Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo, just a quick question for you. I have a SUPER REEF OCTOPUS XP 2000 protien skimmer. I bought this skimmer brand new about a year ago. I have been having some problems with it, and was hoping you could help me out. I have had to replace the pump on the unit three times now. They seem to stop pumping efficiently after about six months. The flow from the pump starts fluctuating from strong to weak, and stops being a consistant flow. I will set the skimmer to its sweet spot and it will run great for a few days, but then starts to overflow into the cup. When I reset the skimmer after the overflow it seems to be fine for a day, then the bubbles will be very low in the body, and the exhaust makes a gurgling sound. I have my skimmer sitting in about 6 to 7 inches of water. Not sure what else I should do or try at this point. Any advice you could give me I would greatly appreciate. Thanks so much.

IS the skimmer under your cabinet ? are you dosing anything and if so do is going into the skimmer compartment ? is there a fuge.

I ask these things to see what could be getting into the pump. These have bee great pumps. I built a couple skimmers with these pumps and they are still running as good, well actually better than they were new. if under the cabinet is there good air movement. A lot of people have fully enclosed stands created a humid enviroment allowing the salt creep to build up in the line and inside the venturi. That would cause your pump to run the way it is. most likely its salt creep in the venturi.

But with a fuge or anything else you can get snails or other bildup in the pump too.

just some things to look at.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, I have a thread started asking advice re switching pumps from the psk2500's to ? on an ATB840 and an ATIbubblemaster250. I am told you are the guy to ask, can you tell me which pump you would replace these with that would not reduce the performance of these skimmers and would not have start/stop issues? Thank You

The sicce psk 1000's and the Tunze hydrofoamer 9410'a or 9420's would be the best bet.

 

[BIG 87]

Yes my skimmer is in my cabinet. I don't dose my tank, it has been running for a year. There is good air movement. My sump has three chambers 1 drain from tank skimmer 2 deep sand bed 3 live rock return to tank. 90 gal tank 30 gal sump med load.

 

[mrsmithers]

Mojo,
My venturi on my MW k2 air inlet broke, If i was going to witch skimmer pumps what would be best?
BB 2000, PSK 1000? or something else

 

[rob020880]

how deep is your sump level ? if you can run it without making a stand then that would be great. But i always had better luck around 7 to 8 on the ATB skimmers

Yeah that wont work because my depth is 11". What would you recomend 7 or 8"?

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
My venturi on my MW k2 air inlet broke, If i was going to witch skimmer pumps what would be best?
BB 2000, PSK 1000? or something else

why not replace the venturi. Get the aquamaxx one from marine depot for the psk 2500.

otherwise I would get the bb2000 for the k2

 

[mojo~]

Yeah that wont work because my depth is 11". What would you recomend 7 or 8"?

I would start at 7

 

[mrsmithers]

Thanks mojo,
didn't know that they sold the venturi's. I should of googled it.

 

[Tracey2]

The sicce psk 1000's and the Tunze hydrofoamer 9410'a or 9420's would be the best bet.

thanks for your help. Bamf25 and I are making the same decisions right now and you recommended the new psk1000 to him, was that just running 1 pump then on the ATI?

Also, what is the difference between these two
http://www.reefspecialty.com/virtuemart/12-protein-skimmers/64-atb/505-atb-sicce-syncra-pump.html
and
http://www.marinedepot.com/Sicce_Pr...ater_Pumps-Sicce_USA-XJ11111-FIWPSBFT-vi.html

the second link shows the psk600 and psk1000.

 

[brigita]

til now I am using skimmer, I don't know is it good or not to my fish tank wit some coral, is the skimmer are really necessary. so sorry I am newbie

 

[mth1993]

How important is it that the skimmer is level? I am using my first internal skimmer and it is off by about .25" over the 10" cup lid.

 

[mojo~]

thanks for your help. Bamf25 and I are making the same decisions right now and you recommended the new psk1000 to him, was that just running 1 pump then on the ATI?

Also, what is the difference between these two
http://www.reefspecialty.com/virtuemart/12-protein-skimmers/64-atb/505-atb-sicce-syncra-pump.html
and
http://www.marinedepot.com/Sicce_Pr...ater_Pumps-Sicce_USA-XJ11111-FIWPSBFT-vi.html

the second link shows the psk600 and psk1000.

the atb has a stand and is the 1000. the marinedepot sicce is basically the same thing.

 

[mojo~]

How important is it that the skimmer is level? I am using my first internal skimmer and it is off by about .25" over the 10" cup lid.

height is pretty important as long as its not overflowing you are not too deep. lol.

how does the skimmer perform for you and we can go from there. What skimmer is it too.

 

[stangd1909]

How about a Super Reef octopus 200 skimmer with the sicce pump? I'm looking at putting one on my 100 gallon system?

 

[mojo~]

the psk 1000 would be a great fit on the 8 inch body.

 

[Mr.Mcgibblets]

Best skimmer around 300 dollars.

Best skimmer around 300 dollars.

I was thinking about a RO extreme 160 then I came across a SKIMZ 161 that seems to be getting good reviews. I do need something compact (under 23 inches tall). What do you all think is the best in the 300~ range.

 

[mth1993]

By level I mean flat using a builder bubble level. I have experimented with the water level (depth) and am happy now, it is just my skimmer stand shifted after I put a bunch of other stuff in the sump, so It will be somewhat of a pain to straighten out.

So how important is it that a skimmer is level?

 

[mojo~]

I was thinking about a RO extreme 160 then I came across a SKIMZ 161 that seems to be getting good reviews. I do need something compact (under 23 inches tall). What do you all think is the best in the 300~ range.

the 161 would be a really nice skimmer. I actually just ordered the skimz sk 201 for my 125. same thing but the kone version. Thought I would give one a shot. Ordered mine from aquacave and used the reef central 5% discount. RC5 .

They look like a really solid design.

if you can spare the extra $50 bucks over the 300 I think the skimz would be worth it.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

By level I mean flat using a builder bubble level. I have experimented with the water level (depth) and am happy now, it is just my skimmer stand shifted after I put a bunch of other stuff in the sump, so It will be somewhat of a pain to straighten out.

So how important is it that a skimmer is level?

well a little off isnt going to hurt it much but you will lose efficiency.The bubble rise patter will start to shift and not skim as well. just depends on how unlevel you are talking. 5degrees or less not a big deal IMO.

 

[stangd1909]

Mojo- What do you think about a Super Reef octopus 200 skimmer on a FOWLR tank? It's 100 gallons.