Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

Hi mojo,
I am planning a 120 tank (med-heavy load) with 30-40 gallon sump. I was looking into the seaside aquatics cs1, the jns sk2, the sro 2000 int, and the bubble magus nac7. what are your thoughts on these skimmers? Looks like the NAC7 is the cheapest price, but not sure if it is cheap quality. Thanks!

The sea side cs2 is better choice over the cs1. The sns sk2 is great. And the sro 2000 is good too. The bubble blaster has a new pinwheel and is more quiet now. But not sure they all have it yet.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, I'm currently running a swc 160 cone on my 57g w/20g sump with a heavy bioload. My pos atman 2500 is starting to go out (for the second time) on me again and I think it's time to try a new skimmer with a more reliable pump. Sump depth is about 9 inches. Any recommendations? Thanks!

the sea side cs1 would be perfect.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,

I have an old WM AS200 on my 180g. Having issues with the pump not working so I may need another skimmer eventually since I can't find a replacement pump. Should I upgrade to an Aquamaxx AM 250? I would appreciate your thoughts.

the pump is a sedra 9000 or sedra 9000ho . You can get a sedra 9000 many places online.

the aquamaxx sm 250 is a great skimmer as well and it too uses the sedra 9000 pump. is really the wm as 250 with the pump internal.

 

[mojo~]

Which one would be a better choice for a 400 g tank 600 g total system volume:
Sro ext 5000 cone
ATI powercone 250 I
Was advised to go with SRO but might be getting a deal on a used (only 2 months) ATI. Any idea if the controllable pumpshave solved the restart issue. Would this skimmer need an upgrade when my tank gets fully loaded ?thx

the sro would be great. Thats the route I would go

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo,

I have an Aqua Euro USA 55 that I have been running on my 40 gallon long for over a year. It has never really performed as well as I would expect it to. It either doesn't pull anything or it pulls water. I can't seem to find the middle ground. I'd appreciate any advice on getting it running correctly. Otherwise I may have to get rid of it and try something else.

Thanks!

I would most look to upgradde honestly. the wm mf 121 /skimz 121

 

[mojo~]

Mojo, do you have any thoughts regarding the Reef Dynamics skimmers? I am looking at the SRO 2000 but someone suggested this line to me as well. It's for a 150 g tank heaving stocked with coral (including SPS) and about 6 fish or so.

Thanks!

Reef dynamics... prviously euro reef. Great skimmers. Simpl design. The vertex in line is basically the same line but made in china. I like reef dynamics. good honest people. Its great to support a US product.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo
I have a 90g tank, maybe around 100-110 total volume w sump. Have 11 fish, 10 sps frags/small
Colonies, 12 lps, 5 shrimp, variety of
Snails. My current skimmer is a Bermuda bps-3c with hyperflow 17hf and as far as I can tell it's too big a skimmer. It doesn't skim consistently, only after heavy feeding, scraping the inner glass, or after a tank cleaning/water change. Most
If he time it produces a very wet light green watery skim. I wasn't planning to add more than 1 or 2 fish, but do plan on getting more sps and lps as well as an anemone. I'm stuck on whether or not I should get a more appropriately sized skimmer or stick with the Bermuda. If new, can you make some recommendations on what to get for this kind/size system?

the bermuda is pretty good but a mag 7 is a much better pump for it.

THe seaside cs2, jns sk2 are both great as well.

 

[Tank14]

The sea side cs2 is better choice over the cs1. The sns sk2 is great. And the sro 2000 is good too. The bubble blaster has a new pinwheel and is more quiet now. But not sure they all have it yet.

I have a lead on a vertex in180 for fairly cheap. Would this work well or should I spend the extra to get something really good like the sk2?

 

[fatboy40]

recommendation

recommendation

Just planning ahead as im ready to start a 90 g with dual overflow within two weeks with a 40g sump , wanted to see what you guys feel wil work best for this tank eventually i do plan on having it heavily stocked . the atb 840 or the vertex alpha 170 any suggestions is greatly appreciated ......

 

[sfexplicit]

Mojo thank you Sir for your endless effort to help others. I'm back to hear your recommendations as you've helped me in the past. Can you please list your top 3 picks for a 200G sps tank heavily stocked?

 

[btmachone]

I would most look to upgradde honestly. the wm mf 121 /skimz 121

Mojo,

Thanks for the suggestion. How do these compare to the Euro Reef RS80? I only ask because I have had some experience with that skimmer in the past. I guess the new equivalent is the Reef Dynamics INS80.

 

[sneaton]

hey mojo, i have a 60 gallon frag tank with a 40 gallon sump...what skimmer would you recommend? dont want to spend more than 500

 

[yamaha16bw]

Anyone using a Bashsea Twisted Skimmers? If so what are your thoughts on it or is there a better skimmer out there?

 

[Foreverfishy]

Mojo been reading this thread for a while and I getting more confused as to what type of skimmer I want to get...This reminds me of buying a car.

I currently have a 125gal w/ a 55 gal. sump w/ an ASM G3. The ASM needs to go,not only because it is old but the Skimmate it produces is mostly on the side of the cup not in the cup itself. I can run it for a week at a time and barely have any dirty water in the cup.

My DT will have or currently has a heavy bioload.
What I look for when purchasing a skimmer is the following:
Quiteness
Cost
Performance
How long it will last
size

Here are my thoughts/choices:
Vertex IN180
Bubble Magus BM-NAC7
BM-180ex
Aquamaxx AM250
Seaside Aquatics C2

Thanks for your information and help!

 

[mojo~]

I have a lead on a vertex in180 for fairly cheap. Would this work well or should I spend the extra to get something really good like the sk2?

j&s is worth the extra money

 

[mojo~]

Just planning ahead as im ready to start a 90 g with dual overflow within two weeks with a 40g sump , wanted to see what you guys feel wil work best for this tank eventually i do plan on having it heavily stocked . the atb 840 or the vertex alpha 170 any suggestions is greatly appreciated ......

the Atb all the way much better balanced in the alpha

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,

Thanks for the suggestion. How do these compare to the Euro Reef RS80? I only ask because I have had some experience with that skimmer in the past. I guess the new equivalent is the Reef Dynamics INS80.

the new ones will pull much more air but the reef dynamics is good too

 

[mojo~]

Anyone using a Bashsea Twisted Skimmers? If so what are your thoughts on it or is there a better skimmer out there?

They have w well built product.not really crazy about the design. Saw them at macna. Great people. Yes better performing ones are out there.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo been reading this thread for a while and I getting more confused as to what type of skimmer I want to get...This reminds me of buying a car.

I currently have a 125gal w/ a 55 gal. sump w/ an ASM G3. The ASM needs to go,not only because it is old but the Skimmate it produces is mostly on the side of the cup not in the cup itself. I can run it for a week at a time and barely have any dirty water in the cup.

My DT will have or currently has a heavy bioload.
What I look for when purchasing a skimmer is the following:
Quiteness
Cost
Performance
How long it will last
size

Here are my thoughts/choices:
Vertex IN180
Bubble Magus BM-NAC7
BM-180ex
Aquamaxx AM250
Seaside Aquatics C2

Thanks for your information and help!

the seaside is the best of the bunch followed by the amax

 

[mojo~]

Sorry , can't help you.