Looking to upgrade to a bigger tank and I am looking for suggestions on Skimmers. I have been told that the Aqua C with a Mag 3 is a good one. Is there any other suggestions so I can compare prices and benefits. The tanks I have narrowed it down to are a 90 or a 150. I really want the 150 but not sure if I can handle such a large tank. I would appreciate any suggestions you all may have. Thanks
Skimmers
- Thread starter kwalls
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Tomoko Schum
New member
Larger tanks are actually easier to maintain in some ways. The large volume of water makes it more stable for one. I hear good things about Octopus and Octopus Extreme skimmers. Bulk Reef Supply sells Octopus and Octopus Extreme skimmers at reasonable prices. ASM is okay. I have one on my 120. Its pump (Sedra) is not the most quiet one, though. Some people thinks the design of ASM skimmer is obsolete now....
Tomoko
Tomoko
8BALL_99
New member
I have a ASM G2 on my 125 at my office I also still use a ASM G4 On my 92+40 gallon frag tank. I'm happy with it. I've had them for around 3-4 years or so. Octopus skimmers are built very well though. Since they offer better pumps now they are getting tough to beat. I really like external skimmers also. ASMs are all in sump. Octopus has externals.
Tomoko Schum
New member
I have been eyeing an Octopus Extreme, a knock-off of a Bubble King skimmer I suspect. It's hard to justify a new skimmer when the old one is still alive and kicking.
Tomoko
Tomoko
check out my www.myreefcreations.com. They make great skimmers. I purchased the oceon force 100 because I needed the small footprint to fit in my sump. Built like a tank and pulls out great gunk. Excellent customer service and quick shipping.
jasontammy
New member
Just to throw a wrench in eveyones discusion here but, at the swap yesterday I overheard a few people(some selling) saying they quit using skimmers all together. Any idea or comments on this. Jason
Tomoko Schum
New member
Some of Eric Borneman's followers do not use skimmers. Eric Borneman himself did not use one in his home tank except when he goes out of town for awhile. They believe that skimmers remove too much of good stuff (coral food, trace elements, etc.)
Here's an interesting article on the new issue of Advanced Aquarist magazine written by people in Penn State Chemistry Dept:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2
They established a quantitative method for evaluating skimmers and evaluated four different ones so far ( Euroreef CS80, Precision Marine ES100, Precision Marine AP624, and ETSS evolution 500 skimmers).
Interesting thing was that all skimmers performed pretty much the same when it came to TOC. They removed only 20 - 30% of the total organics present in authentic reef tank water.
I use ASM G2 which is now considered a mediocre skimmer by some. It's okay with me since I do not believe in overskimming.
When I stopped using my skimmer for about a month, I did not see any ill effect in my 120. Actually I saw a bunch of baby cerith snails at the end of the month. I don't have a skimmer in my 15G and 1G pico, either.
Tomoko
Here's an interesting article on the new issue of Advanced Aquarist magazine written by people in Penn State Chemistry Dept:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2
They established a quantitative method for evaluating skimmers and evaluated four different ones so far ( Euroreef CS80, Precision Marine ES100, Precision Marine AP624, and ETSS evolution 500 skimmers).
Interesting thing was that all skimmers performed pretty much the same when it came to TOC. They removed only 20 - 30% of the total organics present in authentic reef tank water.
I use ASM G2 which is now considered a mediocre skimmer by some. It's okay with me since I do not believe in overskimming.
When I stopped using my skimmer for about a month, I did not see any ill effect in my 120. Actually I saw a bunch of baby cerith snails at the end of the month. I don't have a skimmer in my 15G and 1G pico, either.
Tomoko
The0wn4g3
New member
I believe it is possible to run large tanks without skimmers, because I've seen it done before, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. On large tanks, a sufficient amount biological filtration would probably eliminate the need for a skimmer, but most people don't have room for a large biological filtration area.
I'm keeping my skimmer in action
I've always wondered how to get snails to reproduce. I know for about a month the temp. in my tank went from averaging 77 to 81, and I saw snail eggs on the glass several times. Once the temp. dropped back down, I saw no more eggs. At the time, I wasn't running a skimmer, either. Could be just a coincidence though.
I'm keeping my skimmer in action
I've always wondered how to get snails to reproduce. I know for about a month the temp. in my tank went from averaging 77 to 81, and I saw snail eggs on the glass several times. Once the temp. dropped back down, I saw no more eggs. At the time, I wasn't running a skimmer, either. Could be just a coincidence though.
Tomoko Schum
New member
It depends on the type of snails. Many types of snails have a long pelagic larval stage. I am afraid that skimmer will be affecting those with long pelagic stage. Some like stomatella, colonista, columbellid, some small cerith varieties and some tropical turbo snails do not have the pelagic stage and therefore can reproduce well in an aquarium with or without a skimmer.
Tomoko
Tomoko
8BALL_99
New member
ASM skimmers are still good performers. The only issue now is there are other skimmers with similar performance that are built better and cost almost the same. ASM was\is a Euro reef clone that use to cost alteast 100 bucks more for a similar sized model. ASMs are built out of clear pvc. Where most other skimmers are built from Acrylic. Most of those are even cast Acrylic that adds even more strength. The only skimmer that really competes with ASM even now as far as price and performance is a Octopus. It has similar specs but is built better and is cheaper. They also offer better models for more money. I looked very hard at a Octopus DNW-200 a while back but was scared off cause most said they would only skim wet.. Which is a sign they are underpowered. Probably the biggest shift in most skimmers now is everyone uses bubble plates so the water is less turbulent in the skimmer body. That is one thing different from most newer designs. I've thought about adding one to mine to see if it helps. Its nothing more then a Acrylic plate with holes drilled in it raised up a few inches off the bottom.
I dont' think you have to have a skimmer. I just think it makes it easier. Most of the "experts" on skimmers think its almost impossible to over skim. Kind of like the study Tomoko mentioned. They will only skim the water to a point. Some skimmers can skim the water more. But any skimmer will stop skimming long before the water could be considered clean. Thats why it doesn't make a lot of since to way oversize your skimmer. Doesnt' matter if you use a skimmer rated for 200 gallons or 400 gallons chances are on a 120 they probably will skim about the same amount. Now some skimmers like BKs just seem to be able to skim more out of the water then others..
I dont' think you have to have a skimmer. I just think it makes it easier. Most of the "experts" on skimmers think its almost impossible to over skim. Kind of like the study Tomoko mentioned. They will only skim the water to a point. Some skimmers can skim the water more. But any skimmer will stop skimming long before the water could be considered clean. Thats why it doesn't make a lot of since to way oversize your skimmer. Doesnt' matter if you use a skimmer rated for 200 gallons or 400 gallons chances are on a 120 they probably will skim about the same amount. Now some skimmers like BKs just seem to be able to skim more out of the water then others..
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