Skimz skimmer club

Question

Question

Hi guys, i have a 90 gallon 3x2x2 with a 30 gallon sump. I am running an 2009 or so reef octopus 110 skimmer. It is doing great, but i have several fish and getting more and more lps/softies/leathers.. and a few sps. Are these Skimz that good or would you recommend i look for another brand? $350 is about max of what i want to spend on a skimmer for this tank.

Thanks, Matt
 
Has anyone had any problems with there skimmer? I had mine running for 6 days and the micro valve bound up on me. Turns out the white ring on the bottom rod , one of the threads cracked off. So after a week and two days i finally got a replacement valve. this was after a solid week of calling them and never getting a call back. Anyway after all this they sent me the wrong one. I sent them a picture of it plus they know the modle of it . Just curious on anyone elses experances.
 
Well turns out they sent me the one for the cone skimmer. I guess everyone make s mistakes. They told me they'd have it shipped today so we'll see. Its just so disapointing spend all this money, wait all this time , and I have had it out of the tank longer then it's been in it.
 
I was almost to pull the trigger for a SRO 2000 but the Skimz has caught my attention mainly for the low wattage and good pricce. Do you think the SM161 will be good for a 170 gallon total water? If I need to go for the SM201 it does not seem so attractive anymore and I may just go for the SRO 2000. What do you think?
 
I wouldn't do anything less than a SM-201 for that size of a tank. SRO2000 are nice, but a the pump is noisier than the SKIMZ. It really is preference other than that, IMO.
 
Thanks for your answer flipsideleo, that is why it so good to ask here. Based on their website the SM-161 is up to 300 and the SRO 2000 180 gallons, but seems that actually the SRO is better suited for larger tanks.

By the way cool avatar.
 
jucario said:
Thanks for your answer flipsideleo, that is why it so good to ask here. Based on their website the SM-161 is up to 300 and the SRO 2000 180 gallons, but seems that actually the SRO is better suited for larger tanks.

By the way cool avatar.
Click to expand...

You're welcome, and thanks! :)

If given the two options, I would opt for the SRO-2000.

The pump on the SM-161 is not a good fit for a tank your size (of course, all dependent on bioloads), and manufacturers always seem to give bigger numbers that what most of us would truly trust (with few exceptions, of course). To be frank, the pump on the SM-161 is just too weak.

IMO, the SM-161 would be good up to ~90g. I even think that the SRO 2000 is too small for what your tank, but it really does depend on your bioload when it's all said and done. I would opt for the 3000 if I had a 170g, but I do tend to overskim (though I don't believe in that concept).

Of course, give me an SK-201 w/ES5000 pump any day over all of the above. :) (that was my last skimmer, and I loved it)
 
Just installed my new SM201...

Very well made...ES5000 pump is silent. Zero Microbubbles after 15 min. Tons of foam already forming. I checked out the Bubble King Mini 180 and ATB 200 Elegance in person...Must say, this skimmer is just as impressive...at half the cost.
 
I'm still loving mine and still pulls a ton of crap out of the water.

Even though this skilled works great has anyone modded theirs? And if diehard did you do?
 
Skimz SM201

Skimz SM201

Hi, I am seriously thinking on getting the Skimz SM201 from Aquacave this next week. Its my understanding that the pump and air noise are very quiet with the ES5000 pump compared to the ES2800 pump in smaller version. What do you think that have one, as this will be in my living room. Also, my skimmer chamber is set for 9.5 inches, what do you guys set yours at.
 
i had a sm161 for about 6 months now and the pump recently stopped working correctly. it isnt making any microbubbles and has given me a mild shock. When it did work, it worked pretty good after it was set. setting it was a little more difficult than it should be, but to be honest i heard they were finicky before i bought it so i cant really make that complaint. I never got mine from aquacave, but instead from a canadian online store called petsandponds.com. Hopefully they send me a reply to my email pretty soon with an explanation and a fix for my skimmer.
 
do you guys think a skimz 121 is a good fit for my tank? 36 gallons for display, around 8 gallons for sump, moderate/heavy stocked?
 
I was going to get the sk181 but reefbuilderd just announced that Skimz is upgrading to the sicce pump which has significantly improved performance.
Skimz will also be selling an upgrade kit to the sicce got those already have their skimmers.
 
ReeVo said:
I was going to get the sk181 but reefbuilderd just announced that Skimz is upgrading to the sicce pump which has significantly improved performance.
Skimz will also be selling an upgrade kit to the sicce got those already have their skimmers.
Click to expand...

really an upgrade, I just replaced my wm 181 with ssa csa2.

do you have link to story
 
yongpanda said:
do you guys think a skimz 121 is a good fit for my tank? 36 gallons for display, around 8 gallons for sump, moderate/heavy stocked?
Click to expand...

I think that will be a great fit. I have the Warner Marine MF-121 (almost exactly the same as the Skimz) on my Mini. I feel it skims that tank well and could easily handle up to 60 gallons (my next upgrade).

The pump is very quiet and it performs extremely well.
 
I got Skimz SM201 on my 120 gal. and I am very satisfied. It's been running for 2 months now and it is pulling tons of skimmate.The ES5000 pump is very quiet,silent almost.It was very important to me to be silent, since my tank is in the living room and I don't want any noise coming from it.Very easy to adjust,no micro bubbles coming out at all. This is after 3 days.
IMG_7820.jpg


I Highly recommend this skimmer to anyone.
 
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