amazing.
 
chasekwe said:
Hey mojo~, would love your input on my skimmer selection. I built my sump with a BK Mini 160 in mind, so my skimmer compartment is 10x11.5 with 23" of clearance. However, that was a while ago and now when I go to Premium Aquatics to actually drop the change on the skimmer + a set of Aquaillumination lights I lose my courage.

The system is ~75g and specced towards the Heavy Bioload spectrum. Is there any other skimmers that would fit in the space alloted and runs very quiet you'd recommend? I don't want to skimp, and if the BK mini is all that fits the bill then I'm prepared to lay down the cash.

Just want to get some input before I drop $900 on a skimmer for a 42 gallon display.


Thanks man.
Click to expand...

I have been in your shoes. THe bk mini will meet every need you want. Silent, skims well and easy to maintain.

Anything else you get will not have everything it does. I have owned one of these and they are great skimmers.
There are other skimmers that will skim as well for less money but you loose something. Either it has a larger foot print, a finky pump or something like that.

One skimmer I might suggest for the small foot print is the new SSS super reef octo 1000. thats there sump saver small cone skimmer.

The bk is really nice but i understand how hard it is to spend the cash. keep your eye out on a used one. Save some $$$
 
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