Skimmer Q&A Thread

[gannmann9876]

Hey mojo I have a 120 with a 20 gallon sump. I have a bubble magus bm100 which I think is a little small. I need some suggestions on a skimmer that won't fill my sump with microbubbles. My bm 100 is pouring them. I just changed from a 75 to this tank. Maybe all the new water is making it act this way.

 

[jkf1983]

Hey mojo I have a 120 with a 20 gallon sump. I have a bubble magus bm100 which I think is a little small. I need some suggestions on a skimmer that won't fill my sump with microbubbles. My bm 100 is pouring them. I just changed from a 75 to this tank. Maybe all the new water is making it act this way.

Can you add a baffle or bubble trap? You'll have this issue with any Skimmer. I have a 40 breeder on my 120 and its so nice. Not that tall and plenty of room for the Skimmer and a section to grow cheato.

 

[gannmann9876]

It has a baffle. I put a filter sponge between the baffles. It seems to slow the the bubbles down but th dt is full of them. I may have to put a second trap in.

 

[rownsurf]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

So my mother was hooking me up with a new protein skimmer for Christmas and I'd decided on the JNS Sk2. Turned out it was out of stock and the site she was working with offered to upgrade her to the SK3 if she'd still buy from them (her story at least). So, besides maybe not fitting in my sump!, any issues with the SK3 over the SK2 on a 75g. I was already aiming high since I plan to upgrade to a 150-200g tank in the next year. I assume I can't overskim, but wanted to make sure before I set this beast up.

Thanks,

Justin

 

[AwkwardParrot]

Mojo,
figuring out my tank/sump sizes before rock/substrate I will be about ~90gal. After rock and substrate, I will be ~70gal. I will have only 4 fish, SPS dominate tank, and I plan to dose vodka. I have been looking at a few skimmers:
- Avast CS1
- Reef Octopus XP 1000SSS
- Reef Octopus SX 160
- SKIMZ SM 121
- SKIMZ SK 181
- Reef Octopus SRO 1000INT
- Bubble King Mini 160 (if I can find it used)

Let me know what you think.
Thank you.

 

[Testutar]

Hey Mojo,

Great thread. I have a 210 gallon FOWLR with a high bio-load. Sump space is limited. I would be curious as to your opinion on each of these skimmers, and if they are big enough for my tank? ATB 200 Elegance Pro, and BK Mini 200. Any help is appreciated!

 

[jeremy K]

Hi Mojo. Just set up my new Sea Side Aquatics CS2 - thanks again for the recommendation. It's been up for about 3 days now, and skimming well already. But the pump seems noisy - I hear a definite hum coming from it. Did you find this to be the case when you tried this skimmer? If so, did the noise fade? I have heard this pump is supposed to be virtually silent...

 

[autodave]

Hi Mojo. Just set up my new Sea Side Aquatics CS2 - thanks again for the recommendation. It's been up for about 3 days now, and skimming well already. But the pump seems noisy - I hear a definite hum coming from it. Did you find this to be the case when you tried this skimmer? If so, did the noise fade? I have heard this pump is supposed to be virtually silent...

Mine is kinda noisy also, I was wondering if some run time will get it to quiet down

 

[brob22]

hey

do u think the sro 1000 will allow me to feed heavy on my medium stocked 50 gallon tank?

 

[jeremy K]

Mine is kinda noisy also, I was wondering if some run time will get it to quiet down

How long has yours been running?

 

[mojo~]

Hey mojo I have a 120 with a 20 gallon sump. I have a bubble magus bm100 which I think is a little small. I need some suggestions on a skimmer that won't fill my sump with microbubbles. My bm 100 is pouring them. I just changed from a 75 to this tank. Maybe all the new water is making it act this way.

If its new water and rock it can do that.

But it is a bit small. I would look at the jns sk2, the SSA cs2, SRO 2000 or the AVAST cs1.

Those will all work well for you.

 

[mojo~]

Can you add a baffle or bubble trap? You'll have this issue with any Skimmer. I have a 40 breeder on my 120 and its so nice. Not that tall and plenty of room for the Skimmer and a section to grow cheato.

That is not really true. If a a skimmer is balanced well and is broken in. You shouldnt get micro bubbles.

 

[mojo~]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

So my mother was hooking me up with a new protein skimmer for Christmas and I'd decided on the JNS Sk2. Turned out it was out of stock and the site she was working with offered to upgrade her to the SK3 if she'd still buy from them (her story at least). So, besides maybe not fitting in my sump!, any issues with the SK3 over the SK2 on a 75g. I was already aiming high since I plan to upgrade to a 150-200g tank in the next year. I assume I can't overskim, but wanted to make sure before I set this beast up.

Thanks,

Justin

The sk2 woul of been great. The sk3 will have a larger neck ect... and IMO probably not skim as well on the 75. It will skim and work. If you are going to upgrade then the sk3 will be perfect. I think it will be ok but it is a little large for the 75. just depends how soon you are going to upgrade.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
figuring out my tank/sump sizes before rock/substrate I will be about ~90gal. After rock and substrate, I will be ~70gal. I will have only 4 fish, SPS dominate tank, and I plan to dose vodka. I have been looking at a few skimmers:
- Avast CS1
- Reef Octopus XP 1000SSS
- Reef Octopus SX 160
- SKIMZ SM 121
- SKIMZ SK 181
- Reef Octopus SRO 1000INT
- Bubble King Mini 160 (if I can find it used)

Let me know what you think.
Thank you.

the bk min i160 would be great. Then I would look at the SRO 2000 int, the SSA cs2 and JNS sk2. Those are some of the nicest performers for the money right now.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo. Just set up my new Sea Side Aquatics CS2 - thanks again for the recommendation. It's been up for about 3 days now, and skimming well already. But the pump seems noisy - I hear a definite hum coming from it. Did you find this to be the case when you tried this skimmer? If so, did the noise fade? I have heard this pump is supposed to be virtually silent...

yea give it a couple weeks or so it will quiet down more and more as it breaks in.

 

[bif24701]

Mojo- this is what I'm getting outa the SB 40. What do you think. This is about as good as it gets for the most part.

This is what I'm pulling now. About a days worth, maybe two. What do you think. Now have 3 bio balls on the SB40.

 

[mojo~]

This is what I'm pulling now. About a days worth, maybe two. What do you think. Now have 3 bio balls on the SB40.

looks good

 

[lookout888]

Need new skimmer.

Need new skimmer.

Hello Mojo,
Thanks for all the great info.

Here is my question. It has been a long time since i have been looking at skimmers. I have an original Reef Octopus Recirculating 200
I think (has the big screw off connection for the cup). It looks like all the skimmers being recommended lately are non-Recirculating. Is recirculating not as big as it used to be?

My current tank is a 110 display with about 40 gallons in the sump.

I may be upgrading soon to a ~200 cube with a bigger sump.

Is the Reef SRO 3000INT a good choice? Can you do a recirculating mod on them or is it not worth it?

or would there be a better skimmer to keep an eye out for.

Thanks again for your time and the great info.
Mike

 

[brob22]

sorry to bother u again mojo and i hope u had a good holiday, im just curious if the sro 1000 skimmer is designed to handle a heavily fed 50 gallon tank.

im at the point where my nutrients are very low and its time to start dumping food in , but im worried my skimmer wont be able to handle it.

take care

 

[Testutar]

Hey Mojo, just ordered a BK Mini 200 for my 210. Are they as good as folks say? Think it will do the job? Where should I have my water level for that skimmer? Thanks!