Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
Inconsistent skimming comes from the air draw being too high for the organics or improper setup.
msderganc
New member
Yeah - I've read all about that. I tried a friend's skimmer (a Vertex Alpha 250) for about a day. It immediately started producing great skimmate.
I've set up the SRO exactly as it lists (it's in about 6.25" of water, and is adjusted how CoralVue recommends, with only large bubbles in the neck). It's been going for 9+ months, and all I get is very light skimmate or none at all.
It's a 190g DT out of a 260g or so system, and pretty heavy stocking. I'm also running biopellets right into the intake, so I should get some good skim from the bacteria. My numbers are sitting around .03-.06 PO4 and 2-3ppm NO3.
What could I do to change the stock air draw? Again, this is a reason I wouldn't pick this skimmer. The Vertex worked immediately and with about 5 minutes of setup. I've been struggling with the SRO for months.
Try this, lower the bubble level in the skimmer to below the neck about and inch or two....see if it starts producing nice foam. Also be sure the air line is free of any buildup by running warm water through the air line.Also the sro moves about 425gph if your flowing much more through the sump, well, that can have a profound effect too.
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jdraider75
Member
So what skimmer do you recommend for 250 gallons total water volume.
Size for the display. Budget? Sump space?
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
Don't count sump volume.
ATb 1050 or 10.5 deluxe
Jns sk5
Life reef vs3-30
Aquamaxx cone 5
These would be my top choices. Depends on display size, space, bio load, budget etc.
I just caught this sentence... did you run the biopellets into the intake of your friend's skimmer when you tested his?.. Well, this could be the source of your problems for whatever reason(setup of reactor,flow,modification error). If this is effecting the skimmers water or air intake...there ya go. If the modification is interrupting the water intake, well, with the reduced intake the skimmer will flow much less water and air combined.
jdraider75
Member
My display is 120 gallons everything else is sump and frag tanks. I have lots of room for skimmer. Medium-high bioload. It's sps reef.
Bubble king dc150. ATB840. Vertex omega 130. Eshopps s150. Reef dynamics ins135e. Em200 aquamaxx.
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
That makes a huge difference. All of the skimmers I suggested will be too large. I recommend same brands but 8" models over the 10" versions.
Aquamaxx cone 3
ATb 840 v2
Jns sk3
Life reef vs3-24
jdraider75
Member
I think I might go with the aquamaxx cone 3. But I like the jns sk3 too. Which would you do?
Reefvet
New member
Both skimmers are made by JNS so quality is identical. The cone 3 has the added mod of the bubble plate. That's essentially the only difference.
I have 3 of the Aquamax skimmers and they're great. Just leave a couple of hours every 2 months to clean it. That little bubble plate is effective but a ***** to clean.
jdraider75
Member
Ok. Thanks for all the help.
Hi All,
Starting to look at some skimmers for a new tank build I hope to get started in the next few months but just not sure what to get. This will be a 150 gal mix reef tank, heavy bio load, so I was thinking the Bubble Magus NAC9 which says is rated for Tank Size: 395-530 Gallons
Thoughts?
Starting to look at some skimmers for a new tank build I hope to get started in the next few months but just not sure what to get. This will be a 150 gal mix reef tank, heavy bio load, so I was thinking the Bubble Magus NAC9 which says is rated for Tank Size: 395-530 Gallons
Thoughts?
. No. SRO3000 int . Reef dynamics ins180e. Atb 1050. Bubble king dc180.
Drae
RAIDER NATION!
The nac9 is big enough for a 150. A better choice would be sea side aquatics cs2. Same skimmer made by the same manufacturer but it comes with the sicce psk1000. Same price.
do you happen to know the amount of space you'll have in the sump? Also, are you going to have a very large sump or refugium? Basically, how much water do you think the system will have in total? I know I recommended a few different skimmers vs the bubble magus, but in haste. really knowing system volume, as well as space in the sump is important in making the correct skimmer choice for you. The main reason I would shy away from the bubble magus is the pain it will be to maintain the internal mounted pump. Go external mounting if you can. Every 3-4 months your skimmer pump should be cleaned in a vinegar bath. Much easier to simply remove the pump than remove the entire skimmer, disassemble, reassemble...
stancfii
Member
I got a small valve made for sprinkler line and put it on the air intake of my skimmer. I closed it until I could hear a change in how the air was being drawn in. Without the valve, you could hear the air making a popping/gurgling noise as was being sucked in. I closed it just to where that noise stopped and the air flow sounded smooth. My skimmate production increased significantly in both quality and quantity after that. I need to order an air meter to test my scfh out of curiosity. I'm running a dc3000 on a vertex in-80 fwiw.
you bring up something interesting here... My sro1000 came with 3/8" airline tubing(is the sro3000 also 3/8"?)... coralvue sells replacement tubing... it is 5/16". I had some 5/16" tubing here at my home, I installed it and the skimmer air draw smoothed out the same way the valve did for you... I try to understand some of the decisions coralvue makes, but, things like stepped necks and too large airline tubing baffle me. :hmm5:
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