Skimmer Q&A Thread

2 things I do like about the BK double cone is

1. Skimmer can be totally disassembled for cleaning
2. I don't think a DC pump makes a difference for a skimmer but the Speedy does look impressive, I wasn't interested in the DC pumps till I checked out the Speedy

here are 2 links for the BK skimmer
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/prodimages/manuals/bk_dc_operating_maintenance_eng.pdf

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/prodimages/manuals/rd3_operating_maintenance_eng.pdf

I would stay away from the RO skimmer
 
I am trying to choose a new skimmer for my 40g SPS tank.
I have quite a few fish also.

I am trying to decide between these:

Reefoctopus XP-1000 INT ( true cone not the SRO model )
Bubble magus curve 5
Skimz SM121

Please let me know what you think and if there are better options.
 
Garypharm said:
So I just bought and set up a bubble magus curve 5 the other day. I am having trouble fine tuning it with just the water outflow tube. I've had to attach an airline and valve to adjust air intake and fine tune it. Is this normal or should I be able to adjust it with just the outflow tube? Thanks.

Sorry I posted this in another thread before I saw this one.
Click to expand...

Is it running at the suggested water level in the sump ? Is the water in the sump always at a constant level ?
Assuming the two things stated above are correct the airline valve should not be necessary.
 
was expecting a lil more skimmate from my new em200, right now i have it at a 9" water depth and have the bubble level set where the foam head is pulsing at the top of the collection cup. the neck has small micro bubbles and if i set any dryer i will not get the foam head to spill over into the collection cup. anybody have any advice on how to achieve better skim production?



 
migas_01 said:
I am trying to choose a new skimmer for my 40g SPS tank.
I have quite a few fish also.

I am trying to decide between these:

Reefoctopus XP-1000 INT ( true cone not the SRO model )
Bubble magus curve 5
Skimz SM121

Please let me know what you think and if there are better options.
Click to expand...

If you can accommodate the shallow water depth needed, I would go with the XP-1000.
 
jfeva0049 said:
was expecting a lil more skimmate from my new em200, right now i have it at a 9" water depth and have the bubble level set where the foam head is pulsing at the top of the collection cup. the neck has small micro bubbles and if i set any dryer i will not get the foam head to spill over into the collection cup. anybody have any advice on how to achieve better skim production?



Click to expand...

can you do 9.5"?

I would suggest trying it at 9.5 and opening up the control pipe. Set the foam head the break right at the bottom of the collection cup and leave it alone for a couple days. I've got the shark 1.5 (sicce 2.0) on my CO 1 and it runs better deeper for me. Yours has the shark 2.0 (sicce 3.0) so it may react in a similar way as mine does.

just my .02
 
goreef170 said:
I'm having a heck of a time trying to decide between these 3 skimmers...

Please advise which one you would pick and why...not looking at cost..

1. Reef Octopus POV DC2
2. Vertex Alpha 200
3. B.K Double Cone 200 w/ dc pump

( All 3 of these would work on my system )

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Any more thoughts ???
 
reeftivo said:
can you do 9.5"?

I would suggest trying it at 9.5 and opening up the control pipe. Set the foam head the break right at the bottom of the collection cup and leave it alone for a couple days. I've got the shark 1.5 (sicce 2.0) on my CO 1 and it runs better deeper for me. Yours has the shark 2.0 (sicce 3.0) so it may react in a similar way as mine does.

just my .02
Click to expand...

yeah i can re-adjust the stand if i want. i will try that this weekend when i do a water change. thanks.

about the bubble level, when i had it low around the start of the collection neck, the foam never even came close to spilling over. the only time it would foam over at the low setting was when i poured waste from my old skimmer directly into the neck of the em200. that foamed up like crazy and foamed over the top but outside of that it would not unless i raise the bubble level as i have done in the picture.
 
jfeva0049 said:
yeah i can re-adjust the stand if i want. i will try that this weekend when i do a water change. thanks.

about the bubble level, when i had it low around the start of the collection neck, the foam never even came close to spilling over. the only time it would foam over at the low setting was when i poured waste from my old skimmer directly into the neck of the em200. that foamed up like crazy and foamed over the top but outside of that it would not unless i raise the bubble level as i have done in the picture.
Click to expand...

when you first got it wet did you run the skimmer with the outlet pipe wide open for a couple days? The hardest thing for me to do with a new skimmer is to resist the urge to tweek the levels when I dont see what I like. I still feel like a recovering alcoholic with a bottle of booze in front of me sometimes when I stare at mine but I still resist-:lolspin:

try it deeper with the output open more and just keep an eye on it for a couple days without tweeking it.
 
Curious to how you would control the rolland flow of the bio pellets though. Hmm?

Maybe you don't need to since the effluent is the skimmer feed.
 
Has anyone had an issue with your skimmer not priming/starting? I have a JNS VS-1, the Ice Cyclone, that I purchased a year ago and used for a good 8 months. I stopped using it about 4 months ago but am now trying to get it started again. After cleaning everything I could reach and following all of the priming instructions I still can't get it to start.

Any suggestions on what I could do to get this thing skimming again?

Thanks!
 
I'm in the process of moving from a 120 gallon tank to a 315 gallon tank. The plan is for it to be mainly sps with a heavy bioload. In the coming months I'm going to replace my current skimmer (warner mf201) and am trying to come up with a short list of skimmers to evaluate. I could go external but would prefer to go internal to save some space in my equipment room. Right now my list in no particular order includes a SRO 5000int, and Skimz SM251 Monster, Aquamaxx EM500, Aquamaxx Cone 5, and Rlss DB10. Is there anything else out there that I should be considering in the sub 1k range or should I stay away from any of the ones that I listed? Thanks
 
Mike S said:
I'm in the process of moving from a 120 gallon tank to a 315 gallon tank. The plan is for it to be mainly sps with a heavy bioload. In the coming months I'm going to replace my current skimmer (warner mf201) and am trying to come up with a short list of skimmers to evaluate. I could go external but would prefer to go internal to save some space in my equipment room. Right now my list in no particular order includes a SRO 5000int, and Skimz SM251 Monster, Aquamaxx EM500, Aquamaxx Cone 5, and Rlss DB10. Is there anything else out there that I should be considering in the sub 1k range or should I stay away from any of the ones that I listed? Thanks
Click to expand...

Cone 5 is a seriously nice skimmer. Best on your list.
 
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