which skimmer

[johns]

which skimmer for this system?

185Gal Display, 30Gal Sump, 70Gal Grow-Out all plumbed as a single system. Display will be heavily SPS-dominated, med to high bioload. The rest of the system is fairly low bioload compared to display.

Also, I hear Tunze skimmers are fairly quiet - Is that so? Compared to a Needlewheel?

 

[rvitko]

For what you intend to do I would get a 9420, these have just started to come in, they are the Master DOC. They are so new I don't have a lot of feedback on noise, they are a needlewheel type skimmer. For a heavy bioload on a tank of this size with SPS, this will be your best choice to keep good coloration as you really need to strip the water of organics to get maximum coloration.

 

[johns]

I just looked up the MasterDoc, and unfortunately with a diameter foorprint of nearly 19" it looks like this wont be a choice for me as it wont fit in the sump I have running for this tank.

What is the actual diameter of the skimmer chamber? I'm having trouble understanding why the footprint is so large.

So the other DOC skimmers that have a smaller footprint are not that good for SPS I take it? Not as efficient at stripping the organics?

 

[rvitko]

The 9420 is an 8" tube. it has a 1.5" outlet pipe and a pump that measures about 4.5" wide. With all the plumbing it is about 18.5" wide at the widest point. The 9020 would work but the more finicky acros may not show there best color without additional filtration like zeolith or resin scrubbing.