Protein Skimmer for AIO

[SliceGolfer]

Cup height is best determined by skimmate production. Lower the cup for a wetter skim, raise for drier. When I'm not seeing skimmate production on a regular basis, I might lower the cup or clean the skimmer neck. If that fails, I clean the entire skimmer (usually every 90 days).

 

[eliaslikesfish]

Cup height is best determined by skimmate production. Lower the cup for a wetter skim, raise for drier. When I'm not seeing skimmate production on a regular basis, I might lower the cup or clean the skimmer neck. If that fails, I clean the entire skimmer (usually every 90 days).

thank you! this is after about a week and a half:

how often should i clean just the cup/neck?

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I recently added the AquaReady HOB Bullet-1 to my IM tank and it's amazing. Highly recommend if you switch in the future

 

[SliceGolfer]

thank you! this is after about a week and a half:

how often should i clean just the cup/neck?

I clean when the neck has a thick coat of muck on it. A clean neck produces better skimmate.

 

[hobie61]

My Aquamax 1.5 keeps sounding like a john deere tracker. Cleaning the inlet screen only lasts for a few hours of quietness, then back to noise. Usually clean every couple of weeks, which is annoying. This is in an 45 gal AIO, after going thru various filters before the skimmer. Anyone else have same issues? I've never really liked this skimmer. Keep waiting for the reef octopus sales to see if any improvement.

 

[hobie61]

Just switched over to the Reef Octo 1000 (finally went on sale). Only been running a couple of days so do not yet know maintenance implications yet, but have great 1st impressions. Soooo much quieter than the Aquamax 1.5 and producing more skimmate. The Aquamax inlet kept plugging up and the pump impeller had to be cleaned often. Was a real hassle. I really question BRS recommendations on the Aquamax 1.5. Just my observations. Hope helps.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

so just a quick and simple 3 month review:

It pulls out gunk like there’s no tomorrow. I change the cup out every 2-3 weeks and just did the first full system clean. Other than it smelling like a rotting pig fetus; everything came off nicely, didn’t have to do any scrubbing.
The only thing I could complain about is the noise and I could easily fix that if I got a longer piece of PVC so that the skimmer returns water into my AIO chamber underwater instead of pouring it. I just haven’t found the time to go get one.
So i guess if you are thinking about one I would be prepared to get a longer piece of PVC pipe for the return.

lmk if u have any questions.

Happy Holidays!

 

[Jamie9]

what height do you recommend i set the cup to? yours is higher up then mine, i just sort of guessed

Just curious, a year or so later, how did this skimmer work out for you? I'm setting up an IM40 cube AIO next week. Won't need a skimmer right away (or ever maybe?), but researching options for down the road. I like the profile of the IM option and the Tunze 9004 better, but reviews are pretty mixed on both of those.