Skimz skimmer club
- Thread starter NyReefNoob
- Start date
RobTheReefer
Moved Elsewhere
I'm in 9" water. Pump on max. Gate wide open. Air slowly closed to bring top of bubbles to 2/3 the way up the pipe inside the cup. Aaaaannnnd...she's skimming. 
I'm pulling 20+ lpm of air.
I already have a airline to the outside from the old skimmer. Once I get this thing fully broken in and adjusted, I'll also disconnect the silencer and run outside air.
So far, so good.
I'm pulling 20+ lpm of air.
I already have a airline to the outside from the old skimmer. Once I get this thing fully broken in and adjusted, I'll also disconnect the silencer and run outside air.
So far, so good.
SoloGarth
Active member
Every time it was a motor block. Skimmer body is superb but these DC pumps are totally unreliable. At least Impeller seems to be time resistant
Interesting. So what happens when they fail? Are you able to order just the motor block? Has anyone else had motor block failures? The only ones I remember reading about are impeller and cable issues.
I was a little concerned about the pump cabling they used after what happened with the gyre cables decaying.
Has anyone worked on fitting a better DC pump? Honestly I am a huge fan of the skimmer body. It makes the much more expensive deltec seem cheaply made. I would definitely invest in a higher quality DC pump if this one fails before it has run 3 years.
SoloGarth
Active member
I'm in 9" water. Pump on max. Gate wide open. Air slowly closed to bring top of bubbles to 2/3 the way up the pipe inside the cup. Aaaaannnnd...she's skimming.
I'm pulling 20+ lpm of air.
I already have a airline to the outside from the old skimmer. Once I get this thing fully broken in and adjusted, I'll also disconnect the silencer and run outside air.
So far, so good.
What are you using to measure the rate of air intake?
RobTheReefer
Moved Elsewhere
Dwyer air flow meter. I have a 0 to 25 l/min
They just stop working. I sent just motor block to the retailer after the first fail, and for the period of service I placed my return pump (jebao dc5000) into the body using skimz impeller. New motor block arrived, and I put it back. It failed in the next four months so jebao was in to the job again and was an duty for six-eight months. In the meantime I received jebao DC6000 as a replacement from the retailer (but it was waiting for its turn). As you can guess it sits now in the skimmer body... This is my story
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DamonG
New member
Yes, that's one of the first things i noticed also when i ordered my 203(before I upgraded to the 251).. I was using a g3, and it was much like your comparison.. And as crazy as it sounds, the body of the 251, versus the 203, is similar size comparison to your deltec versus the 203 cup.. They aren't small at all.. Compact yes, but in diameter, huge! I honestly look at mine sometimes and think "man.. That sure does look a lot bigger than 11"..
SM203 collection cup next to old Deltec AP600 collection cup for size reference.
AP600 Heavy stocking = 133 gal
SM203 Heavy stocking = 190 gal
So 57 gal difference? These rating are very near useless IMO.
And the size ratings, they are massively different with brs and actually skimz.. For example, the 251, from brs is rated to a 280 heavy load, though, from skimz, is rated up to a 793.. Massive difference.. If you look lower down in the brs description, you will see the actual skimz rating.. Same with the rest of the skimz line(with brs at least). That is how I had both the 203 and then the 251..
Before or should i say during the time that brs was updating their web page, i called brs and the person i spoke with told me the 203.. So i ordered it.. Well, fast forward less than a week and the new rating system came out.. I tend to be paranoid, and because i have used their products, i tend also to trust brs. So off to purchase land again i went.. They were out of the 253, and i liked the idea of 2 pumps..
But when that thing came, I was amazed at how big it was, even compared to the 203.. And I swear, the collection cup looks or at least seems like it's the size of a basket ball!
Big skimmers! I wonder sometimes though, as i debated about getting the oval, how will that one works also,along with how big it has to be..
But, honestly, being an adamant reef dynamics user, this one has the quality acrylic work, beefy construction (it actually, imho is a notch up), performance and adjustability, of the dynamics, but in a quieter, more cost effective and aesthetically pleasing package..
DamonG
New member
I am running mine in about 8.5" depth.. And your right, that does seem very, very shallow to me also.. But maybe it's do dry skim? But i agree completely, it seems extremely shallow..
SoloGarth
Active member
Skimz skimmer club
With how much adjustability these have I wouldn't think the water level should matter all that much. They give a range in the manual. So between pump speed, gate valve and air valve you should be able to adjust for whatever skimming you are looking to do as long as you are within that range.
With how much adjustability these have I wouldn't think the water level should matter all that much. They give a range in the manual. So between pump speed, gate valve and air valve you should be able to adjust for whatever skimming you are looking to do as long as you are within that range.
SoloGarth
Active member
Yeah I have to agree. I am not sure how the skimmer construction could have been done better. It is awesome and heavy. Every time I removed the deltec for cleaning I had to be very careful for fear of cracking it. The SM203 has the weight and durability of a tank. I would only be concerned about scratching it. I'll be sad to see it get stained by the skimmate.
DamonG
New member
Yes, exactly.. Lol, I thought i was the only one that ever felt that way.. I had to do that with my g3.. I always was afraid of heavy handing it..
And actually, that's a good thing about them (so far at least, knock on wood).. Mine hasn't stained yet to be honest.. I only really have to rinse the collection cup, and it comes pretty clean.. In the bottom of it, it's usually black at the bottom, but it comes very clean. That's even with 2 weeks of skimming without cleaning it (with a skim bucket).. It's weird that you mention it.. My skim bucket is black at the bottom, but the actual skimmer and neck are still nice and clear.. I worry more about the body with coralline to be honest..
It seems like really good acrylic..
My first motor block failed at 11 months and the 2nd one did the same. Very poor reliability. At least it's an external pump so it opens up some options for replacement. I bought an mtc skimmer and am going to sell the skimz body.
SoloGarth
Active member
MTC makes some great stuff. I use one of their calcium rxs. Hope that works out for you.
SoloGarth
Active member
Yeah my deltec is actually cracked in a few places around where the fittings are connected. But it didn't leak. Just a world of difference in build standards between the two. I am wondering if the acrylic of the skimz will be resistant to staining. The deltec is made from clear PVC I think. Very different feeling material.
DamonG
New member
Yep.. I think so.. Like stated above, and I'm going on now, I think 3 to 4 months with mine.. If i remember correctly, my dynamics skimmers didn't stain either..
It may be the cast acrylic versus inexpensive plastic(Nothing against any company, but it is what it is).. Because now that you mention it, my avast gfo reactor isn't stained either, except where i scratched the tube on the inside..
I guess only time will tell, unless some of the others that have had theirs for a year or so can chime in..
Might be a little disappointed in the SM203. Seems like I am not getting much air or water draw. My Diablo was so white all you could see where bubbles. I have my gate almost all the way closed. The air intake needle is set half way in. And there is tons of turbulence with little air.
SoloGarth
Active member
Might be a little disappointed in the SM203. Seems like I am not getting much air or water draw. My Diablo was so white all you could see where bubbles. I have my gate almost all the way closed. The air intake needle is set half way in. And there is tons of turbulence with little air.
How deep in the water is it? What speed are you running. I have noticed you get the smallest most uniform bubbles by closing the air valve down almost all the way. It also raises the water level.
Mine is really starting to pull out some darker skimmate. It has been running for about 5 days now.
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