Tunze DOC 9010: Experience/Reviews?

[happyclam]

I figured since I got my skimmer from Premium Aquatics, maybe they could help with this question . I am thinking about using a Tunze DOC 9010 skimmer on my 135g mixed reef with 30g sump. Will this have enough capacity to support my reef? I already have the skimmer from a previous build, and it would be great if I could reuse it. The bioload in the tank might end up being on the heavy side, but mostly small fish, as I like schooling dartfish and chromises.

Thank you you Premium Aquatics for your great customer service!

 

[Jeremy B.]

I think other factors would determine if it would be enough or not. How frequently do you do water changes? How heavy will you be feeding? Do you use a refugium for extra nutrient export? I think you could get it work, and there have definitely been nice tanks kept in the past with much smaller, or even no skimmers with systems of your size.

I know it's kind of a "beat around the bush" answer for you, but there are a lot of other variables that go along with it.

 

[Urchinhead]

To date in my experience all tunze products have been top notch as has their customer service. As Jeremy points out its going to come down to the bioload, how often you do water changes, how often you feed etc. to really point you in the right direction. That said overall a well built and well performing skimmer. I have owned several.

Currently I am running an ATB Small External because up until a month ago I had seven different kinds of wrasse in my 60 gallon and had to feed three times a day to keep the aggression down. The 9010 I had in there was keeping up barely. My point being that the 9010 in a normal tank your size will be fine but in a case like mine it would not be and its going to depend on your individual tank. Oh and I moved all the wrasse out because it was just too bloody much even with the ATB on there. They went to very good homes.

 

[happyclam]

How frequently do you do water changes?

I plan on doing a 5% weekly water change with Reef Crystals salt, but a 10% or even 25% could be possible if necessary, but 5% would be ideal.

How heavy will you be feeding?

To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how much I will be feeding. I am planning on keeping mainly small fish, with dartfish and chromis being the emphasis. Foods I was planning in using: Rod's Complete Reef, Cyclop-Eeze, DT Oyster Egg, DT Phyto daily (around 5-6). I was planning on keeping hardy fish, so I was hoping 1 good feeding a day should do it.

Do you use a refugium for extra nutrient export?

No, I am not planning on it. I might add on a separate fuge later, but not sure about that. The area under my stand is limited, so everything has to be pretty compact.

Thank you for your help Jeremy.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I think you could make it work, but you would really have to stay up on your water changes, and a refugium would definitely help. Having said that, if you have the option to upgrade and go a bit bigger, I would do so.

I saw in another thread you're looking at an Alpha 200. That is going to be a bit overkill for your system. I would recommend going with the Alpha 170 instead. Let me know if you have any questions on it.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[happyclam]

Thank you for the confirmation.
Just out of curiosity, if it was your system, what kind of skimmer/filtration system would you run? I plan on keeping soft and LPS corals, but like any reefer, have dreams for SPS and clams eventually once I'm more experienced. Not sure if this is really important, but it is a Glasscages.com 135 gallon reef-ready tank with matching wood stand and hood. Unfortunately, I have to keep all my equipment inside the stand, as no sump room is available.

Thank you Jeremy for your honest & quick responses.

 

[Jeremy B.]

If this were my setup I would look at doing an Alpha 170 and a refugium if possible. You could then set up a couple of fluidized filters to run carbon and/or gfo as well. Combine that with frequent water changes and a close eye on parameters and you will be well on your way to a great setup!