Skimmer Q&A Thread

[grassi]

Hi mojo, I'm on the market for a good skimmer.
My system at now: 65g all sps tank, started 1,5 years go, colonies at a medium size and maturing. 30g frag tank packed of ricordea florida, 40g plenty of sps frags and mini colonies, 40g zoas tank, 100g sump (I use about 60g).
I'm growing my corals for when I will be able to upgrade the display. For logistic reason, the upgrade wont be done until end of next year, so I know I need a good temporary skimmer.
Not a lot of fish, but I'm doing the transition to the italian brogri feeding plan, which is heavy and requires high skimming.

Some skimmers I was thinking about:

ATB 1050A
SRE 3000 ext
Hurricone cat 2 ext
I-tech 400

I would prefer an external skimmer, but I am open to an internal one too.
I would like to know if the ones I spotted will suit my setup, if you have more suggestions and in which order you would go. Price range: up to around $800.
Thanks for your help

 

[grassi]

After more readings I would add also the Alpha Cone 200 to the list

 

[5ft24]

Hi Mojo,
I have a 75G reef with a 20G sump.
for pennies on the dollar, as I was acquiring equipment (It's taken over 4 months!!) I picked up an ASM G1... the old one with the Sedra 2500.
Had to replace the impeller, as the magnet had swollen.
Tank has been up for a week now, with Live rock. No skimmate so far, and ammonia/nitrite are 0 with about 10ppm Nitrate.
The skimmer is sitting in about 8 1/2 inches of water.
Return is a Rio 1700 (until I can afford a bigger one).
any tips/tricks etc for this skimmer??
I really don't have room for anything bigger, I am limited by the height in the stand.
Thanks

 

[magic028]

Swc 180

Swc 180

Mojo

I have a chance buy a SWC 180 at a great price. My system is a 70gal display with a 20gal sump. Is this skimmer overkill for my system. I have a mixed reef but going more towards sps. Thanks!

 

[Reefer08]

Hi Mojo, quick question. My AS200 with the Sedra HO9000 (1.5 years old) performs great. But it often causes the skimmer to overflow by pulling too much water and not enough air. Once I restart the pump it pulls the correct amount of water/air mixture and skims normal. I get a skimmer overflow twice a week from it pulling too much water and running really wet. Any ideas why its doing this? Thanks

 

[mojo~]

Hi mojo, I'm on the market for a good skimmer.
My system at now: 65g all sps tank, started 1,5 years go, colonies at a medium size and maturing. 30g frag tank packed of ricordea florida, 40g plenty of sps frags and mini colonies, 40g zoas tank, 100g sump (I use about 60g).
I'm growing my corals for when I will be able to upgrade the display. For logistic reason, the upgrade wont be done until end of next year, so I know I need a good temporary skimmer.
Not a lot of fish, but I'm doing the transition to the italian brogri feeding plan, which is heavy and requires high skimming.

Some skimmers I was thinking about:

ATB 1050A
SRE 3000 ext
Hurricone cat 2 ext
I-tech 400

I would prefer an external skimmer, but I am open to an internal one too.
I would like to know if the ones I spotted will suit my setup, if you have more suggestions and in which order you would go. Price range: up to around $800.
Thanks for your help

THe ATB 1050a, THe sro 3000, and the Cat 2 are all great choices. Heck even the new Octo extreme xs 250 wouldnt be bad either. THe ATB would be the most quiet but all would work well.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo,
I have a 75G reef with a 20G sump.
for pennies on the dollar, as I was acquiring equipment (It's taken over 4 months!!) I picked up an ASM G1... the old one with the Sedra 2500.
Had to replace the impeller, as the magnet had swollen.
Tank has been up for a week now, with Live rock. No skimmate so far, and ammonia/nitrite are 0 with about 10ppm Nitrate.
The skimmer is sitting in about 8 1/2 inches of water.
Return is a Rio 1700 (until I can afford a bigger one).
any tips/tricks etc for this skimmer??
I really don't have room for anything bigger, I am limited by the height in the stand.
Thanks

Just keep it running and give it time. I assume you did use new water when setting up your system. So there is nothing for it to skim. Give it time.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo

I have a chance buy a SWC 180 at a great price. My system is a 70gal display with a 20gal sump. Is this skimmer overkill for my system. I have a mixed reef but going more towards sps. Thanks!

I would pass on it and get something more suited for your tank. Over kill isnt good always.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo, quick question. My AS200 with the Sedra HO9000 (1.5 years old) performs great. But it often causes the skimmer to overflow by pulling too much water and not enough air. Once I restart the pump it pulls the correct amount of water/air mixture and skims normal. I get a skimmer overflow twice a week from it pulling too much water and running really wet. Any ideas why its doing this? Thanks

yea the air inlet on these is kind of small. When you turn it off it back flushes the air line. you have salt creep build up in the venturi (inlet of pump) Take off the venturi and clean it out really good. Chances are the salt creep is on the inside. u can try warm water but you are better off to clean out the air line and the venturi. when this clogs up it wont pull air and increase the water flow.

HTH

Mojo~

 

[5ft24]

Just keep it running and give it time. I assume you did use new water when setting up your system. So there is nothing for it to skim. Give it time.

cool,
Thanks

 

[waldomas]

yea the air inlet on these is kind of small. When you turn it off it back flushes the air line. you have salt creep build up in the venturi (inlet of pump) Take off the venturi and clean it out really good. Chances are the salt creep is on the inside. u can try warm water but you are better off to clean out the air line and the venturi. when this clogs up it wont pull air and increase the water flow.

HTH

Mojo~

Mojo...Do you think that periodic suction of R/O water into the airline would keep it open until a thorough monthly cleaning?

 

[SquidHC]

Hello. I have a 25g display, and a 20g sump. Looking for suggestions for a higher end in sump skimmer. Considering one of the Tunze DOC skimmers, but am very open to other good options. Thanks.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo...Do you think that periodic suction of R/O water into the airline would keep it open until a thorough monthly cleaning?

it wont hurt. Great skimmer but they do get clogged up every once in a while. Give it a shot. Not sure if it will get it all out or not but might buy you some time.

 

[mojo~]

Hello. I have a 25g display, and a 20g sump. Looking for suggestions for a higher end in sump skimmer. Considering one of the Tunze DOC skimmers, but am very open to other good options. Thanks.

The 9002 would work, but also consider the MRC ocean force 100, the SWC 120 and the bm NAc 3.

All of those would work. The 9002 is a good skimmer but the other will give you a little more room for expansion down the road. Hope that it helps. THe best built of the bunch is the mrc OF 100. The swc is good too but the 120 and the nac 3 use the same atman 1100 pump. Both are good fit for your system.

Mojo~

 

[SquidHC]

The 9002 would work, but also consider the MRC ocean force 100, the SWC 120 and the bm NAc 3.

All of those would work. The 9002 is a good skimmer but the other will give you a little more room for expansion down the road. Hope that it helps. THe best built of the bunch is the mrc OF 100. The swc is good too but the 120 and the nac 3 use the same atman 1100 pump. Both are good fit for your system.

Mojo~

What about the Tunze DOC 9006. Little cheaper than the OF-100. Rated to something like 158 gallons. Smaller footprint, less energy consumption, and shorter(which would help with the set up I'm building). And would be a nice skimmer when I get another 120g.

Also, how about the new Super Reef Octopus skimmers?

 

[Tylt33]

What happens if you put a smaller skimmer in a larger tank? I have about 175g total volume, but my sump can only fit a 7"x10" skimmer, and the water height is usually 7" max (5"-7" is the range). I'm looking at the SWC Xtreme 120 Cone, as I can't find anything else (other than a BK Mini 160) that will fit in my parameters. Any other ideas/suggestions?

 

[bayoupr]

Hey mojo, what do think about a Mini 160 on a system with a total of 150g volume and light to med bio load

 

[mojo~]

What about the Tunze DOC 9006. Little cheaper than the OF-100. Rated to something like 158 gallons. Smaller footprint, less energy consumption, and shorter(which would help with the set up I'm building). And would be a nice skimmer when I get another 120g.

Also, how about the new Super Reef Octopus skimmers?

well you are not going to get a skimmer to work well on a 25g and a 120g. You will need different skimmers if you want them to work well both ways.

 

[mojo~]

What happens if you put a smaller skimmer in a larger tank? I have about 175g total volume, but my sump can only fit a 7"x10" skimmer, and the water height is usually 7" max (5"-7" is the range). I'm looking at the SWC Xtreme 120 Cone, as I can't find anything else (other than a BK Mini 160) that will fit in my parameters. Any other ideas/suggestions?

Well first you will want the water to be a constant level. and a swc 120 is simply too small. Not enough water turnover. I would look at a external skimmer that will turnover enough water to match your volume.

 

[mojo~]

Hey mojo, what do think about a Mini 160 on a system with a total of 150g volume and light to med bio load

well i would guess you have a 125 display ? or 120.

the 160 would work well. tHE 180 would be the way to go if it was heavliy stocked. If it is only light to med and you dont feed like its a 24 hour buffet you will be happy with the mini 160.

Mojo~