Asking for Opinions on the Red Sea Skimmers

[Katze]

Hello everyone !

I'd like to change my Bubble Magus NAC5 skimmer to a Red Sea RSK 300.
So I'm looking for opinions on the skimmer series.
System size: 55g (200l)
LPS-Softy orientated tank with 6 fish 1 large and 5 smaller
So the question is, that how did your RS skimmer perform ? Did it keep nutrients in check?

 

[Pyrogens]

Any particular reason why you are wanting to switch? Bubble Magus make great skimmers, but I can't comment on Red Sea.

 

[peterhos]

Hello everyone !

I'd like to change my Bubble Magus NAC5 skimmer to a Red Sea RSK 300.
So I'm looking for opinions on the skimmer series.
System size: 55g (200l)
LPS-Softy orientated tank with 6 fish 1 large and 5 smaller
So the question is, that how did your RS skimmer perform ? Did it keep nutrients in check?

Hi There In all honesty I find the RS 300 a pain. It needs constant adjustment. It often overflows if you change the water level or return pump speed. Under the Red Sea G2 250 there is little room once you add the roller mat. But, it might perform better on its own without the mat. Sorry to be negative.

 

[peterhos]

After 1 year my phosphate stays around 0.17 and nitrates 15-20.

 

[Katze]

Any particular reason why you are wanting to switch? Bubble Magus make great skimmers, but I can't comment on Red Sea.

Multiple local aquarists recommended to change the skimmer. One stated that they had bubble magus on multiple of their tanks, all of those suffered: constant coral deaths, high NO3 and PO4.
I have high nitrate levels (100 on salifert) hence the change.
As a reference I have this exact one:

 

[Katze]

After 1 year my phosphate stays around 0.17 and nitrates 15-20.

Sounds good, any other filtrations that you use, other than the skimmer. And what's the system size ?

 

[peterhos]

Sounds good, any other filtrations that you use, other than the skimmer. And what's the system size ?

Not as good as the experts who have phosphate at around 0.03 and nitrates around 5. The rank is 245 litres, 5 fish, a few soft corals, a few SPS starting to grow. I also have the Red Sea roller mat. Between skimmer and mat that is plenty of filtration I feel. The CUC do a good job as well.

 

[peterhos]

… tank…

 

[ErikVR]

So far, I'm not a fan of the RS DC skimmers.
Mine has been running for a few weeks and needs constant adjusting. The sensor hasn't worked at all.
It's way noisier than my other skimmer (deltec).

 

[peterhos]

So far, I'm not a fan of the RS DC skimmers.
Mine has been running for a few weeks and needs constant adjusting. The sensor hasn't worked at all.
It's way noisier than my other skimmer (deltec).

Agree. Mine is noisy but we are used to it. Maybe use at night on timer. Then again, each night before bed time it will need adjusting.

 

[Katze]

So far, I'm not a fan of the RS DC skimmers.
Mine has been running for a few weeks and needs constant adjusting. The sensor hasn't worked at all.
It's way noisier than my other skimmer (deltec).

What's the skimmer's overall performance? Mine will be a regular AC.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Multiple local aquarists recommended to change the skimmer. One stated that they had bubble magus on multiple of their tanks, all of those suffered: constant coral deaths, high NO3 and PO4.
I have high nitrate levels (100 on salifert) hence the change.
As a reference I have this exact one:

Highly Doubtful that the Magus would cause coral deaths alone. there is probably more to the story than that.im not familiar with that model but I run a curve 5 & while fit & finish isn't the greatest it performs it's task well if maintained

 

[Katze]

Highly Doubtful that the Magus would cause coral deaths alone. there is probably more to the story than that.im not familiar with that model but I run a curve 5 & while fit & finish isn't the greatest it performs it's task well if maintained

I mean, that's not the point. But the fact that my skimmer could possibly cause the high nitrate issue which is killing my corals is a large problem.

 

[ScottB]

I mean, that's not the point. But the fact that my skimmer could possibly cause the high nitrate issue which is killing my corals is a large problem.

Personally not a fan of the Red Sea skimmers. Changing a skimmer brand is not going to resolve high nutrients. Water changes will. Also carbon dosing will lower nitrates as long as the skimmer is operating sufficiently.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I mean, that's not the point. But the fact that my skimmer could possibly cause the high nitrate issue which is killing my corals is a large problem.

Are you carbon dosing?running a refugium or macro reactor? How much do you feed?15-20ppm isnt especially high depending on your goals.
Changing skimmer will unlikely make a difference if not changing water or carbon dosing

 

[Katze]

Here is everything regarding my nitrate issue:

A master plan to reduce my nitrates (I need opinions on this)

Hello everyone ! Things to know about the tank ~200l (+55g) total +1.5 years old, -Nitrate is always either 100 or 75 but over 50 (salifert) -PO4 usually 0.05-0.08 at most (Hanna PO4 ULR) About it's nitrogen cycle cycled with about 40% live rock, fishless with dosing bacteria -> after the...

www.reef2reef.com

In a nutshell: yes I have tried carbon dosing, refugium and 2x50% waterchanges. None of them helped so far. Nitrates 100-50 on salifert while hanna says +75

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Here is everything regarding my nitrate issue:

A master plan to reduce my nitrates (I need opinions on this)

Hello everyone ! Things to know about the tank ~200l (+55g) total +1.5 years old, -Nitrate is always either 100 or 75 but over 50 (salifert) -PO4 usually 0.05-0.08 at most (Hanna PO4 ULR) About it's nitrogen cycle cycled with about 40% live rock, fishless with dosing bacteria -> after the...

www.reef2reef.com

In a nutshell: yes I have tried carbon dosing, refugium and 2x50% waterchanges. None of them helped so far. Nitrates 100-50 on salifert while hanna says +75

Apologies-i read the wrong reply RE nitrate levels!

 

[Reef Devils]

Hello everyone !

I'd like to change my Bubble Magus NAC5 skimmer to a Red Sea RSK 300.
So I'm looking for opinions on the skimmer series.
System size: 55g (200l)
LPS-Softy orientated tank with 6 fish 1 large and 5 smaller
So the question is, that how did your RS skimmer perform ? Did it keep nutrients in check?

I have the Red Sea skimmer 300 and it has not been working good for me. It is not skimming anything and there are no bubbles. I would look into a different one maybe reef octopus

 

[doubleshot00]

I'm with other that have commented. The RS skimmers are a pain. Mine skims when it wants, loud and will overfill randomly. Ill never buy another skimmer unless it has a DC pump. I had a Tunze DC docline and it was awesome.

 

[jft]

Red Sea has cheap plastic which turned me off . For the Money reef Octo proven track record and well made and I have 3 all function GREAT!