skimmer size

[Capt_Cully]

Love the various new Octopus skimmers. My question is do you really pay much attention (within reason) to the skimmer rating?

I currently run a G4X which is rated for like 300-400 gallons or something. If I clean it once every week or two weeks, it doesn't seem to ever fill up. Is it overkill? I think so.

For new system, I'm thinking I only need a skimmer rated for 150-200 even though I'm going to have about 230 gallons or so.

Other thing to consider is the type of reef. New one will be more softies, LPS, and tolerant SPS. So will new "dirtier" water require heavier skimming???

Decisions decisions....:crazy1:

Any opinions/experiences???

 

[jfl14609]

Mark I would think that skimmer would be perfect for the setup. I think when they rate most skimmers they tend to estimate a bit on the high side. personally I have a octopus tdnw-300 and I love it on my 335 gallon system its a beast

 

[Capt_Cully]

Which one Jeff? The Octo or the ASM?

The G4X is not an option due to size. Don't get me wrong, I love the skimmer. Easy to tune and clean. Never an issue. But, too big a footprint and too tall for an under tank set up.

 

[jfl14609]

Ahh Now I see the dilemma I didn't realize the g-4 wouldn't fit. any way you could mod anything to make it fit? I had a g-4 under my 120 for a while.

 

[tmz]

I don't pay much attention to the ratings by the manufacturer.

I look at the pump size and how many gph it moves through the skimmer.Roughly ,4 to 6 xs system water volume seems about right ,ime.
For example, an asm 4x on the 550 gallon system worked well with only 900gph flowing through it via the sedra 9000. When a a 4xx with the sedra 15000 for another 1500 gph was added , it pulled out about twice the amount of the original 4x and the 4x kept producing at the same level.
The skimmer not only pulls organics but aerates the system, an important function particularly at night .
If at some point you go to organic carbon dosing a large skimmer is a must.

So I would go as large as practically possible in a new set up.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Not what I wanted to hear Tom, but I understand. The aeration is an excellent point, ESPECIALLY when considering an under the tank sump which won't get nearly the turn over or exposure as my basement system.

I'm just wondering what kind of skimmate I'll be pulling out when I stop doing 40Gallon water changes every week and do them more like once a month.

 

[Neoz]

Cully as you know I recently purchased Octo's SRO 3000. That pulled some nasty crude from the 180. I was worried what kind of foam head it would keep on the 90 gallon. Mind you the 90 gallon only has 3 small fish in it so far.

But I haven't had any issue keeping the foam head going. I also skim very wet as I'm trying to clean up the aquarium. So for me in my short expierence I'm loving the job my SRO-3000 is doing on my 90. Might be overkill but I love it...

 

[Johnny C]

I too just bought one of the new Super Reef Octo's and I can honestly say that it's the nicest skimmer I have owned. The Bubble Blaster pump is a beast and in my opinion the "cone" design does have some merit. The SRO-3000 would be a great match for your system and would out-perform the ASM by a long shot. In my opinion the newer skimmers are much truer to the suggested size ratings. HTH

 

[Capt_Cully]

That's the model I've been looking at. That and the space saver version. Not sure about the price though.....that might pinch a little.

 

[tmz]

If you want to max aeration for O2 , you might add a CO2 scrubber to the skimmer. It tends to quiet air intake noise as well.

Can't comment on the Octo skimmers; never used one. They seem to be at the top of the heap now. Don't know how performance verses other skimmers would be measured though.Lot's of bubbles , trouble free performance, and plenty of funky skimmate and overall volume of water passing through it might be a few criteria.