Skimmer Q&A Thread

[rxx2]

Thanks for the advice Mojo!
I've been reading all these great reviews on the SRO 1000XP-SSS and was getting ready to pull the trigger. Saving that $300, I might have to get an ozone generator.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo have you heard anything good or bad about the reefconcepts aerofoamer 848?

That brand no. But the skimmer is about the same design as the Bermuda skimmer line.

Huge pump to run the injector. only suggest it if your power is cheap and you have a really tight space for a large tank.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

That brand no. But the skimmer is about the same design as the Bermuda skimmer line.

Huge pump to run the injector. only suggest it if your power is cheap and you have a really tight space for a large tank.

Mojo~

 

[JKN]

Hoping you folks can help me out. I am starting up a new tank and need help choosing a skimmer. I am currently in option overload. Specifics are as follows:

Tank : 90 gal with most likely a 20 gal Long as a sump (still looking for a donor tank)
Stand : Internal height is about 26 inches max floor to tank bottom

Current plan is for a low bioloading on the tank. Lots of rock with not so many fish. For the skimmer my main goals are reliable, and quiet. Less expensive would also be good since I am over budget already (who isn't?) but I would prefer to spend extra if it prevents me from having to play with the thing regularly just to get it to work.

Let me know if I have left out any info needed to sort this out.

Thanks,

John

 

[NyReefNoob]

dustin that skimmer is about as good as any other out there, imo not worth the money to go buy another skimmer that at most might be a 5-10% improvement, i had a dax ex1 which is basically the deltec ap600 little bigger then yours on my heavyyyyy stocked 80g system with no problems. and as mojo stated get a separate pump to feed the skimmer, dont run it off the drain

 

[gdubs97]

what you have looks fine. as long as you have the ATO then put the skimmer in the section where your return pumps are. For 8 inch water depth. and to keep the price down. Take a look at the Vertex in 180 gen 3 or the octo extreme xs 200. Both will work well and will work well at 8 inches. Prices are about $300 ea. make sure if you get the octo you get teh xs model it has a better pump than the older version.

Thanks for the response! I will research them now. How do these compare to the eshopps s-150? It's a cone shape and I read nothing but good stuff on it and it's "quiet", etc. I can get it for $300. Either way, I'm antsy and will probably order one tomorrow. Off to learn about the two models you recommended. What do you think about the amount of live rock I have? Most people say only to add 5 lbs a day or I might set off another cycle. Any advice?

 

[RGibson]

just let it run and keep the wedge pipe open.

Thank you for the help.
Ralph

 

[gdubs97]

what you have looks fine. as long as you have the ATO then put the skimmer in the section where your return pumps are. For 8 inch water depth. and to keep the price down. Take a look at the Vertex in 180 gen 3 or the octo extreme xs 200. Both will work well and will work well at 8 inches. Prices are about $300 ea. make sure if you get the octo you get teh xs model it has a better pump than the older version.

Those two have great reviews! All three are around $300. It comes down to size though. I actually have never looked at the sizes prior to this. The sump I have is a tank with a lip around it. Inside clearance of the sump is 11" and not 13". Vertex footprint is 11" x 13.5". So that one is definitely out. Octo is 13.5" x 8.5"...smaller...but Eshopps has the pump built inside and the footprint is only 8" x 9". I'm going with the Eshopps. All great reviews. Thanks again Mojo.

 

[undercvr_skank]

hey ive read through and didnt find any info i needed. but im looking for a new skimmer. im currently using a seaclone that i got for free. i just started up the tank. its going to me a mixed reef with a few fishes. 46 gallon with a 20 gallon sump. what do you guys recommend? i was looking at the Bubble Magus BM-NAC3+ and the Reef Octopus NWB110. im not sure. what other skimmers are good? what do you guys recommend. thanks!

 

[James77]

Looked around for too long for an answer for the following

Mojo.....what is the best sump water height to run the BK Mini 160 at?

 

[Atwater]

I have a Euro Reef RS 80 and just had to replace the pump. I replaced the pump with the exact same, Sedra KSP 3500, and it was working just fine for about two days then all of a sudden it went to super power and was over flowing. I tried adjusting everything and finally got the level of the bubbles where they should be, but it just seems like theres way too much flow coming from the pump. Ive adjusted the air to min and adjusted the standpipe to every position, but I cant keep the micro bubbles from coming out the return back into the sump. So much so that there is almost a foam collecting in my sump, and micro bubbles are making their way to the return pump and into the tank. Is this a bad pump or is there just something that I'm missing? Impeller issue? Are the bubbles going to hurt my tank, should i turn the skimmer off? Any and all help is appreciated. thank you

 

[vic8361]

Hi,
Could you help me choose which skimmer to get for my 180.
So far I narrowed it down to these two.
xp 3000 int or sro 3000 external.
I wanted the xp 3000 external but it would not fit under my stand.
Thanks,
Vic

 

[mojo~]

Hoping you folks can help me out. I am starting up a new tank and need help choosing a skimmer. I am currently in option overload. Specifics are as follows:

Tank : 90 gal with most likely a 20 gal Long as a sump (still looking for a donor tank)
Stand : Internal height is about 26 inches max floor to tank bottom

Current plan is for a low bioloading on the tank. Lots of rock with not so many fish. For the skimmer my main goals are reliable, and quiet. Less expensive would also be good since I am over budget already (who isn't?) but I would prefer to spend extra if it prevents me from having to play with the thing regularly just to get it to work.

Let me know if I have left out any info needed to sort this out.

Thanks,

John

The SRO 2000 is a great fit. the octo xtreme xs series is good too. the 160 would work fine. Another nice otion would be the bubble magus NAC 7... I would go in that order. They are all pretty quiet.

 

[mojo~]

hey ive read through and didnt find any info i needed. but im looking for a new skimmer. im currently using a seaclone that i got for free. i just started up the tank. its going to me a mixed reef with a few fishes. 46 gallon with a 20 gallon sump. what do you guys recommend? i was looking at the Bubble Magus BM-NAC3+ and the Reef Octopus NWB110. im not sure. what other skimmers are good? what do you guys recommend. thanks!

the nac 3+ is a good choice. the ocean force 100 is good too.

 

[mojo~]

Looked around for too long for an answer for the following

Mojo.....what is the best sump water height to run the BK Mini 160 at?

8 inches is where I had best results. 7 to 9 ish is roughly the range. There is a manual (pdf on premium aquatics website that give the range if I remember correctly. its in cm but take a look there.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

I have a Euro Reef RS 80 and just had to replace the pump. I replaced the pump with the exact same, Sedra KSP 3500, and it was working just fine for about two days then all of a sudden it went to super power and was over flowing. I tried adjusting everything and finally got the level of the bubbles where they should be, but it just seems like theres way too much flow coming from the pump. Ive adjusted the air to min and adjusted the standpipe to every position, but I cant keep the micro bubbles from coming out the return back into the sump. So much so that there is almost a foam collecting in my sump, and micro bubbles are making their way to the return pump and into the tank. Is this a bad pump or is there just something that I'm missing? Impeller issue? Are the bubbles going to hurt my tank, should i turn the skimmer off? Any and all help is appreciated. thank you

if you choke off the air you will suck in more water and you dont want that. did you check to the wheel on the new pump ? is it the same as the old one. open the air back up and you might have to open the pump and compare it to the old.

 

[mojo~]

Hi,
Could you help me choose which skimmer to get for my 180.
So far I narrowed it down to these two.
xp 3000 int or sro 3000 external.
I wanted the xp 3000 external but it would not fit under my stand.
Thanks,
Vic

the 3000 is a great fit no matter if its the int, or ext or xp.

perfect for the 180

 

[mech]

Does anyone have any comments on the swc 150 bmk? The price on that thing is awesome, it will be going on a 65g, which is lightly stocked. How about the avast skimmer, putting it together seems pretty easy and it has a good pump, has anyone had any long term experience with them?

 

[mojo~]

the bmk will work fine. The parts are injection molded. but other than that it does work well. I ran one on a 65 and it was good. The BM Nac 6 is about the same skimmer too. Same pump similar design.

the avast skimmer is good but the psk 2500 is not that great of a skimmer pump IMO. with a lot of mods it isnt bad. including a custom volute.

 

[undercvr_skank]

the nac 3+ is a good choice. the ocean force 100 is good too.

where can i find the ocean force. i searched but their website isnt working. i wanted to know dimensions and prices and how to get one. thanks!