Skimmer Q&A Thread

[TimeConsumer]

I'm using a reef octopus extreme xs 160 with a 6" neck (the new version with the sicce psk-661) on my 75g mixed reef. It's rated for up to 160 gallons. I was wondering if this is too much skimmer for my tank.

 

[DXHippie]

New tank setup

New tank setup

I have been watching this thread for awhile, and in the process of setting up a new tank (120g with 30g in sump), I have been wondering if the skimmers I am looking at would be satisfactory for a reef tank with medium fish and medium SPS. I was looking into trying out the SKIMZ SK 181, but after reading through the thread it seems like it might be under power. Any thoughts on this. The other I was looking at would be the Reef Octopus XP 2000. I would appreciate any feed back that you all have.

 

[pascal32]

Thanks, i'll post a pic tonight, dont have anything handy right now. It simply sits up on a pedastal behind my stand, with the base of the skimmer about 10" off the floor. the return runs over my fuge and down into the sump thru a filter sock. The pump itself is dead silent, i only hear it when it starts up or the sump runs low. the gurgling or flushing is coming from the return line overflow. on the skimmer output there is a T, the top of the T is open and is used for an overlfow, i hear it gurgling and draining from here, the air inlet noise is marginal. I think maybe the 9.5 is a little too much, im going to get a 3/4" ball or gatevalve tonight and see if throttling it back a little helps.

I'm no skimmer expert, by that is a lot of skimmer for what you have.

I run one on a 72 full of lps with a couple fish.

The mag7 should be plenty, adjust the water level with the skimmer gate valve or slide tube depending on ear of the skimmer) such that there is 1-5-2" from the top of the acrylic body. Make sure the air intake is clean. For the output make sure it is vented (T with one end inthe water, other in the tank, and third end pulling air.

 

[jscarlata]

thanks...i thought the mag7 would be fine too, but witht he skimmer up on the pedastal the overall height of the water inlet from the pump is over 24", and the mag 7 drops off considerably with 2 feet of headloss, thats why i thought the 9.5 would be right, but maybe its still too much and i need to throttle it slightly. there is no gate valve, just the slider, its such a pain to adjust up, easy to adjust down...its hard to make small adjustments because it sticks a little. the plumbing is pretty stright forwad, there is only one place for the outfeed tube to connect...so, the riser comes up from the base of the skimmer and has a T at the top, the return to the sump juts out at a 90 degree angle from the T tube, and the top of the T tube is open...maybe i should go get a few more fish and corals and start loading this baby up!

 

[Ceebuano]

hey guys, i have a quick question..

i currently am cycling a 10g nano tank, just recently purchased a new skimmer..

RESUN SK-05
VOLT. 220~240V
FREQ. ：50/60Hz
PUMP INCLUDED：SP-500(*SP-55)
POWER：5W
QMAX.：200 L / Hr 55GPH
HMAX.：0.60m 2.0ft
DIMENSION：￠43 x 178mm

would this be enought to produce skimmate on my nano? i installed it earlier and i wasn't able to get any skimmate yet, and how long does it take to produce skimmate?

T.I.A

 

[jscarlata]

if you are just starting a cycle turn the skimmer off, no need for it yet...there is nothign to skim and you may end up delaying the cycle...you want the bacteria to have somethign to eat, if you skim it all they wont develop

 

[Ceebuano]

if you are just starting a cycle turn the skimmer off, no need for it yet...there is nothign to skim and you may end up delaying the cycle...you want the bacteria to have somethign to eat, if you skim it all they wont develop

thanks im onto my 6th week, im checking params later so ill see what happens next and if the cycling is done hehehe, might have nixed a couple of instructions..the manual was in chinese haha so i might also have to assemble it again.

 

[jscarlata]

question on the return plumbing for external skimmer...
should the end of the outflow pipe be submerged in the sump, or always above the water line so the returning water splashes in?

 

[mojo~]

I'm using a reef octopus extreme xs 160 with a 6" neck (the new version with the sicce psk-661) on my 75g mixed reef. It's rated for up to 160 gallons. I was wondering if this is too much skimmer for my tank.

the neck is 4 inches. the body is 6 inches. It is a good fit for your tank.

 

[mojo~]

question on the return plumbing for external skimmer...
should the end of the outflow pipe be submerged in the sump, or always above the water line so the returning water splashes in?

depends on the skimmer you can havve it under but you should havea way for the air to escape

 

[TimeConsumer]

thanks for the help

 

[jscarlata]

After doing some reseArch it looks like the aquac ev120 is a good fit both in capacity and footprint, are these decent skimmers? I've found both pos and neg reviews/comments
In the meantime I bought some 1-1/2 and 1-1/4 spa flex to use in place of the 1" I'm using now on the skimmer return hose. Maybe this will alleviate the fill and flush effect instead of throttling the skimmer pump
I know owe pics I'll snap some tonight for sure.

 

[mojo~]

After doing some reseArch it looks like the aquac ev120 is a good fit both in capacity and footprint, are these decent skimmers? I've found both pos and neg reviews/comments
In the meantime I bought some 1-1/2 and 1-1/4 spa flex to use in place of the 1" I'm using now on the skimmer return hose. Maybe this will alleviate the fill and flush effect instead of throttling the skimmer pump
I know owe pics I'll snap some tonight for sure.

they are ok, Built well but a bit dated. They do allow for good capacity with a smaller footprint but they are a little noisy and use more power to get the job done. But all in all they will work fine.

 

[DXHippie]

New tank setup bump

New tank setup bump

Any of the guys with SKIMZ skimmers have any input on what they are actually capable of. I know there site boasts well over what I would think is reasonable.

 

[carnut]

i picked up the sm201. Seems well build. Bubbles seem nice and small and consistant. About the same as my euroreef. It is picky about the water height, I was having trouble dialing it in in 9 1/2 inches deep, have raised it to 7 and it seems easier to controll the water level. Skimmate is light in colour, but it is new and will need a break in period.

It is dead silent, and the foot print is nice and small.

 

[mojo~]

the skimz sm 201 for example I would say would be good up to about 180g well stocked. the sk201 I would say about 150g well stocked display.

 

[NyReefNoob]

and the sm202 will handle a 220g stocked tank on the low side wouldnt put it on less then a 120g

 

[DXHippie]

Sk 181

Sk 181

So the SK 181 wouldn't be unheard of or crazy to put onto a 120g with a 30g sump? It would be medium stocked reef and fish.

 

[jscarlata]

Some updates and pics finally




Gratuitous FTS and STS



I put a gate valve on the output of the 9.5 and a silencer on the overflow. The gatevalve let me get a much steadier water level and less frequent flushing. The silencer is a 1" PVC cap drilled w a few 1/4" holes. Skimmer is still flat after the feeding so it's not dialed in yet, we'll see.
Any recos besides the ev120 that can run well external?

 

[Gtt1988]

hey mojo i decided to go with a vertex in 180 for my 110gal sps, my question is if it were you would we change the pump out for a tunze or bubble blaster? and if so which pump size should i use?