Skimmer Q&A Thread

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

I honestly would go for the r12 or the AquaMaxx cone 7. In the latest issue of reef hobbyist someone with a700 gallon said the cone 7 damn near handled their heavy load. My buddy has a freshly cycled 500 with nothing but a bunch of pukani and a large sailfin tang and about 20 chromis and he has the jns version and he loves it.

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the AquaMaxx in sump only....

 

[Drae]

Yeah it's in sump. He has it in a big sump. External skimmer I would definitely go with the r12. Even if the pumps went bad you could replace them for less then the next best skimmer would cost you. ATb external would be my next choice. Hella expensive though $$$. R12 imho.

 

[chrisd1986]

I have a 75g tank with a 20g sump that I'm turning into a fuge. I have the octopus bh100 skimmer I was sold by my lfs it has been running for a few years but I am now getting ready for coral. Will this skimmer be ok or should I get a new one.

 

[skimmy]

What do you think about the vertex omega for 75 gallon tank?

850lph air injection at 19w is good,
the hot welded seams and wine carrafe body are awesome,
and its rated pretty accurately.
for a 75g it would be a great fit.
also look at the rlss waveline 6 for the same price.
slightly more power, controllable, and smaller footprint.

 

[skimmy]

I have a 75g tank with a 20g sump that I'm turning into a fuge. I have the octopus bh100 skimmer I was sold by my lfs it has been running for a few years but I am now getting ready for coral. Will this skimmer be ok or should I get a new one.

imo,
you will have almost a 100g system,
you could probably use a beefier skimmer.
yet again, i would suggest the RLSS waveline 6 for $350

 

[tramboneplayer5]

I appreciate the advice, but I am nervous about buying a RLSS skimmer when I haven't seen one nor do I personally know anyone who is using one. I have found Vertex skimmers and Reef Octopus skimmers, and I am looking for something with excellent build quality and the lowest noise level possible. I am leaning toward the Vertex line, and am trying to decide between the 170 and the 200. Sump space and budget allow for either. I am setting up a 140 gallon tank with maybe 20 gallons in the sump. I plan on stocking it with as many fish as it will hold. I have heard people say to go "+1" and get a bigger skimmer, and I have heard people say that their Alpha 200 is too big and they wish they had gone with the 170. Which would you recommend, the 170 or the 200?

 

[jfeva0049]

need some skimmer advice please, i have a reef dynamics ins 100;

(http://www.reefdynamics.com/INS100-Protein-Skimmer-p/ins100.htm)

and i am wondering if any of these would be an improvement over it? thanks for any input.

*SRO 1000LSS Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/sro-1000lss-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO XP1000 Space Saver Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/sro-xp1000-space-saver-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO 1000 In-Sump Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-sro1000int-super-reef-protein-skimmer.html

*Diablo 160 Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/diablo-160-protein-skimmer.html

????????

 

[skimmy]

I appreciate the advice, but I am nervous about buying a RLSS skimmer when I haven't seen one nor do I personally know anyone who is using one. I have found Vertex skimmers and Reef Octopus skimmers, and I am looking for something with excellent build quality and the lowest noise level possible. I am leaning toward the Vertex line, and am trying to decide between the 170 and the 200. Sump space and budget allow for either. I am setting up a 140 gallon tank with maybe 20 gallons in the sump. I plan on stocking it with as many fish as it will hold. I have heard people say to go "+1" and get a bigger skimmer, and I have heard people say that their Alpha 200 is too big and they wish they had gone with the 170. Which would you recommend, the 170 or the 200?

welp, if your more comfortable, i would suggest the octopus models with the controllable dc pumps, same brand as RLSS uses...
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_code=octopus-pov

but if i was going to do the alpha, yes i would do the 170 over the 200 because of the oversized neck issues on the 200,
especially for that size system. but i agree with your "+1".
and at least you can finally get parts for your RD pump in usa in a timely manor.

 

[Drae]

need some skimmer advice please, i have a reef dynamics ins 100;

(http://www.reefdynamics.com/INS100-Protein-Skimmer-p/ins100.htm)

and i am wondering if any of these would be an improvement over it? thanks for any input.

*SRO 1000LSS Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/sro-1000lss-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO XP1000 Space Saver Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/sro-xp1000-space-saver-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO 1000 In-Sump Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-sro1000int-super-reef-protein-skimmer.html

*Diablo 160 Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/diablo-160-protein-skimmer.html

????????

None of the above over your reef dynamics. I would do an ehiem upgrade before I replace that beast. My euro reef (and hundreds of other people's reef dynamics) pound for pound are almost unbeatable ime.

 

[Drae]

I appreciate the advice, but I am nervous about buying a RLSS skimmer when I haven't seen one nor do I personally know anyone who is using one. I have found Vertex skimmers and Reef Octopus skimmers, and I am looking for something with excellent build quality and the lowest noise level possible. I am leaning toward the Vertex line, and am trying to decide between the 170 and the 200. Sump space and budget allow for either. I am setting up a 140 gallon tank with maybe 20 gallons in the sump. I plan on stocking it with as many fish as it will hold. I have heard people say to go "+1" and get a bigger skimmer, and I have heard people say that their Alpha 200 is too big and they wish they had gone with the 170. Which would you recommend, the 170 or the 200?

The RLSS! I told people about AquaMaxx 3 years ago and now they finally are catching on. RLSS, imho, will catch on also. They are awesome skimmers. Skimmate and build quality are up there.

 

[skimmy]

need some skimmer advice please, i have a reef dynamics ins 100;

(http://www.reefdynamics.com/INS100-Protein-Skimmer-p/ins100.htm)

and i am wondering if any of these would be an improvement over it? thanks for any input.

*SRO 1000LSS Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/sro-1000lss-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO XP1000 Space Saver Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/sro-xp1000-space-saver-protein-skimmer.html

*SRO 1000 In-Sump Protein Skimmer- http://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-sro1000int-super-reef-protein-skimmer.html

*Diablo 160 Protein Skimmer - http://www.coralvue.com/diablo-160-protein-skimmer.html

????????

any of those would do better than your reef dynamics with a sedra 3500(or crappier) pump.
but the bb1000 pump on the octo models you mention only gets about 500lph air injection,
so i would go with the diablo 160 with sicce psk600, which will get you about 600lph of air.

 

[jfeva0049]

None of the above over your reef dynamics. I would do an ehiem upgrade before I replace that beast. My euro reef (and hundreds of other people's reef dynamics) pound for pound are almost unbeatable ime.

thanks for the input. mine is actually and old euro reef 100 with the new ins upgrade piping. i have had for many years and is the only skimmer i have ever owned. the reason i ask, is i keep hearing people say that the cone,bubble plate, etc... are better. i dont have anything to compare it too. i like my skimmer, but just was not sure if it was still best for my tank. i have a 90 gal with around 30 sump/fuge. its a mixed reef with med load.

thanks for your input and time.

 

[skimmy]

None of the above over your reef dynamics. I would do an ehiem upgrade before I replace that beast. My euro reef (and hundreds of other people's reef dynamics) pound for pound are almost unbeatable ime.

the old school simple euroreef body design that vertex obviously stole from honya shenzen is awesome, and am glad that jeff continues hand making it with RD.

i do like euroreefs but i still got a bad taste in my mouth from all those failed, puffy magnets in the sedra pumps that basically had to be changed out almost annually. the funny thing was that euroreef was kinda a knock off of H&S and deltec skimmers at the time.

and their eheim modifications are not as good as they could be, imo..
especially compared to ATB and H&S eheim mods...
and the price totally turns me off, other nice skimmer pumps available for the same cash now.. not to mention eheims dont really have the proper inlet and outlet size, or impeller well size to make for a really good skimmer pump, they suck a fair bit of power and have a tendancy to overheat with air injection from a pinwheel or meshwheel too.

 

[Drae]

the old school simple euroreef body design that vertex obviously stole from honya shenzen is awesome, and am glad that jeff continues hand making it with RD.

i do like euroreefs but i still got a bad taste in my mouth from all those failed, puffy magnets in the sedra pumps that basically had to be changed out almost annually. the funny thing was that euroreef was kinda a knock off of H&S and deltec skimmers at the time.

and their eheim modifications are not as good as they could be, imo..
especially compared to ATB and H&S eheim mods...
and the price totally turns me off, other nice skimmer pumps available for the same cash now.. not to mention eheims dont really have the proper inlet and outlet size, or impeller well size to make for a really good skimmer pump, they suck a fair bit of power and have a tendancy to overheat with air injection from a pinwheel or meshwheel too.

Those are valid points. I just really don't like RO at all. Hence the nine of the above. I like rlss, Atb, Aquamaxx, jns, obviously Bubble king But damn they're expensive, and a few others for budget reasons like sea side aquatics and if I had to bubble magus equipped with a sicce.

 

[RGibson]

skimmy could you give me your thoughs on a HY-3000s Bubble Blaster skimmer pump.

 

[jfeva0049]

the old school simple euroreef body design that vertex obviously stole from honya shenzen is awesome, and am glad that jeff continues hand making it with RD.

i do like euroreefs but i still got a bad taste in my mouth from all those failed, puffy magnets in the sedra pumps that basically had to be changed out almost annually. the funny thing was that euroreef was kinda a knock off of H&S and deltec skimmers at the time.

and their eheim modifications are not as good as they could be, imo..
especially compared to ATB and H&S eheim mods...
and the price totally turns me off, other nice skimmer pumps available for the same cash now.. not to mention eheims dont really have the proper inlet and outlet size, or impeller well size to make for a really good skimmer pump, they suck a fair bit of power and have a tendancy to overheat with air injection from a pinwheel or meshwheel too.

ok so could i put a different pump on my euro? if so which one,thanks.

 

[skimmy]

Those are valid points. I just really don't like RO at all. Hence the nine of the above. I like rlss, Atb, Aquamaxx, jns, obviously Bubble king But damn they're expensive, and a few others for budget reasons like sea side aquatics and if I had to bubble magus equipped with a sicce.

yeah, i got no real love for RO either...
its just that they finally make a few skimmers worth a damn, LOL

 

[skimmy]

skimmy could you give me your thoughs on a HY-3000s Bubble Blaster skimmer pump.

decent pump, but ive seen alot of skimmers come back because of noise issues with that pump... they can be kinda loud.
and they only get about 1000lph air injection for about 40 watts,
so not the best pumps by the numbers.

these new waveline DC controllable pumps are getting pretty hard to beat, and IMO, they kick BB's butt. and pretty damn quiet.

 

[skimmy]

ok so could i put a different pump on my euro? if so which one,thanks.

that skimmer body was paired with a pump that got about 420 lph air injection(sedra 3500), i think you could go a little more than that with that reaction chamber and neck size.
i think a sicce psk 600 w/ 600lph air injection would be about the max you would want.

 

[RGibson]

skimmy thank you for the info.Ralph