Running 2 skimmers / no other mechanical

[PPBlimpy]

So my tank decided it wanted to crash about a month ago. Lost 90% of my corals, gave away all my Bta(50+) before they nuked the tank. luckily no fish perished.

Been thinking about revamping the tank a bit this time around and once things settle get into sps. Prior was mostly nem and LPs/softies.

265g system -Redsea s1000
Current skimmer is a ice cap k1-200
I have an older E-shop psk-300 I am thinking about adding off my old 300g

When I do this I plan to remove the filter cups with poly and over skim to pull crud out. Nutrients are high currently. 60 nitrates and .9 phos. Installing a turf algea scrubber shortly to help with phos.

Fish currently are

6” porcupine puffer
7” unicorn tang
4” blue hippo tang
5” Sailfin tang
4” purple tang
3” scopas tang
3” bristle tooth tang
5” foxface
Female Darwin clown

I plan to ad another Darwin clown, border brown or gold rim tang, yellow tang, and either a coral beauty or a flame angel, and also need to ad some sand sifters.

So bio load is pretty high and going to get higher.

Maybe some anthias in the future to ad more color.

What downsides are there to heavily over skimming? Plan to 3d print funnel inputs for both skimmers in hopes to direct a lot of the flow into the skimmer that go thru the sump.

Return pump is a Jebao 12000 LPH- with head pressure and plumbing more like 8k.

Any thoughts?

 

[lapin]

You can always turn the skimmers off if you find they are not producing skim mate. Or just one at certain times. I have my skimmer set to come on at various times. Mainly during feeding / tank cleaning periods and more so at night when power is cheaper.

 

[atoll]

Your system is a lot similar to mine ( might want to check out my previous threads) I stock heavily but my fish are mainly small apart from a copperband a mimic tang. I run not particulate filtration just a skimmer and a little GFO. Check my tank thread fir more info. I don't see a downside at all. My water is clear aided by my Oxydator.

 

[jft]

I tried two skimmer s a few times and always found one protein skimmer was better as the two seemed to compete and lessen the overall skimming. Just my observations. Run on a 150 gallon system two reef octo skimmers, I now use one skimmer with much better performance.

 

[PPBlimpy]

What I am hoping to accomplish is to have the volume the skimmers process to match the flow thru the sump.

One skimmer sits on a shelf about 4” high to have the appropriate water height.

The others inlet can sit under the shelf.

I am planning on 3d printing large funnels to help direct flow thru the skimmer hopefully catching more detritus. And theoretically not having one process water after the first but split the flow between them.

It won’t catch everything I know that. May just be an experiment to see how it works. Have everything already. Have extra time and no budget right this second to go buy fish/corals. Saving Pennies to buy new controller

 

[atoll]

2 skimmers if nothing else will add O2 to the water probably better than one only.

 

[PPBlimpy]

2 skimmers if nothing else will add O2 to the water probably better than one only.

This is true and never bad having extra aeration.

Will run both inlets outside too

 

[PPBlimpy]

Update- running the 2 skimmers for a couple months now. Unfortunately I have big dirty fish- Blimpy the porcupine puffer and my unicorn tang make massive messes. Both food going in and out.

Without funneling all the water thru a direct fed skimmer the detritus had gotten really bad.

I added a single 7” sock about 2 weeks ago and still clogging it daily while I blow crap out of every corner. Water clarity has gone up tremendously

A direct fed recirculating skimmer is in the works and will take care of most the poop. The sock will catch the rest. After the skimmer is built I am males la a fleece roller so once that is online it will take care of the rest.

 

[X-37B]

I run 2 oversize skimmers on my 150. A tunze 9430dc in the return section and a LifeReef in the first chamber. The lifereef skim is thicker than the 9430. The 94030 also runs ozone.
Both skimmers are rated north of 400g systems.
I have never had an issue with over size skimmers.
I run 400 micron mesh socks and they last over a month easily.
LifeReef

I run a 9430dc in my 100 which is 2 weeks old with 13lbs of live rock from the lfs. The 9430 has a 6" dia neck.
Not much to skim but it still pulls.
Once I add 35lbs of GLR tomorrow it will produce more skim.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I am going to keep running the second skimmer and start injecting lanthanum chloride into it. Both skimmers are rated for a 200g system. My system is 265