Skimmer Q&A Thread

[RGibson]

I have a Bubble blaster HY 3000s pump that makes to much noise need some help

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

WOW, great thread. I'll throw my question out there.

I'm building a 180g (mostly SPS) w 75g sump. Due to this thread I have been looking at other skimmers than just RO. I was originally leaning RO DCS200INT, but now I am thinking the DC pumps may not be all that. So what would you suggest?
1) AMaxx Cone 2 or 3
2) Skimz SM201 (203 has the same DC pump as the RO)
3) Or just go with the RO
4) something else I haven't thought of in the $500 or less club
Thanks
Shane

I got an email the other day for the Aqumaxx cone skimmers on sale, Ill see if I have it, but I believe it was for marine depot and they were excellent prices.

Aqumaxx cone 2, at Marinedepot is on sale for $292.49 and its in stock. The cone 3 is $359 + an 11.00 overzied shipped fee.

 

[mfinn]

I'm looking to replace the 2 sicce psk 2500 pumps on my Bubble Master 250.
One of the pumps I was looking at is the Bubble Blaster 5000 pinwheel.
Another is 2 sicce psk 1000 pinwheel pumps.
Anyone have opinions/facts on which would be a better choice?

Any other pumps?

help?

 

[sirreal63]

I am running a psk1000, it is a great little pump and I would use it long before the Bubble Blaster.

 

[mfinn]

I am running a psk1000, it is a great little pump and I would use it long before the Bubble Blaster.

I'm leaning towards a pair of the psk 1000's just for the ease of the conversion,
since the skimmer has 2 holes.
I do have the resources to plug the holes and drill another to create a inlet for a BB pump.

 

[Drae]

I am running a psk1000, it is a great little pump and I would use it long before the Bubble Blaster.

I agree^

 

[moondoggy4]

skimmer shopping

skimmer shopping

Rd has their almost $400 eheims which do perform much better vs the Eco/Sandra pumps.... Jeff does state every few months the pumps should be serviced/cleaned..... And yes they are expensive! My biggest issue with buying their stuff

If you don't want to caugh up the dough for a new eheim check out the sicce and tuze pumps listed above.


I am skimmer shopping for my tank.... Been debating for a few months and need something soon... my 10-15yr old euro reef is to small for my 475g fowlr. I am leaning towards another reef dynamics skimmer, any thoughts on their xrc750 or xrc1000? Very heavy bio load and I might add a bio pellet reactor as well to the tank thus further increasing the load.

I saw a used H&S skimmer for sale in the used forum not sure if it is to your liking, but worth at least checking out.

 

[moondoggy4]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2293596 found it

 

[androidx1]

Hi everyone, and Mojo too of course.

I have a a 34gal mixed reef (lps and sps) with currently only two fish, possibly will increase that to 4 fish.

I am planning a 15 gallon sump/refugium, and would like to upgrade my current tunze 9001 nano skimmer to a better, more powerful unit. I was thinking of getting one of the following:

1. Sea Side Aquatics CS-5.5 (Sicce SK400 pump)
2. Sea Side Aquatics ES-5 (Sicce SK200 pump)
3. Sea Side Aquatics Hiro CS-180S (Sicce sk1000 pump) - maybe too big but tempting to get for future upgrade to larger tank (maybe 60gal)

I was leaning towards (1) because of the small footprint, and because of the mid size Sicce pump. I am open to others, but these are the ones I was looking at based on my limited space (Would like to keep the width of the skimmer chamber at 7.5" or under to maximize my refugium section.

I would appreciate opinions on using the CS-5.5 on my set-up. or any of the three options I have pointed out. Or any other recommendations for that matter. Am I in the ball park, or am I way off in my thinking of using this skimmer (especially the CS-5.5)

Also want to thank Mojo for taking the time to keep a thread like this running.......reading through this GIANT thread, shows how much time Mojo has put into it..........

Mike

just bumping....lookn for feedback

 

[Drae]

just bumping....lookn for feedback

The sea side 5.5 would work just fine. I like the pump over the sk200. The 180 is way too large and I seriously doubt youd ever get any skim from that skimmer on a tank your size.

 

[ksed]

ES-5 would be more than enough for a small tank. CS-5.5 would work but I believe it would sit idle for most of the time , especially if you are going to max out with 4 fish.

 

[Stickboy97]

Aquamaxx Cone 2 (rated 350 g) for $293 or the EM300 (rated 340 g) for $350.

Which to buy?

 

[ksed]

regardless what the manufacturer says the EM 300 moves more water and air therefore should handle a larger bio load.

 

[Stickboy97]

Just ordered the EM300, we'll see in a few weeks after I get the whole tank set up.
Thanks!

 

[viggen]

I saw a used H&S skimmer for sale in the used forum not sure if it is to your liking, but worth at least checking out.

Thanks for the heads up.... I also saw that however its pretty much the same as my old euro reef. My skimmer is 12x30 and came with two pumps.... But I modded it a bit with a single bubbleblaster 5000. Takes a few days to fill up the collection cup and I think the bb5k just moves to much water w/o having a bubble plate, thus impossible to get the skimmer dialed in how I want... Man am I rambling :headwally:

I want something overkill for my tank so it can easily keep up when my fish get closer to full grown. Most are still babies (queen angel is the exception, 10-12in) so the bio load is going to get a lot heavier as the days go by....

 

[Notjohnwayne]

250 gallon FOWLR stocked with large angels etc. 93 gallon sump- thinking of a vertex alpha 200, other thoughts? Thank you

 

[viggen]

regardless what the manufacturer says the EM 300 moves more water and air therefore should handle a larger bio load.

U think the em300 would work on a tank larger then what its rated for? Which is is 340 gallons?

If that's what you were referring to.... My take is no way..... 8x22.8in body minus the area the pump and bubble plate take up. That leaves a pretty small area for skimming. Comparing this skimmer to a more conventional skimmer with the pump not it its body..... Probably comparable to a skimmer that's 8x15in.

It's not about how much water and how much air the skimmer produces..... Its how much time those little bubbles have inside the body of the skimmer.

If that's not what you were refereeing to then disregard what I said :uhoh3:


Notj....Wayne... Lots of good reviews in that skimmer. Just snag one before they are all made in China

 

[viggen]

Ok... Back to choosing a skimmer again. I have a 360 gallon display tank that I'm setting up and I don't think my H&S A200 will be up to the task once the tank is fully stocked. It's going to be mostly SPS with some LPS and moderately stocked.

I'm open to all options within a reasonable price range. I'm considering a Bubble King 250 Supermarin, Deluxe, or Double Cone; H&S A300 with 3x1260 Eheims with an overall dimension of 24"x27"x31" and 12" diameter body; Reef Dynamics; Beckett style skimmer but I'm not sure of the better brands or where to purchase them.

I'm looking for a reliable, high performance skimmer that's going to last a long time. If something does break, I want to be able to get replacement parts without waiting for months. I want something that once it's setup, I don't have to adjust it daily or even weekly for that matter. I want an effective, reliable, low maintenance skimmer.

Have you made up your mind yet? I think any good external skimmer should allow for those 3 areas you mentioned to be met. Effective, low maint and reliable. Jeff states every few months the eheim pumps should be removed and cleaned and I would think the h&s due to using the same pumps should have similar maintenance. I plan on buying a extra pump if I go this route so there is pretty much zero down time and every months I can clean a different pump.

Local shop owner prefers R.D. And states deltec and orca skimmers are more affordable options which aren't built quite as well or perform quite as well. They are the main options he presents clients......

One of

 

[ksed]

Totally agree on contact time. I was comparing the EM300 to the Cone 2. Even though the cone 2 has the pump on the outside it has a smaller reaction chamber than the 300.

Have you made up your mind yet? I think any good external skimmer should allow for those 3 areas you mentioned to be met. Effective, low maint and reliable. Jeff states every few months the eheim pumps should be removed and cleaned and I would think the h&s due to using the same pumps should have similar maintenance. I plan on buying a extra pump if I go this route so there is pretty much zero down time and every months I can clean a different pump.

Local shop owner prefers R.D. And states deltec and orca skimmers are more affordable options which aren't built quite as well or perform quite as well. They are the main options he presents clients......

One of

 

[zombot]

i have a 120 gallon medium to heavy ish bioload.

Looking at rlss r6i or Vertex 150 or Skimz Leopard 183.
would these be adequate? Or do i need to go bigger