Protein skimmer questions

[Joybird]

Well, two really. I need to buy a HOB skimmer--what's your favorite?
And second, I've read that they can be really loud. My tank is in the main living space in my house, and the room I rock my little one to sleep. Can it be shut off easily for an hour here and there, or does it require fresh priming or whatever to get it running again? I mean, I'm assuming you turn it off with the other filtration for feedings, but I *saw* on some forum someone saying you can't just shut them off and it got me wondering.....
Thank you!

 

[Dilan Patel]

Hello I have a 55gallon reef set up with an HOB skimmer. I use the Reef octopus 2000 hang on style. I love this thing pulls out tons of gunk and it is nice and quiet. Wont lie though it is loud when it turns on though. Really all you mostly have to do to prime is the first time you set it up and everytime you shut it off and turn it back on you plug the air intake for a few minuites to make sure no air is getting into the chamber and then release. That simple. I really do not turn off and on the skimmer if I am not home due to the fact I do not trust it not to leak if something clogs it. Otherwise love the skimmer,affordable and quiet.

 

[Joybird]

Hello I have a 55gallon reef set up with an HOB skimmer. I use the Reef octopus 2000 hang on style. I love this thing pulls out tons of gunk and it is nice and quiet. Wont lie though it is loud when it turns on though. Really all you mostly have to do to prime is the first time you set it up and everytime you shut it off and turn it back on you plug the air intake for a few minuites to make sure no air is getting into the chamber and then release. That simple. I really do not turn off and on the skimmer if I am not home due to the fact I do not trust it not to leak if something clogs it. Otherwise love the skimmer,affordable and quiet.

Thanks. So if I'm understanding correctly, you turn it off every day at feeding time? And do you leave it off when you aren't home? My other big fear is one of these dumping gunk everywhere. Blech!

 

[Dilan Patel]

I do not turn it off for feeding due to me being lazy but i cannot see why you cannot. I do leave it on all day and all night also. I just do not turn it off and on without me being home. And this thing if it overflows it basically goes into the skimmer and kind of bubbles at the very edge of the collection cup. From my experience Mine has yet to overflow and dump stuff over the floor. it has filled up and gunk has just dripped into the skimmer again.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Those are decent skimmers. I also like the Skimz skimmers.

 

[randy4083]

Reef octopus skimmers are nice I have them on all my tanks and there quiet and they never overflow because if they fill up whatever else that is getting skimmed goes back into the tank until the collection cup is empty there nice skimmers