skimmer for 91 gallon system

mrtian97 · Jun 4, 2016

I have 9 fish (5 are damsels) in my total water volume of 91 gallon mixed reef. Feed moderate, couple times a day.

Currently have an old CAD 100 skimmer, seems not consistent with the skimmate (8" water level, sometime no skimmate produced and sometime overflow, finicky even if my water level is staying the same).

Should I replace this and which to use: Bubble magus curve 5
Vertex 130
Skimz the smallest size
Others?

Thanks

Bpb · Jun 5, 2016

Based on reputation alone, skimz would probably be a more powerful performing skimmer, however their part replacement costs and service are atrocious and they have some of the faultiest pumps available in the hobby. I hear they work real well, look real cool, but have never seen one brand suffer from pump failures more often than skimz. That includes Chinese cheapos using Jebao and Atman pumps. And the problem doesn't seem to be limited to their akimmers either. Whoever they source their pumps from has serious QC problems. Great design that doesn't last.

I do however own a bubble magus curve 5 on my 90 display 36 sump (83 total water volume gallons after rock displacement I've calculated specifically), and while I like it, I would have been better off with the curve 7. It's a good little skimmer that is quiet and has a nice footprint but it's a tad under sized I think. I get a lot of gunk buildup in the neck and have to skim super wet making me need to empty the cup almost daily. I feel like this would be mitigated with a larger model

NanaReefer · Jun 5, 2016

I highly recommend you check out the new Icecap K2 series. I'm running the K2-120. Very very impressed with this skimmer. Quiet, smaller footprint then most others, uses the ever dependable popular Sicce pumps, completely breaks down for very easy cleaning and breakin time was minimal. It was pulling nasty nog within 24hrs. Best of all is the very competitive price tag [emoji2]

http://www.coralvue.com/k2-protein-skimmers