Skimmer Q&A Thread

THe 350 with the dual pumps will be better. Sorry The 250 will work for alight load. I would suggest the 250 for a heavy 125 to 180. Just stick with the sefra pump models on the AM series. I do not suggest the psk 2500 model. the 300 i think it is.

Great build and good skimmers.


I'd like to avoid running two pumps unless their is an advantage to do so in my situation. Would the ATB 1050 v1.5 be a good fit?
water volume (tank 225, system 370).
 
Hi mojo
I'm setting up a 90g tank that will eventually be heavily stocked. The sump isn't built yet but will probably be 40-50g. I was leaning towards the new ATB 840 but then saw a couple 200 elegances at decent used prices. My gut says the 200 is way too much skimmer but it's tempting. There won't be any major tank upgrades in the next few years other than perhaps a frag tank added on. How large of a heavily stocked system would you say the 840 is good for?
 
Mojo, I have a question. I have a 70 gallon reef tank with a 20 gallon sump. trying to find a compact protein skimmer that is powerful enought to handle this tanks and possible for a future upgrade to a 90-120 tank. what do you recommend? I have about a 4 x 6 inch space in my sump to fit the skimmer so it needs to be drop in. I was looking at TUNZE but not sure if it will be good enough.
 
Looking at the Super Reef Octopus cones - would you suggest the 2000 or 3000? The 2000 is for up to 250 g they say, and I have 220 g holding fish etc, but a total water volume of about 315 g.
Cheers


Def the the 3000 ext. THe 200 is good but only up to about 180g light stock. I would go with the 3000.

Good luck to you.

Mojo~

Looking at the 3000 - it is really a lot bigger - huge, actually - I wonder if another external cone would be as good / better and not be quite as large - ATB? Skimz? Other? Not as worried about the $$ as the quality/ease of use and would just as soon have a slightly smaller unit, if it is just as good. I also looked at Vertex - but their externals are apparently indefinitely on hold, and BK is WAY more $$. In the under $1500 price range, how would you rank the external cone options?
Thanks for your time.
John
 
I need a new protein skimmer, my casing on my SWC160 fell over and cracked in a couple of places. I think it was under performing and want to go with something different.
My tank is 150 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. Mostly SPS, I will say heavy bio load. I've been reading about a lot of great skimmers and was wondering if I could get an opinion on them and how you think each would work for my 150. I don't want to over do it, but want something that will work better then what I had.

AquaMaxx AM200-S
AquaMaxx cone 2
Skimz 161 or 201 monster
SRO 3000

The Aquamaxx cone 2 or the sro3000 int. both great skimmers. Both far better performance than the swc 160. Isay that based on water and air through put, balance and quality.
 
I'd like to avoid running two pumps unless their is an advantage to do so in my situation. Would the ATB 1050 v1.5 be a good fit?
water volume (tank 225, system 370).

The ATB 1050a would be a great fit. Moves a lot of water and air. Awesome Customer service too. one of my favorite skimmers for sure... 8 in water minimum as it will suck air from the service if its too shallow. Really strong pump
 
Hi mojo
I'm setting up a 90g tank that will eventually be heavily stocked. The sump isn't built yet but will probably be 40-50g. I was leaning towards the new ATB 840 but then saw a couple 200 elegances at decent used prices. My gut says the 200 is way too much skimmer but it's tempting. There won't be any major tank upgrades in the next few years other than perhaps a frag tank added on. How large of a heavily stocked system would you say the 840 is good for?

the 840 v2 all the way. I have had the 840 and the elegance. Hands down the 840 would be the best fit.
Perfect for a well stocked 90g tank
Mojo~
 
Mojo, I have a question. I have a 70 gallon reef tank with a 20 gallon sump. trying to find a compact protein skimmer that is powerful enought to handle this tanks and possible for a future upgrade to a 90-120 tank. what do you recommend? I have about a 4 x 6 inch space in my sump to fit the skimmer so it needs to be drop in. I was looking at TUNZE but not sure if it will be good enough.

4x6 is super small. Yea either the Tunze or if you really need something with a little more oomph, but it will be a little more noisey and less effiecient. The etss Sumpbuddy 40 but it has a 4x7 foot print.

I would not hesitate at all putting a tunze on my tank. They are good products and have great service. You looking at the 9005/6 ?
 
Looking at the 3000 - it is really a lot bigger - huge, actually - I wonder if another external cone would be as good / better and not be quite as large - ATB? Skimz? Other? Not as worried about the $$ as the quality/ease of use and would just as soon have a slightly smaller unit, if it is just as good. I also looked at Vertex - but their externals are apparently indefinitely on hold, and BK is WAY more $$. In the under $1500 price range, how would you rank the external cone options?
Thanks for your time.
John

The 3000 is still probably the best bet. Next would be a delted. Like a used 702 ect...

Another super gret skimmer for external but not cheap is the H&S A200.

here is the link .

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/pr...-skimmers/h-s-external-skimmers/h-s-a200-1260


hope that is helpful. All externals are pretty good size due to the plumbing.
 
I think I need a little help with my Reef Octopus NWB150. At first it skimmed good, but now after I cleaned it it doesn't skim well at all. It still functions correctly. It makes microbubbles and it looks like the same amount of bubbles even. If I put my finger over the air intake it overflows. But it doesn't really make any dry foam, and very little skimmate. There is usually sludge on the inside of the neck on the collection cup though.

After I clean the cup and turn it on I set it so that the bubbles rise to the bottom of the collection cup, not the part that fits into the skimmer body but the part where the cup actually begins. The skimmer is sitting in a water level so that the water output is just barely above the water level - the bottom of the part that puts out water is about a quarter of an inch off the surface of the water in the sump.

The pump is clean. The first time I cleaned it when this actually happened I just took the cover off the pump and cleaned a little stray chaeto out of the pins on the impeller. Now since it seems to have stopped working correctly I actually took the impeller out and cleaned and inspected it. Still it doesn't work right.

Any ideas? I messaged Coralvue with give or take this exact same message, but in the meantime I thought I'd try to get an opinion here.
 
once you clean a skimmer you will have to let it run a re break in. Give it a week and see if it still does it.

Make sure you did not put the small seal on the venturi. it goes on the output of the pump. I have seen it where folks put the seal on the venturi inlet and it blocks the air intake.
 
Hello Mojo

I was wondering if you could answer some quick questions for me?

I am setting up 180DT, with 65sump/fuge, tank will be SPS, and moderate/heavy stocked.

Would you recommend SRO SSS 3000, 5000, or 6000?

Also do you know the water operating height for these?

Thank for Your Time
 
Hello Mojo

I was wondering if you could answer some quick questions for me?

I am setting up 180DT, with 65sump/fuge, tank will be SPS, and moderate/heavy stocked.

Would you recommend SRO SSS 3000, 5000, or 6000?

Also do you know the water operating height for these?

Thank for Your Time

The sro 3000 would be the way to go. THe neck on the larger units would be really large for that tank. Once is really heavy stocked you may be able to get away with 5000. But the 3000 should do a great job for you no matter what. its what I would get.
 
Das

Das

Mojo-
Your thoughts please on a DAS E-X 3
Whats max size tank realistically?
I will try to look you up @ MACNA:wavehand:
thanks,
Vinny
 
Vinny,

I believe the DAS E-X 3 is comparable to the Deltec AP702. Deltec says it's good for 333 us gal heavy stock.

What do you think Mojo~?
 
well the skimz 121 will work well, but I would wait as there may be a pinwheel update. The tunze 9006, Vertex in 100 gen 3, sro 1000 are what come to mind right away. Something with a smaller neck around 2.5 to max 3inch and around 400 to 500 lph of air is what will work really well.

just wondering if the skimz 121 had got that pinwheel update. ive narrowed it down to this one and the sro 1000sss. any preferences.

elos system 70 w 15 g sump. medium to heavy bio w mixed reef.
 
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