Skimmer Q&A Thread

[reeftivo]

i assume you have an overflow-correct?

you state you have power heads and return aimed upwards, but are they pushing the film away from the overflow towards the corners? Mine used to do that until i re-positioned my pumps a little. a Gyre pump would give you nice wide laminar flow across the surface

 

[reeftivo]

Where did you look? The only place I know is Unique Corals? They have the smaller sized one. They do not know when they will have more larger ones. There is a new dc one with the new Sicce dc pump.

I got mine on EBay.

If you find one let me know I need a larger one for another system,
.

Wonder if Ultrareef will sell direct.

Tried unique and Donna told me they dont.

also tried a shop in NY that had them listed on their website.

i just inquired and didn't try placing an order. Maybe that's the rub.

i saw that sicce DC skimmer from them on ************ (SICK)

 

[reeftivo]

typhoon looks insane

 

[shred5]

Tried unique and Donna told me they dont.

also tried a shop in NY that had them listed on their website.

i just inquired and didn't try placing an order. Maybe that's the rub.

i saw that sicce DC skimmer from them on ************ (SICK)

I am going to contact them and see what it would take to bring one in direct. I have done other stuff several times. Maybe can get a few together? Heck maybe I will start a business importing them. LOL..

 

[reeftivo]

call it "Shred5 imports"

i sent a message directly to "ultrareef.it" but wont hold my breath. it was early this a.m. and they were probably already closed.

is it me or do those things go for much more across the pond? i've seen them on a couple UK sites over 500euro for the 160.

 

[shred5]

call it "Shred5 imports"

i sent a message directly to "ultrareef.it" but wont hold my breath. it was early this a.m. and they were probably already closed.

is it me or do those things go for much more across the pond? i've seen them on a couple UK sites over 500euro for the 160.

Have you heard anything? I hit them up on their Facebook page.

 

[reeftivo]

Have you heard anything? I hit them up on their Facebook page.

Hi David

yes! Davide from Ultra Reef contacted me the next day and said no problem to direct ship.

the skimmer is a great price at 286 eu but shipping a single unit is 120 eu to california-ouch.

still, if you tack on tax in the states + the 448 they are going for here, it is only a little more to order direct from italy. even better with multiple units.

long story short, i ordered one and it shipped today. Had a gift card left over from xmas that covered the shipping so i split the paypal payments and whalla! akula 160 on the way.

I hope it doesn't get trashed during shipping. I have had bad luck with the mail lately.

Tivo

 

[shred5]

Hi David

yes! Davide from Ultra Reef contacted me the next day and said no problem to direct ship.

the skimmer is a great price at 286 eu but shipping a single unit is 120 eu to california-ouch.

still, if you tack on tax in the states + the 448 they are going for here, it is only a little more to order direct from italy. even better with multiple units.

long story short, i ordered one and it shipped today. Had a gift card left over from xmas that covered the shipping so i split the paypal payments and whalla! akula 160 on the way.

I hope it doesn't get trashed during shipping. I have had bad luck with the mail lately.

Tivo

Cool that is what is I am running on my reefer 250. Great skimmer you are going to love it.. Every part comes apart. The neck comes out of the cup so the neck and cup is easy to clean instead of trying to get your hand in it.. Very well built. The gate valve allows for extremely fine tuning.
It is a sicce pump so parts should be easy if need be. That still is a good price for a skimmer of that quality. I just had a light fixture shipped from Germany and it was expensive but made it here in like 2 days. Let me know how it goes?

I need a much larger Skimmer, my new system is 120 gallon with 3 frag tanks and the possibility 3 more.

I do not get Unique Corals not pushing this skimmer it could be a hit.. I seriously thought about doing it myself. It fits that sweet spot in price but it is high quality. Better quality and close in performance to ATB but cheaper. Skimmer is maybe even better quality than BK except for pump but way cheaper.

 

[reeftivo]

Thanks David
I'm pretty excited.
My BK mini had that removable neck too. Super convinient when running a skim locker.
You should ask Davide to price out a typhoon 200 for you. I'll bet you'll be surprised at the quote. I got hold of him at info@ultrareef.it

I'll update when it arrives

Happy reefing

 

[shred5]

Thanks David
I'm pretty excited.
My BK mini had that removable neck too. Super convinient when running a skim locker.
You should ask Davide to price out a typhoon 200 for you. I'll bet you'll be surprised at the quote. I got hold of him at info@ultrareef.it

I'll update when it arrives

Happy reefing

I have a question if you ordered the Akula 160 why did you not buy from Unique corals?.. THat size is the only one they do have in stock..

I did contact Ultra reef about getting another skimmer. I am going to order one next month.. I have ordered too much already this month for my new build..

 

[reeftivo]

Hi David

They told me no, they don't have any.
On Tue, Mar 13, 2018, 3:40 PM Donna Soskin - UC <donna@uniquecorals.com> wrote:
Steve

We are out of stock on that right now.

On Tue, Mar 13, 2018, 3:43 PM Donna Soskin - UC <donna@uniquecorals.com> wrote:
Sorry Steve. I'm not in charge of the ordering and am uncertain when the next import is coming from Italy

 

[reeftivo]

What's done is done. Now there's a mail strike
in Italy. Told you I have been having bad luck with the mail. Ultrareef is holding off on shipping until resolved. Should be next week though.

 

[shred5]

Weird it still shows up on their site.. I thought you were ordering a model up.. The larger models are on not on their site. It is what it is..

A mail strike.. Arent they shipping it ups or fedex?

 

[reeftivo]

Weird it still shows up on their site.. I thought you were ordering a model up.. The larger models are on not on their site. It is what it is..

A mail strike.. Arent they shipping it ups or fedex?

It shows up on their site, but I've been stuck waiting for long periods before when merchants take payment but don't show out of stock. That's why I contacted them in advance. Not sure about the mail strike that ultra reef stated, just have to take their word for it. They had a big strike list year so not sure if this may be some residual fall out.

Fingers crossed it will ship this week.

 

[GoNoles]

Question on a Reef Octopus 110 classic. Just filled tank and sump, started it up and have perfect flow through sump. Put skimmer on stand to give it the 7" optimal water level, opened valve all the way open and within 10 seconds the collection fills up with foam/water. I know that all skimmers have "break in" period, but shouldn't overflow the cup with valve all the way open? Looking for any answers...

 

[reeftivo]

Question on a Reef Octopus 110 classic. Just filled tank and sump, started it up and have perfect flow through sump. Put skimmer on stand to give it the 7" optimal water level, opened valve all the way open and within 10 seconds the collection fills up with foam/water. I know that all skimmers have "break in" period, but shouldn't overflow the cup with valve all the way open? Looking for any answers...

Did it ever settle down?

 

[GoNoles]

Did it ever settle down?

No. I was reading on another thread that someone had same issue. I did start up with CaribSea Live sand and used the clarifier that was packed with it. I'm going to used some carbon and do a water change this weekend and see if it helps.
I'm also having some issues with my beananimal overflow and getting a bit of air through the open channel still so not sure if the skimmer is picking some of that as well...

 

[shred5]

Skimmer do over flow when new especially in a new tank. My guess is something is in your water though..

Add some polyfilter and some carbon.. You can run the skimmer with the cup off or if it is not real bad run the drain to a bucket and top off tank with new saltwater.

 

[GoNoles]

Skimmer do over flow when new especially in a new tank. My guess is something is in your water though..

Add some polyfilter and some carbon.. You can run the skimmer with the cup off or if it is not real bad run the drain to a bucket and top off tank with new saltwater.

Yeah, within 10 seconds there is so much suds that it is overflowing the cup! I took the collection cup off to run it for a while but it just covers my sump with suds and I was afraid of it starting to flow back up to the DT!

 

[GoNoles]

Sorry about the sideways pic