Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

Hi mojo,
Long time reader, first time poster. As many, I seek your advice and appreciate your time. I have a 90 gallon SPS tank with a 30 gallon sump. The tank is running a Octopus 200 Extreme skimmer (non-cone) with the sicce 2500 pump and a red devil pinwheel, and have never had the skimate(exception of light colored water) go into the cup, it always stays in the neck. Reading your past posts I believe my skimmer is to large for my tank and perhaps the 15% weekly water changes pay a part in this?

Fish in the tank are
4 tangs
royal grama
2 wrasses
hawk
6 cromis
I would like to add more fish.

I need to do something but not sure what. Down grade my skimmer, add more fish(not sure that would even help), upgrade my return pump (currently its around 500 GPH with 2 MP40s for tank circulation).

If I was to purchase a new skimmer I was thinking the Sea Side CS based on you previous recommendation. Not sure to go with a 1 or 2 in fear of repeating my mistakes. Thanks for your time.

FYI: I am running active biopellets with nitrate sitting at 25 and the skimmer is barely pulling.

The seasides would be good, the jns sk2, and the sro 2000 int.

 

[mojo~]

Looking for suggestions for a HOB Skimmer for a 29 gallon reef. Top of my budget is $150. I have been looking at these 3...

Octopus BH-100
Bak-Pak 2R+
Eshopps PSK-75H

I think in am leaning towards the Octopus. Any suggestions/thoughts on what one works the best? Or another that I could get for under $150.

Thanks

IMO the octo is the best of those three

 

[mojo~]

really? tunze 9002 would be my best bet?

So you're saying that the tunze 9002, skimz 121 and mrc 100 are better choices than swc120?

yes, the swc 120 uses the atman 1100 pump If memory serves me correct. I have had one back when they came out. They do not pull much air. but the problem for me is the lack of water throughput in the skimmer.

 

[mojo~]

hey mojo,
im planning a 75 gallon sps system and i want the tank heavily stocked
im torn between

bk mini 180gen2
atb 840
vertex alpha 170
sro 2000
sro 2000xp
which one u think would give the best performance with a 75 gallon tank packed with fish
thx

the bk mini 160 would be better than the 180. The atb 840 gen 2 and the mini 160 would be my top two. Followed by the sro 2000 int. the alpha 170 is built well but its performance to price ratio just doesnt stack up for me. ITs good but the neck is too large for the body IMO. So you have to adjust the nozzle to maximize air draw. when that happends you have to find a fine point so you dont get micro bubbles.

 

[mojo~]

Anyone know how silent the pumps for the jns skimmer and the atb 840 are compared to a red dragon?

very similar. THe red dragon are rebranded laguana pumps. Still great pumps but dont get caught up on the name on the sticker.

both are pretty quite

 

[brob22]

thanks a ton mojo

 

[moondoggy4]

Hey Mojo Have you looked into the Cobalt skimmer pumps yet? I was wondering if these would make a replacement for these new skimmers like BM, SWC and such.

 

[steve053]

Hi Mojo,

In the build stages for a 110 g bow front tank. What are your impressions on the following skimmers:

Reef Octopus NWB-150 Pinwheel
Reef Octopus Diablo 160 XS
INS135 Protein Skimmer from reefdynamics.com

Leaning toward the INS, but have read almost nothing but positive comments regarding RO skimmers.

Thanks for the advice.

Steve

 

[yongpanda]

yes, the swc 120 uses the atman 1100 pump If memory serves me correct. I have had one back when they came out. They do not pull much air. but the problem for me is the lack of water throughput in the skimmer.

Then from what you're saying, skimz's sm121 seems like the best fit. But I'm still having trouble deciding because I've heard that their skimmers are rated more for 50-60gallons+.

I also happened to run through a post you made saying that any skimz products are overkill for a 40gallon (total volume) tank. Do you still feel this way or is there a recent performance change that makes the sm121 more suited for 40gallons?

Sorry for such repetitive questions, but just want to make sure I get the right one the first time around~

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

I am downgrading systems to a 75 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. The sump has apporximately 25 gallons of water in it. I currently have a SRO 200INT.. Is this too big?

If so, What would be an alternativ to this?

 

[yeldarbj]

I have a Tunze 9410 hydrofoamer pump that I haven't been able to sell so I thought I would get a skimmer body for it. I've read through much of the thread and found several recommendations. My tank is 105g + 29g sump. What body do think is the best fit for this pump?

Euroreef CS80
Euroreef CS6-1
Vertex IN-100
Avast Marine CS1 Cone
Other?

 

[Gumma 1]

I have the JNS cs2,having trouble getting impeller out.Can anyone help with getting pump open?

 

[InnerMonkey]

narrowing down the list, advice appreciated

narrowing down the list, advice appreciated

I'm presently between skimmers, and looking to buy as soon as I can. I have my list narrowed down a bit due to space constraints and budget ($350 max, 300-ish preferred), but haven't been able to choose. I'm a gnat's breath away from just drawing names from a hat! :headwallblue: Please offer advice and opinions to sway me :lmao:

Tank is an undrilled 75g with a light-to-medium bio-load (5 small fish and a handful of LPS). The sump is a 29 gallon tank with baffles. My skimmer section is 9x11 ID with a three walled bubble trap before the return. Water level in the skimmer compartment is 11-12 inches, but I have height to spare(sump cabinet is 31").

My list of candidates in "gut feeling" order:

Diabl0 160xs or 1000ls (same but with different pumps afaik)
SRO 1000INT
SRO 1000SSS
Seaside Aquatics CS7 - to a lesser extent than the others as I would prefer a gatevalve over slotted pipe)

Some of the stuff I've ruled out, along with my reasoning:

-SWC - pump, but mainly the company history is a little shady. Future customer service and servicing questionable
-Skimz 121 or Warner mf121 - were in the running, but not familiar with the pump, and not sure if I like the slotted-pipe adjusters really
-SC150 - eh, just not confident in pump, similar thoughts as the 121s as far as adjustments. A little smaller than the others.
-Bubble Magus NaC7 - atman pump noise and reliability

I guess my big holdup is the pump. I had some noisy skimmers in the past, and seeing as this tank is in my den/TV room, I'd like to have it pretty quiet. I'd love it if the new skimmer were quieter than my Mag5 return pump.

For the skimmers I've settled on, my pump choices are either the BB Hy1000 or the Sicce PSK-600. Atman, OTP, Eden, and others in my range seem to be more problematic, so I've just settled on the two with the best reputation (and in my size and price range).

Since these are new-ish pumps in both cases, there's not really any long-term info I've found to push me toward a particular model. I don't like the clear window of the BB pumps (looks thin, seems like it could be a weak point on down the line), but have only seen a few complaints about it breaking. Have seen discussions of rust and impeller problems, but those seem to be in the past. My hesitation with Sicce is due to the PSK-2500 startup issues and noise, so I'm a little soured toward Sicce, but willing to give the new pumps a shot.

tldr version: 75g, need quiet skimmer under 9x11, which pump would you consider better, psk600 or BB hy1000

What pump/skimmer would you suggest for a person in my situation?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

I just bought a Seaside aquatics cs7 for my new tank. Got a smoking price on it, and couldnt pass it up

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

my tank is a 75 gallon as well

 

[InnerMonkey]

Thanks for the reply!

How long have you been running it and what is your impression so far (vs previous skimmer)?

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

I just ordered it monday, it will be here friday. But I will let you know.! I dont have much to compare it to, I've only ran Super Reef Octopus skimmers. But wanted to switch it up.

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

Innermonkey, get your post count up to where you can Private message people and ill get you the place to where you can get this same skimmer for $236 dollars brand new.

 

[InnerMonkey]

Thanks! I'm working on the post count

Was there anything other than price that pushed you towards the cs7? Any other skimmers you were looking at, but ruled out?

 

[mojo~]

I have the cs5.5. They are a super value