Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
bernie lyons
New member
mtc
mtc
MTC sells their product through an dealer network , but I would call them to see who sells in your area. P201-444-7165 speak to Jeff ,very helpful folks !
I've seen that skimmer (orca pro 11) in action but have not used it myself...it's alot smaller than the big MTC I suggested and is not built as well in my opinion. The thing is you cannot change the fact that when it comes to contact/dwell time , you do need a tall column and if the skimmer is well designed you will also benefit with an excellent bombardment rate (sufficient air to water ratio) too boot !
Personally I wouldn't connect the skimmers output to an uv , but rather use a seperate pump instead . Normally I run uv's with a "low flow" approach.
mtc
MTC sells their product through an dealer network , but I would call them to see who sells in your area. P201-444-7165 speak to Jeff ,very helpful folks !
I've seen that skimmer (orca pro 11) in action but have not used it myself...it's alot smaller than the big MTC I suggested and is not built as well in my opinion. The thing is you cannot change the fact that when it comes to contact/dwell time , you do need a tall column and if the skimmer is well designed you will also benefit with an excellent bombardment rate (sufficient air to water ratio) too boot !
Personally I wouldn't connect the skimmers output to an uv , but rather use a seperate pump instead . Normally I run uv's with a "low flow" approach.
What about connecting the skimmer directly to the overflow drain from the display tank and then running it from there to the sump. This was suggested to me, however I felt like doing this would make the skimmer work harder since the water hadn't been filtered through the filter sock first. Any thoughts?
I have my old euro reef plumed this way. I think the biggest issue people have with hooking up their skimmer this way is to eliminate any fluctuation in water flow as well as eliminate any extra bubble from entering the skimmer. This can cause the water level to cause problems in the skimmer be it overflowing or to low of level.
I have mine setup with a 1.5in durso standpipe and a 1in drain going to the skimmer. I stuck a valve on the line so I can change the flow to the skimmer. It takes water from the bottom of the overflow box thus zero bubbles and a consistent flow
My skimmer has been setup this way for a few years now, zero extra stuff on the bottom of the skimmer.
I have mine setup with a 1.5in durso standpipe and a 1in drain going to the skimmer. I stuck a valve on the line so I can change the flow to the skimmer. It takes water from the bottom of the overflow box thus zero bubbles and a consistent flow
My skimmer has been setup this way for a few years now, zero extra stuff on the bottom of the skimmer.
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
Sea side aquatics es5 or an aquamaxx em 100 or coneS co-1. Super solid skimmers with proven sicce pumps and balanced extremely well.
Asbury030
New member
Well I have decided to get a skimmer for my 20g reef tank. I am leaning towards the Reef Octopus BH1000 HOB Protein Skimmer. I just wanted to throw this out there and see what you guys thought of it or what other skimmer you recommend? I picked the*RO because I have read good things about it and have a fairly heavy bio load in my tank and figured this would help somewhat, that plus my 10% weekly water changes. Any info is appreciated!*
reeftivo
Skim junkie
The bh1000 and bh90 pull the same numbers. I like the design of the 90 better because of the round reaction chamber. Both are a bit of overkill for a 20 but even at idle will at least help with oxygenation/gas exchange. You should be able to manage the system with WCs only but if your set on a skimmer, I would look at the bh90 or aquamaxx hob.
Asbury030
New member
Yeah now that you pointed that out. I looked into the bh90 and I think I do like that one a little bit more. Its A little bit cheaper also Haha
reeftivo
Skim junkie
If you're not comfortable with the pump on the bh90 being outside the body (possible leaking) then the aquamaxx is a proven performer.
also may want to check out the eshopps psk75h. they perform well too.
reeftivo
Skim junkie
the octo otp pumps are decent. When I used my bh100f I had no issues except for a little chatter at start up. They have changed their NWs since then so I dont think thats an issue any more. IMO the sicce on the aquamaxx is a much better pump and the build quality of the aquamaxx is top notch. You would just have to decide if you like a blue skimmer hanging off the back though. Many do not-:lmao:
Thank you very much for suggestion. I have been eyeing the jns/aquamaxx cones co-1 lately but would like to get suggest from the expertise.
I was all set to get an external skimmer, when a person with more experience than I suggested the possibility of the external overflowing and draining the tank. I suppose this can happen, but is it a real concern, and if so how can it be prevented especially if it happens when you're not home?
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
Everything Bernie says about external skimmers being better is basically true but they're not that much better considering that even the very best skimmer on earth can only pull about 30% of doc's and toc's from your water. The absolute easiest way to set up a skimmer is to use an in sump needle wheel skimmer. If it were me ( nano to large tank sizes) I would just slap a nice big internal skimmer into a large sump ( which you need anyway with a large tank) and call it a day. seriously, look into the large aquamaxx/jns cone skimmers. You wont find anything comperable for anywhere near a grand. Jns makes an skimmer called the sk7 that's 16" in diameter and runs two extremely quiet and durable sicce pumps that will fill your skimmer needs. 999.99$
bernie lyons
New member
toc's/doc's
toc's/doc's
However Drea, the test that was performed on several skimmers including the precision marine ,bubble king,etss ,ect. which were in fact small internal skimmers on a "scientific- none living reef system". Therefore the percentage of TOC's and DOC's in a "real" reef set up especially a large reef packed with corals and fish and using "external" large skimmers would have been certainly higher. Also , as I have stated before , using an external skimmer , especially an "recirculating - counter current skimmer- MTC Mazzei venturi design's" will give you much greater flexibilty in controlling the amount of "feed water" into the skimmer as well, total control over how much "air" you want to use to mix with the "feed water" into your skimmers column. Internal skimmers don't give you anywhere near that kind of control and water levels in you sump are very important to maintain the internal skimmers performance on a day to day basis. I am also biased to using only tall and decent diameter skimmer columns over short "stubie" columns (internal design's) as you do not get the dwell/contact time which is very important for removing larger molecular proteins that need good time to attach themselves onto the "right" bubble's.
toc's/doc's
However Drea, the test that was performed on several skimmers including the precision marine ,bubble king,etss ,ect. which were in fact small internal skimmers on a "scientific- none living reef system". Therefore the percentage of TOC's and DOC's in a "real" reef set up especially a large reef packed with corals and fish and using "external" large skimmers would have been certainly higher. Also , as I have stated before , using an external skimmer , especially an "recirculating - counter current skimmer- MTC Mazzei venturi design's" will give you much greater flexibilty in controlling the amount of "feed water" into the skimmer as well, total control over how much "air" you want to use to mix with the "feed water" into your skimmers column. Internal skimmers don't give you anywhere near that kind of control and water levels in you sump are very important to maintain the internal skimmers performance on a day to day basis. I am also biased to using only tall and decent diameter skimmer columns over short "stubie" columns (internal design's) as you do not get the dwell/contact time which is very important for removing larger molecular proteins that need good time to attach themselves onto the "right" bubble's.
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
All true. Every last point you made is correct without a doubt. I'm just simply stating that he would be fine (imho) with a in sump dual pump skimmer if its a large one. You obviously know a ton about skimmers so I'm sure you know that a skimmer is just a single means of filtration and as long as you have some form of decent skimming you'll be fine with an in sump unit.
reeftivo
Skim junkie
It can empty the sump and toast the return pump. A float switch or optic sensor installed on the lid of the skimmer can shut down the pump(s) if the skimmer were to go berserk when unattended.
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