Skimmer Q&A Thread

[levischilz]

i've been reading poor things on the impeller of the BM NAC9 cracking over and over so i guess ill skip it for now.
How large of tank would you rate the aquamaxx cone 3, which I guess looks similar to the jks sk3, i think the skimz sm201 may be a little small for a 280g heavy stocked system.
I looked at the ATB 1050a but at 900 is a little more than I wanted to spend.

I keep hearing the octopus skimmers are poor quality in compare to many others like aquamaxx or skimz they seem comparable to me, but they are also recommended everywhere I would guess its more of a bang for buck skimmer? Im not looking into a BK or Deltec price point but wouldn't want to purchase something that wont work/last either.

 

[pmrossetti]

Hi Mojo~, thanks for the thread,

Which of these 2 would you rec for a 235g dt, 280g total volume mixed reef system.

http://www.aquacave.com/skimz-sm-251-monzterbr-e-series-in-sumpbr-protein-skimmer-3324.html

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-super-brsro-5000sss-in-sump-br-protein-skimmer-2667.html

Other? thanks!!!!!!!!

 

[mojo~]

I am looking for a skimmer for 40 gallon tank with another 10 gallons in the sump. I want something rated higher than my tank size but not too large where the skimmer doesn't perform well. Tank will have both LPS and SPS. Would like the ability to to put about 8-10 small fish in as well.

Would the SWC-120 do the trick? Any other suggestions? I think the footprint can't be larger than 7x10 approx.

Thanks,
Ken

the 120 would work ok, but the SRO 1000sss would be much better. It will cylce much more water.

 

[mojo~]

Hello Mojo could you recommend me a protein skimmer? Id like to stay around 500.00 unless a 700.00 dollar skimmer is really well worth it and why.
I have a 130 gallon reef tank these are my tank specs:
*125lbs of buna ultra rock
*the 130 tank be mainly sps dominated with lps and very few softies (zoas/paly/mushroom)
*20 gallon sump for skimmer and a seperate 10 gallon refugium with chaeto
* my fish list are, 1 hippo blue tang,1 powder blue tang, 1 fox face,1 blue/green chromis, 1 clown fish, 1 six line wrasse, 1 mandarin goby, 1 flame hawkfish, 1 diamon goby and maybe 1 or two more fish in the future.
*1 1/2 to 2 inch sand bed

I currently have an about 2 month old Reef Octopus nwb-150 with the new pin wheel and have an opportunity to sell it and upgrade. What do you recommend and why? I'd prefer a good solid working skimmer with a very good pump ( I read on your post about some starting backwards not sure if thats bad) my sump dimensions for the in sump protein skimmer are Length 16incehs x 12 width inches the height can be up to 24 inches.
Thanks for the Help in advance Mojo!

If you dont mind a little him. The Aquamaxx am 250 would be great for the money. the sedra 9000 is pretty well balanced to the body. run it at about 9 inches of water. At 8 inches it will suck air in from the surface.

The SRO 2000xp would be good if you are running a shallow sump. like 5.5 to 6.5 inches.

if you could get a used bk mini 180 gen 2 that would be really nice too. Last but not least would be the JNS sk2. The sicce syncra is a nice pump. Not quite the water throughput as the sedra 9000 ho pump but it is quiet.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, a general skimmer question. I may be redoing a sump. I would like it to sport up to a 180 gallons. What size would you make the skimmer area?
Thanks

Well for me I run a big skimmer area. I only run a skimmer, filter sock media reactor and kalkstirrer. I keepit simple.

As far as size. I made my sump on my 24in deep tank making my sump area 20x 18. a little big but that housed my filter sock (7in) and my skimmer. When its wider it slows the speed of the flow down and helps reduce bubbles as well.

 

[mojo~]

Thanks for the reply mojo. Another one for you. Pound for pound skimmer under a grand? I'd really like a nice one. Plus i hit last night at the casino for 600$ ( basically the 500$ I've given them over the past 2 months trying to win a new system, lol). Thanks. Best 3 would be awesome.

what size tank. Best for about 80 to 120 gal tanks is the ATB 840 or bk mini 160.

Other tops in that size would be the SRO 2000, JNS sk2 and a few others . mind went blank..

For up around 180g tanks. the ATB 1050a , bk mini 180 gen 2 are my top two

Other good ones are the sro 3000, the jns skimmers, aquamaxx am 250 (made by jns as well, same maker as the old warner marine skimmers ).

 

[mojo~]

i've been reading poor things on the impeller of the BM NAC9 cracking over and over so i guess ill skip it for now.
How large of tank would you rate the aquamaxx cone 3, which I guess looks similar to the jks sk3, i think the skimz sm201 may be a little small for a 280g heavy stocked system.
I looked at the ATB 1050a but at 900 is a little more than I wanted to spend.

I keep hearing the octopus skimmers are poor quality in compare to many others like aquamaxx or skimz they seem comparable to me, but they are also recommended everywhere I would guess its more of a bang for buck skimmer? Im not looking into a BK or Deltec price point but wouldn't want to purchase something that wont work/last either.

well is it a 280 stocked system or tank. What is your load ?

I would look at a aquamaxx am 350 , SRO 5000, ATB 1050 A.

Those will do much better than the skimz sm 201 on that volume.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo~, thanks for the thread,

Which of these 2 would you rec for a 235g dt, 280g total volume mixed reef system.

http://www.aquacave.com/skimz-sm-251-monzterbr-e-series-in-sumpbr-protein-skimmer-3324.html

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-super-brsro-5000sss-in-sump-br-protein-skimmer-2667.html

Other? thanks!!!!!!!!

well the 251 uses dual pumps. Its a bit large IMO for what you will doing. the 3000 xp would be a good choice, The aquamaxx cone 3 , was the jns sk3. Just looked. the Octo xs 250 would work well too. Find you a good uses atb 1050a and it would be perfect.

 

[mojo~]

sorry for the late reply. Been cranking in some OT at work..... Making sure I have pleanty of spending Money for MACNA this year.

Hit me up at MACNA, I ll be staying at the Marriot thursday thru Sunday. Ill be takinga lot of pics and checking out all the skimmers first hand as well.

See you all there.

Still waiting on my new pinwheel for my skimz eden 2000 pump. until they take care of some startup issues with this I would hold up on them. Just a fyi. They seem to be good at first and then you may have an issue later on.

 

[levischilz]

Right now my 280g is light bio load but I'm working on adding more in a slow consistent manner. Also plan to grow sps and lps mostly. Running a little on the lighter side of LR and sand also.

 

[ken6217]

the 120 would work ok, but the SRO 1000sss would be much better. It will cylce much more water.

Mojo,
Thanks for the reply. Btw, would the SRO 1000 be too large for 40 gallon tank plus 10 gallon sump though? The rating says up to 150 gallons. If that is the case, I can get a used BK-160 mini at a good price. Would you still go with the SRO?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[JG1]

mojo,

My IN-100 w/ mini airstar. This look like I'm skimming too dry? The foam is so dense it pushes the lid right off the top of the collection cup.

 

[SunkAA]

Mojo, Ok I switched out the ATB Eleg. 200 Pro for an ATB 840 v2, its been up and operational now since July 31st. I am just getting a ton of micorbubbles on this unit. I have the skimmer sitting in 8.5" of water in my sump. The sump is constructed in a way that the water level will remain constant. I am running ATB biopellets as well, which Victor at ATB informed me would create a reaction with the skimmer, resulting in more micorbubbles. I assume he means this initially, while the skimmer breaks in. The BP have been running for a good two months now, my skimmate production is relatively low (I have 6 fish in my 90, feed 2 times per day and my parameters for nutrients are very low: PO4 0.00 on my hanna, NO3 not showing anything on Elos test kit on last check). I know the skimmer isn't going to skim what isn't there, I'm not too worried about that, just solving the riddle to the microbubble issue. Should I build a skimmer stand and raise the skimmer a couple of inches? I am just curious is you have any recommendations based upon your experience, being that you have owned and extensively tested the 840 v2. Thanks again!

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
Thanks for the reply. Btw, would the SRO 1000 be too large for 40 gallon tank plus 10 gallon sump though? The rating says up to 150 gallons. If that is the case, I can get a used BK-160 mini at a good price. Would you still go with the SRO?

Thanks,
Ken

the sro 1000 works sell from 40 to 75g IMO, there is now way I would put it on a loaded 150.

the neck is smaller than the bk mini 160 and will be a much better fit.

 

[mojo~]

mojo,

My IN-100 w/ mini airstar. This look like I'm skimming too dry? The foam is so dense it pushes the lid right off the top of the collection cup.

yea if you run it more wet then it wont do that. However you will have to empty your cup more often.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, Ok I switched out the ATB Eleg. 200 Pro for an ATB 840 v2, its been up and operational now since July 31st. I am just getting a ton of micorbubbles on this unit. I have the skimmer sitting in 8.5" of water in my sump. The sump is constructed in a way that the water level will remain constant. I am running ATB biopellets as well, which Victor at ATB informed me would create a reaction with the skimmer, resulting in more micorbubbles. I assume he means this initially, while the skimmer breaks in. The BP have been running for a good two months now, my skimmate production is relatively low (I have 6 fish in my 90, feed 2 times per day and my parameters for nutrients are very low: PO4 0.00 on my hanna, NO3 not showing anything on Elos test kit on last check). I know the skimmer isn't going to skim what isn't there, I'm not too worried about that, just solving the riddle to the microbubble issue. Should I build a skimmer stand and raise the skimmer a couple of inches? I am just curious is you have any recommendations based upon your experience, being that you have owned and extensively tested the 840 v2. Thanks again!

give it more time. You may have to run the skimmer closer to 7 inches. This will make you have to run the water level a little higher. causing a little more backpressure and raising the reaction space slightly. Give it a shot but it will take a bit for the skimmer to slime up.

 

[ken6217]

the sro 1000 works sell from 40 to 75g IMO, there is now way I would put it on a loaded 150.

the neck is smaller than the bk mini 160 and will be a much better fit.

Thank you. One last question. What water depth in sump?
Ken

 

[mojo~]

about 5.5 to 7 inches on the sro 1000

 

[Avalos1057]

mojo -
just purchased an elos system 70 and have a custom sump (about 20g, tank is 55). going sps dominate. 2 clown fish, mystery wrasse, and a few gobies here and there. i have a 8"x11" area in my sump which can be modified to make the 8" to 13". would rather not.

which skimmer would you recemmend? $300 budget.

thanks in advance

 

[reeftivo]

mojo,

My IN-100 w/ mini airstar. This look like I'm skimming too dry? The foam is so dense it pushes the lid right off the top of the collection cup.

Put some silicone oil on your finger and wipe it around the edge of the deflector ring on the lid of your cup. Royal Exclusive mentions to do that in some of their skimmer instructions to avoid excess foaming. The silicone is supposed to help pop the bubbles as they hit the ring leaving you with liquid instead of tons of foam.

I've never tried it but should be worth a shot.