Skimmers

[alrha]

I am a little confused about your skimmers and would appreciate your clarification.

1) On your site, you seem to have 2 types, the Comline and the Classic? what is the real difference between the two?
2) the Classic is claimed to not remove living plankton because it does not pump the water into the skimmer, can you elaborate on this?
3) I am looking to place this in my sump, how high (from the bottom) should the water level be? (i.e. how deep should it be in the water?)
4) Is the Classic (9210) the same thing as the Universal (240/3)? or are they different skimmers?
5) What is "automatic" about the Universal?
6) os 264 gal the highest these go?
7) the website seems to show that they can be mounted on the magnet, is that so?

just trying to get a better idea - sorry for so many questions.

 

[rvitko]

1/2) The Comline DOC Skimmers are open loop, they function like most skimmers in that water is pumped through them and exits, this can be constricted when used in tank to only 5% flow through for a passive plankton safe operation. These are universal in that they can be installed in tank or in sump, 9010 and up come with the accessories for both types of install 9005 comes equipped only for in tank use. The DOC Skimmer Classic uses our old plankton safe closed loop design, water recirculates inside the skimmert via the pump and venturi, osmotic forces draw proteins and cellulose from the aquarium into the skimmer but ensure almost no destruction of plankton.

3) The DOC Skimmer Comline will work in 3.9"- 11", the DOC Skimmer Classics require 2.3-3.5" and do not handle fluctuation well, I find they work best at a constant 3.5" water level.

4) They are different 240/3 hasn't been made in at least 6 months, it used an electronic motor (like a 6100 with a driver and transformer).

5) They have many feedback loops so that they run very constantly without a lot of tweaking. They stop skimming when the cup is full, the venturi cleans itself when you remove the cup, they have a lot of nice features that make them simple to use.

6) 9020 can run 528 gallons. Keep in mind the rating is for fish only or soft coral tanks, for SPS cut the ratring by 40%, for heavy loads of fish and SPS 60%. The DOC skimmer classic should not be used on heavily loaded tanks and for serious SPS systems are considered an expert only skimmer.

7) The classic cannot be magnet mounted, the Comline can but used in sump it just stands on it's base so the magnet mount is not needed.

 

[alrha]

Thanks.
FYI, I have a 200gal system that I have been running skimmerless for two years. I like that I can run a skimmer without removing my beneficial plankton. Most of my nutrient export is done via macro algae but adding a non-aggressive skimmer may seem like a good idea.

I am deciding perhaps between the 9210 and the 9015.

 

[rvitko]

9015 should arrive next week. 9210 will likely be a few more weeks out.

 

[alrha]

who will have them in stock?
i like that the 9210 ($360/264gal) is plankton safe and only 9.2" H, but i would have to raise it up as my sump water level is 6" deep.
the 9015 ($430/396gal) seems better as it is higher rated, and can just sit on the floor of my sump.

tough decision.
Do you have any pics of them in use?

 

[rvitko]

I saw a 9015 prototype at Interzoo last June, keep in mind it was finalized and built exactly 36 hrs before the show so it wasn't exactly perfect but it did work very well, I would say comparable to a smaller Euroreef. The 9210 will be no different from a 230/3 except it will have a new higher performance venturi and be black in color. The 9005 and 9010 just started to come in 3 weeks ago and just today I took one to a LFS to set up and see running, unfortunately it won't fit in my sump. I use a 3130/2 but that outlet pipe won't clear the area in my sump and I wanted to see it working with that pipe.

 

[alrha]

and what about the 240/3? I dont see it on your site, but saw it in Marine Depot's catalog. claims to be rated up to 528 gal

 

[alrha]

The 9210 will be no different from a 230/3 except it will have a new higher performance venturi and be black in color.

i thought the 230/3 is like the "Classic" line

 

[rvitko]

The 240/3 hasn't been made in 6months, the very last generation worked very well, this was differentiated by a one piece cup design but the model number was unchaged so the box would have to be opened to verify the type.

Yes, a 9210 is a DOC Skimmer Classic. A 9010 is the new form.

 

[rvitko]

Classic and Universal being one in the same.

 

[alrha]

Yes, a 9210 is a DOC Skimmer Classic. A 9010 is the new form.

sorry, i was thinking 9010.

Will you be making a 92XX to compare to the 240/3 with the higher rating? or is the 9210 the highest you plan to go?

guess i will have a few weeks to keep banging my head between the 9015 and 9210 to decide which i want by the time they arrive in stock.

 

[rvitko]

9210 will be the highest, using the electronic pumps on skimmers is not cost effective and the new venturi yields a result somewhere in between the 230/3 and 240/3.

 

[alrha]

well, i guess the 9015 seems more popular than the classic

 

[alex93se]

Can owners of the 'old' 230/3 upgrade their venturis to the new ones used in the 9210? If it can, please list the required part numbers. thanks.

 

[rvitko]

Yes, however you will have some microbubbles exit the skimmer as a result. It is part 3130.16

 

[alrha]

in the 9015, the cup and the unit are one piece? everytime I want to empty the cup i must remove the entire skimmer from my sump?

 

[rvitko]

No. It is a standard cup but it is quite large, it just lifts off.

 

[alrha]

the description on premium aquatic's site then is confusing:

"Skimmer cup and foam reactor are one unit in all TUNZEÃ"šÃ‚® DOC skimmers."

 

[rvitko]

They are, the foam reactor and cup are one in the same, they lift out, the 9015 has a bigger cup and the very tall throat expands the foam reactor.

 

[alrha]

FYI,
I posted in the Deltec forum comparing the 9015 with Deltec's Turbo 1250.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=677523