Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

mojo it takes about a month for the skimz to really break in, i have the sm202 recirc, with the 5000 pump, works best with the air valve barely opened though,

I found about wide open it pulls around 1300 lph of air when you dail it down where you say its about 900 to 1000 lph of air. and I agree it does skim a little better.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo,

Right now I have the SRO 1000SSS skimmer for my 55 gallon SPS tank. I am soon to have a custom sump that will add about 25 gallons more total water volume to the tank (10 of which is a nano tank) and was wondering if there is another skimmer you would recommend. This skimmer seems to be ok, but just not crazy impressed. It pulls out some stuff, but not as much as I would expect. Maybe my water just doesn't have much, but just want the best fit. Thanks

you are boderline to running the 2000 but The 1000 is a pretty nice skimmer if its there it will pull it out.

 

[mojo~]

My eshopps psk150 pump just died and I'm thinking I'd like to replace it with a better skimmer. Was running it on a 48x18x20 display in a 32x16x16 sump. Space is relatively, so I need to stick something with a similar footprint but I'd like something more powerful. Suggestions appreciated.

the sro 2000 int, the aquamaxx am 100the bubble magus nac 7

 

[dustinc]

you are boderline to running the 2000 but The 1000 is a pretty nice skimmer if its there it will pull it out.

Do you think I should possibly go with the 160xs? Isn't it a skimmer that is a good in between step for the 1000 and 2000 cones? Also want to make sure they won't give me micro-bubble problems. Thanks!

 

[pblogic]

the sro 2000 int, the aquamaxx am 100the bubble magus nac 7

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Will all of these be significantly better than the e-shopps? It skimmed but it always seemed hard to dial in and production was inconsistent. What's your opinion of the skimmer I have now out of curiosity? It won't bother me if you say it stinks I'm just wondering how much more performance to expect. I would like to kind of overkill on the skimming

 

[pblogic]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Will all of these be significantly better than the e-shopps? It skimmed but it always seemed hard to dial in and production was inconsistent. What's your opinion of the skimmer I have now out of curiosity? It won't bother me if you say it stinks I'm just wondering how much more performance to expect. I would like to kind of overkill on the skimming

Mojo, thanks very much for giving me a range of skimmer choices.. I looked at all of them. Do you have one out of the 3 you feel performs best? I appreciate your guidance, thanks

 

[smokey30]

what is your sump level. Maybe the 1000 sss would work.

the xs 160 is better fitted around 75 to 90 gal tanks with a smaller footprint needed. Still a good skimmer but would a bot on the large size. The neck is a little large for a 50g.

I havent figured out the skimz line yet. I have had 2 of them now. THe sk and the sm series both. While The sk 201 skimmed like mad early on the pump was a little loud. and the sm 201 uses a different pump and is more queit it has taken longer for it to kick in and start pulling some nog. Neither one has pull out what my Aquamaxx am 250 has. Not even close yet. But some of that is because they havent broken in yet. Time will tell.

the am 100 would be more than enough skimmer. I would probably go that route if you didnt think the sro would work. A guy local has a 65 and replaced his swc 150 with a sro 1000sss and it is a world of differnce in the skimmer. The sro is more consistant and pulls more in 2 days than the swc did in 2 weeks.

Hope that helps.

Mojo~

Hey Mojo thanx for the input much appreciated..I found my LFS has the Reef Octopus Reef Saver 1000 I am gonna grab it today what is the water level that you feel it will work best at?

 

[JG1]

Just have to give props to the IN-100. For a sub $200 skimmer this thing kicks ***.

My ATB 840 never pulled this much out of my tank.

After 6 days of skimming I got 2 cups of the darkest foulest skimmate I've seen. Not to mention the caked on gunk that was in the skimmer neck.

 

[drgolfaholic]

Hey Mojo,

I've scanned this thread looking for a skimmer for my 57G illuminata + 25G sump. Is the BM NCA7 still your top choice? Any other suggestions for similar price range? Thanks. Aidan

 

[sneaton]

swc 160 cone

 

[drgolfaholic]

swc 160 cone

Is that for my query?

 

[rob020880]

Mojo, I just installed my ATB 840 V2. It is skimming great so far and I am happy with the performance, but I am getting a ton of microbubbles coming out of the skimmer. It has been running now for about ten days in about 7.5" of water. Will these bubbles subside eventually?

 

[mojo~]

Do you think I should possibly go with the 160xs? Isn't it a skimmer that is a good in between step for the 1000 and 2000 cones? Also want to make sure they won't give me micro-bubble problems. Thanks!

um the sro models work pretty well and dont really have too many microbubbles once broken in. the 160 xs is a nice skimmer too. really its up to what you like better.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Will all of these be significantly better than the e-shopps? It skimmed but it always seemed hard to dial in and production was inconsistent. What's your opinion of the skimmer I have now out of curiosity? It won't bother me if you say it stinks I'm just wondering how much more performance to expect. I would like to kind of overkill on the skimming

the eshopps is a ok entry level skimmer. it is what it is. I know that doesnt say much but the low cost keep it at a price point where people can afford something for there tank early on in the hobby.

The skimmers I mentioned will all be much better than what you had.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo,

I've scanned this thread looking for a skimmer for my 57G illuminata + 25G sump. Is the BM NCA7 still your top choice? Any other suggestions for similar price range? Thanks. Aidan

the nac 7 is great for the money the super reef octo sss models would be the next step up as it uses a little better pump and the octo xs 160 would also work well for your setup.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo thanx for the input much appreciated..I found my LFS has the Reef Octopus Reef Saver 1000 I am gonna grab it today what is the water level that you feel it will work best at?

most have been running them at 7 inches plus or minus an inch

 

[mojo~]

Just have to give props to the IN-100. For a sub $200 skimmer this thing kicks ***.

My ATB 840 never pulled this much out of my tank.

After 6 days of skimming I got 2 cups of the darkest foulest skimmate I've seen. Not to mention the caked on gunk that was in the skimmer neck.

the Vertex in 100 is a great skimmer for the money. Some get shy to them because of the issues the first pumps had. They have refined this and make a great skimmer. I have had the gen 1 2 and 3 versions of this skimmer. All nice but they just keep getting better. Very nice skimmer for the money.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, I just installed my ATB 840 V2. It is skimming great so far and I am happy with the performance, but I am getting a ton of microbubbles coming out of the skimmer. It has been running now for about ten days in about 7.5" of water. Will these bubbles subside eventually?

it will get better, I was trying to back to what I ran mine at. I was thinking it was around 6 inches. Ill ask Victor what people are running them at now. But the micro's will go away over time as it breaks in. The new ones take longer to break in as the have molded bodies. give it about a month.

 

[dustinc]

um the sro models work pretty well and dont really have too many microbubbles once broken in. the 160 xs is a nice skimmer too. really its up to what you like better.

Alright, thanks! My SRO is in about 5" of water and it Is letting off micro bubbles into my display and I've made sure it's the culprit. About to build a custom sump so I want to be sure I have the right skimmer for my setup. Is the water level about right for that skimmer?

 

[mojo~]

it needs to be deeper try about 7 to 8 inches once and see how it does.