Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Beaun]

I have a 65 with medium/high bioload would SWC 160 or 120 be better?

 

[WTyson]

what are your thoughts about a Vertex IN 100 on a 40 breeder. how would it compare to a Bubble Magus NAC6A? They are about the same price (bm is slightly more expensive)

thanks

 

[Reeferon]

I am choosing a skimmer for a 25 gallon SPS.
I am looking for value and performance.

I have been looking at the Aquamaxx HOB-1, but have not heard any reviews on it. Could someone here help me out?
...or at least recommend a HOB skimmer within the price range?

 

[biecacka]

mojo as stated above i have an euro reef skimmer but due to some changes it now doesnt fit in my sump under my stand. i added a piece of wood under sump to level every thing up. so my ? is can i shave a bit of the skimmer down to make it fit or whats a good skimmer for a 220 reef moderate stock and only cost me a few pennies as opposed to my life

 

[solitude127]

Mojo or anyone else, do you have an opinion on the sicce syncra based skimmer pump used on the ATB 840 V2? Are the better than the PSK 2500? Does the syncra have the backwards rotation issue like the PSK? Thanks

 

[mojo~]

Mojo or anyone else, do you have an opinion on the sicce syncra based skimmer pump used on the ATB 840 V2? Are the better than the PSK 2500? Does the syncra have the backwards rotation issue like the PSK? Thanks

the psk does not have the issues the 2500 as. It performs about the same or maybe even a tad better than a stock mini airstar that is on the atb skimmer. around 800 lph of air.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
looks like you are the man to ask the skimmer questions too. I am setting up a 240 gallon reef and am trying to choose a new protein skimmer (i currently have a aquaC ev400 but its just to tall for my purposes. all the reading makes it look like SRO is the way to go these days. unfortunatly due to stand restrictions my sump is only 12.5 inches wide (internal dimmensions) so i was thinking the SRO 3000 int or the SRO5000sssint would work. what do you think?

I think the 5000 sssint would be a great fit for your 240g setup

 

[mojo~]

I have a 65 with medium/high bioload would SWC 160 or 120 be better?

the 160. its a nice skimmer.

 

[mojo~]

I am choosing a skimmer for a 25 gallon SPS.
I am looking for value and performance.

I have been looking at the Aquamaxx HOB-1, but have not heard any reviews on it. Could someone here help me out?
...or at least recommend a HOB skimmer within the price range?

Great skimmer ! its basically a Warner Marine h1. Same company makes them.

Mojo~

 

[NyReefNoob]

ok so mojo, i am falling behind u in skimmers, and seeing we keep around same size and type of tank, what do ya think for this, btw i hope to be coming back to indy in sept or oct, miss the mid-west.
ok i have a 80 g total wv heavily stocked system, currently have a dax ex 1 recirc which has been a kick butt skimmer for me, but looking for a new one to try out, been looking at the swc 160 cone, and the octo ss2000 cone, think the octo might be too much skimmer though, had a vertex in 180 which was just too much for my system to run stable or could have been pump just not enough for body which i think was the case, trying to stay under $350 others in mind ? btw been wanting to try a cone to really see what all the hype is about, ive owned around 18 skimmers in last 6 yr's. cant switch wives or tanks so i just swap out skimmers. and reason why you think and how long did you have them

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Sorry for the delay. had lots going on here.

The SRO 2000 would be a great fit for you. I think the 1000 would be on the small side.

Here is my original post for reference:

Hey Mojo - First and foremost thanks for your time and dedication to the hobby. Your wealth of experience with skimmers is invaluable to the reef central community.

Please help me decide which SRO model I should choose, the SRO-1000int (XP1000sss) or the SRO-2000int (XP2000int). I currently have 90G mixed reef + 40G sump/fuge (approximately 110G total water volume) housing the following fish:

6-7" Lamarck Angel
6-7" Naso Tang
3" Hippo Tang
5" Yellow Tang
5" Wrasse
Midas Blenny
2 X Chalk Bass
2 X Disbar Anthias
5 X Chromis
2 X neon gobies


Do you think and SWC160 would also work or is the SRO 2000 still the better choice for my set up?

 

[celano]

Hey Mojo whats your take on these posts about the Vertex and Bubble Blaster pumps rusting? Did you experience these kind of problems when you tested them?
Also do think that the rust problems will have any long term affects on the tanks they are being used in?

 

[mojo~]

Here is my original post for reference:

Hey Mojo - First and foremost thanks for your time and dedication to the hobby. Your wealth of experience with skimmers is invaluable to the reef central community.

Please help me decide which SRO model I should choose, the SRO-1000int (XP1000sss) or the SRO-2000int (XP2000int). I currently have 90G mixed reef + 40G sump/fuge (approximately 110G total water volume) housing the following fish:

6-7" Lamarck Angel
6-7" Naso Tang
3" Hippo Tang
5" Yellow Tang
5" Wrasse
Midas Blenny
2 X Chalk Bass
2 X Disbar Anthias
5 X Chromis
2 X neon gobies


Do you think and SWC160 would also work or is the SRO 2000 still the better choice for my set up?

the swc 160 cone is a good skimmer as well. if your sump is deeper you may go that way. the 2000 int is a beast of a skimmer but needs to be ran at about 6 inches. I had to make astand for mine.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo whats your take on these posts about the Vertex and Bubble Blaster pumps rusting? Did you experience these kind of problems when you tested them?
Also do think that the rust problems will have any long term affects on the tanks they are being used in?

I havent heard of this but I assume it is no different than the mag drive pumps that get rust on them. They are still being used. Dont really know for sure on this one. Ill have to check around and ill find out what is happening here.

 

[mojo~]

ok so mojo, i am falling behind u in skimmers, and seeing we keep around same size and type of tank, what do ya think for this, btw i hope to be coming back to indy in sept or oct, miss the mid-west.
ok i have a 80 g total wv heavily stocked system, currently have a dax ex 1 recirc which has been a kick butt skimmer for me, but looking for a new one to try out, been looking at the swc 160 cone, and the octo ss2000 cone, think the octo might be too much skimmer though, had a vertex in 180 which was just too much for my system to run stable or could have been pump just not enough for body which i think was the case, trying to stay under $350 others in mind ? btw been wanting to try a cone to really see what all the hype is about, ive owned around 18 skimmers in last 6 yr's. cant switch wives or tanks so i just swap out skimmers. and reason why you think and how long did you have them

I would say the atb 840. Over your 350 limit though.

Then as far as cones go the swc 160 would be great fit. the octo like you said might be just a tad too much. The Bubble magnus NAc 7 would work really well too. The SWC skimmer is built more sturdy than the BM though.

Mojo~

 

[almirman]

I have a 325 gallon mixed tank with refugium, etc I probably have 450 gallons. Which Protein Skimmer should I be looking at?

 

[mojo~]

I would be looking at the following
MSX 300a
Super reef octo 5000/6000
BK super marin 300
Hurricone cat 2 or 3
ATB large 12.5
SWC 1a cone

All of those will work. just depends on what you like and price range...

Mojo~

 

[NyReefNoob]

mojo have u had a atb 840 2.0 with the new sicce pump ? also wonder why they switched pumps and if it is as effective as the 2500 was.

 

[almirman]

Thank you. How does the Octopus Triple 12 compare to the Super reef octo 5000/6000

 

[blakers82]

older SWC Skimmer depth rating?

older SWC Skimmer depth rating?

Hello everyone. I just posted the following in a separate thread and forgot about "The Skimmer Thread". So I'll repost here and gladly take any info I can get. :wave:



Greetings,

First, let me fill you in on my setup. I have recently picked up a reef ready (dual overflow) Oceanic150gal/55gal sump setup. My aquarium stand will allow about 30" underneath the display. My 55 gal sump is about 48"longX21"tallX12"wide. I took out the 2 remaining baffles in the sump as they were losing their seal and it needed to be cleaned. I want to redo the sump with the following 3 compartment order...


[Drain (Skimmer & some Live Rock)] 3 baffle bubble trap [Return] 1 taller baffle [Refugium]


Now for my skimmer situation...I picked up this older model SWC skimmer. I'm not sure its model name/number but it is 8" wide by about 24" tall. It also appears to have been customized as I'm pretty sure the drain piping on it is a DIY job, but I could be corrected...

It came with this Octopus OTP-3000 pump.

What is the depth rating for this in-sump skimmer? Could I use it properly on my setup??

I'm trying to figure out what length acrylic to go with and any recommendations would be great!?!? (FYI: The 2 precut acrylic panels I already have are 14" and 16" respectively.) Thank you so much for your shared experience and ideas!


-Blake