Skimmer Q&A Thread

[jeffesaurusrex]

the nwb 150 is a better unit than the eshopps, Ican honelstly say I would not buy a eshopps skimmer of any size. Nothing wrong with them. Just so much better for the money. The pump is the most important pump. The 150 will cycle more water than the eshopps.

if you could swing it the SRO 2000 int would be a great fit. look for something used like a warner marine as 150. great skimmers and they are cheap now too. ( used ) a better used skimmer is better than a cheap new one.

Is a Nac7 a good skimmer? [edit: scratch that, I see you've already recommended it to others so it's obviously good] I MAY be able to go out to the 240 I can get one of those for and it is a cone design so I assume it is better. How about the non cones from BubbleMagus? Also there's a used AquaC EV180 - how are they? I might pick it up. I could fit it behind my cabinet because it will work as an external - I have about 7" of room behind the cabinet to fit something as well.

Sorry about all the questions I just want to make sure I don't get something crappy and have to return it again like last time. It's also wracking my nerves going without a skimmer for the last 3 days and maybe 5 or 6 to come.

 

[fishguy597]

I have a fun one for you. I have a 200g with an octo ext200. the secci pump is crapped out. I cant decide wetherto replace the pump with a bubble blaster or get a new skimmer. I have never been real happy with this skimmer. I have run the water levels all over the place in the last two years. Heck I even put in the rdpw and never got much more then a qtr inch of skim in the cup. This is over a weeks time. I get more crap on the walls of the skimmer then in the cup. not sure what to even look at or wich direction to go. any help would be great.

 

[fishguy597]

btw way running a med bioload with sps.
thanks

 

[fishguy597]

ive been looking at the reef octopus super sro 3000sss in sump and the skimz sk 201 kone e series. I like the fact the octo has the bb pump and a 3 year warrenty on it plus 1 year on the body. But I havent been blown away by coral vue. The skimz is at the top of my price range and Im not to keen on their 1 year warrenty.

 

[jhoff]

skimmer upgrade

skimmer upgrade

Well its time to upgrade my skimmer looking into the SKIMS SM161 do you think it's too much for a 46gal with a 10gl sump all SPS 6 fish useing a vertex in80 witch is working well but the corals are now growing into small colonys suggestions welcome...

 

[mojo~]

Is a Nac7 a good skimmer? [edit: scratch that, I see you've already recommended it to others so it's obviously good] I MAY be able to go out to the 240 I can get one of those for and it is a cone design so I assume it is better. How about the non cones from BubbleMagus? Also there's a used AquaC EV180 - how are they? I might pick it up. I could fit it behind my cabinet because it will work as an external - I have about 7" of room behind the cabinet to fit something as well.

Sorry about all the questions I just want to make sure I don't get something crappy and have to return it again like last time. It's also wracking my nerves going without a skimmer for the last 3 days and maybe 5 or 6 to come.

the nac 7 would be better than the nwb 150

 

[mojo~]

I have a fun one for you. I have a 200g with an octo ext200. the secci pump is crapped out. I cant decide wetherto replace the pump with a bubble blaster or get a new skimmer. I have never been real happy with this skimmer. I have run the water levels all over the place in the last two years. Heck I even put in the rdpw and never got much more then a qtr inch of skim in the cup. This is over a weeks time. I get more crap on the walls of the skimmer then in the cup. not sure what to even look at or wich direction to go. any help would be great.

honestly the older psk 2500 were weak in the water volume column. Take a look at hte aquamaxx AM 250 . The sedra 9000 will move a good amount of water and it will have enough power to keep filling the cup

 

[mojo~]

Well its time to upgrade my skimmer looking into the SKIMS SM161 do you think it's too much for a 46gal with a 10gl sump all SPS 6 fish useing a vertex in80 witch is working well but the corals are now growing into small colonys suggestions welcome...

yes the 161 is too big. I have teh 121 on my 50g tank and it is more than enough. I would wait as they need to change the pinwheel on the 2000 pump as there are some restart issues at the moment. otherwise they skim really well.

the sro 1000 is a great option as well.

 

[Drae]

Wassup mojo? Quick one for you. I have an aquamaxx am200s on a 150 (5x2x2) with a breeder sump. Around 150 gallons though after calculating tank volume and actual sump volume. It has a sicce psk1500 with a red devil impeller. I'm happy with the quality of the skimmer compared to ones owned previous, but it doesn't pull enough in all honesty. New skimmer, or can it be modified? BTW, willing to buy a new skimmer for under a g. Planning a 200 plus gallon reef anyway.

 

[gauche]

Mojo....I have a 300gal setup that I'm doing now and about to order my skimmer. I am leaning towards the SWC Origional Xtreme 300 skimmer. Reason being is it is 23.5" in height and I only have 25" total under my stand to play with. Another thing is I think that when my stocking list is all said and done, I will have somewhat of a heavy bio-load in my FOWLR setup. I will have the following fish: (2) bamboo sharks, vlamingi tang, emperor angel, naso tang, (9) blue/green chromis, saddle back butterfly, desjardini tang, yellow tang, harlequin tusk, and maybe a achelles tang. I will have a sump with a volume 75gal. What are your thoughts on this one.....I have the bullet in the chamber and ready to fire.

 

[baondayko]

Currently looking at a Skimz SK201 KONE Series, an SRO xp-5000 internal sss, and a SWC 300 cone. These are all internal skimmers. I have a 265 gallon, 75 gallon sump, and plan to stock heavily with fish. Any recommendations from my choices? There are so many choices it becomes confusing.

Thanks

 

[fishguy597]

Darn I didnt even look at the aquamaxx . I did some research and liked the skimz sm201 & looking at utube and other reveiws it made me happy in my pants so I ordered one.problem is customes is tough so its on back order.
The post above.as.far as the sk201 they told me that the skimmers is sensitive to water height changes due to evaporation so you need to keep and eye on it . I haven't had any first hand dealings with it but thats what they told me . If your going to order a.skimz check out liverock and reef they have them for $50 cheaper rhen anyone else and no shipping charges . So I ordered some test kits with the money I saved .

 

[Doma25]

Octopus Super Reef 2000S Super Space Saver Skimmer i dont have a big sump but that would fit i can maybe fit another inch i have a decently stocked 120 with lps and maybe some sps and clams down the line.... what do you recommend.... do you think the octupus super reef is good?

 

[levischilz]

Mojo what do you think of the aquamaxx cone 3 vs the skimz sm201 ? Having a terrible time getting my hands on the skimz so thinking about getting something else that's good for around 280g water volume.

 

[bayoupr]

Hey mojo, didn't you have an Elagence 200 skimmer? The reason I ask is I got my hands on one and at start up the Airstar is only pulling 560-570lph air draw? I was told by ATB rep that this would take 2-5days to break in? I have never had a pump with air draw this low at start up. 24hrs later and a half of collection cup of nog from a BK SM 200 poured into my test tank and the air draw is 600lph? Did yours come with a green pinwheel or a red pinwheel. I find it strange that of all the different skimmers I have had that this one has such a low air draw at start up. This pump has a green pinwheel that looks like the pinwheels the sicce's come with?

 

[migas_01]

BK Double-cone 200??

BK Double-cone 200??

Hi Mojo,

What do you think of the BK Double-cone 200 for a 90 gallon mix reef with LPS and SPS? Do you think its too big?
I wanted to put a Supermarine 200 but I am limited because of skimmer compartment size but the Double-cone 180 or the 200 would fit well.


I can always built a new sump if you think this would be the better choice along with the Supermarine 200 but I don`t know if this one is also too big for my tank size?

please let me know what you think.

Thank you in advance :thumbsup:

 

[levischilz]

Think im getting narrowed down, tried to pickup a skimz but having a hard time getting it, so thinking about changing the order.
280g water volume looking at these

Skimz SM201 (wait it out but really need to get something asap)
Aquamaxx Cone 3
Bubble Magus BM-NAC9
SRO 3000 or 5000

Also looked at the SWC 300 only thing I didnt like was the pump used 80 watts if I saw correctly as where most of these other skimmers are 1/3 that wattage.

Let me know what you guys think of that list above.

 

[mojo~]

Wassup mojo? Quick one for you. I have an aquamaxx am200s on a 150 (5x2x2) with a breeder sump. Around 150 gallons though after calculating tank volume and actual sump volume. It has a sicce psk1500 with a red devil impeller. I'm happy with the quality of the skimmer compared to ones owned previous, but it doesn't pull enough in all honesty. New skimmer, or can it be modified? BTW, willing to buy a new skimmer for under a g. Planning a 200 plus gallon reef anyway.

the am 250 with the sedra 9000 would of been much better. moves much more water. you could go that route or jump to the 350

 

[mojo~]

Mojo....I have a 300gal setup that I'm doing now and about to order my skimmer. I am leaning towards the SWC Origional Xtreme 300 skimmer. Reason being is it is 23.5" in height and I only have 25" total under my stand to play with. Another thing is I think that when my stocking list is all said and done, I will have somewhat of a heavy bio-load in my FOWLR setup. I will have the following fish: (2) bamboo sharks, vlamingi tang, emperor angel, naso tang, (9) blue/green chromis, saddle back butterfly, desjardini tang, yellow tang, harlequin tusk, and maybe a achelles tang. I will have a sump with a volume 75gal. What are your thoughts on this one.....I have the bullet in the chamber and ready to fire.

the newer extreme (xs series) from octo would be better they use the newer sicce syncra pumps. The octo xs 250 would be a good fit.

 

[mojo~]

Currently looking at a Skimz SK201 KONE Series, an SRO xp-5000 internal sss, and a SWC 300 cone. These are all internal skimmers. I have a 265 gallon, 75 gallon sump, and plan to stock heavily with fish. Any recommendations from my choices? There are so many choices it becomes confusing.

Thanks

I would go with the sro 5000 xp most likely. Gret skimmer and pulls great. Thesk 201 is much smaller than the other two and it only uses the eden 2800 pump. That will not move near enough water forthat setup.