Skimmer OR Roller mat

[Dj City]

If you could only fit 1 in your sump,
Would you choose a skimmer or a filter roller mat.

My sump is small.
I have a skimmer and a filter sock on there now but honestly, I need to "up" my filtration! The job gets done by or could and should be so much better.

My simmer is "decent"
Sock gets changed out every 2 to 3 days.

I own a much better skimmer and I own a clarisea sk-5000.

I would love to use both but, both won't fit.
So back to the question...

If you could only fit 1 in your sump,
Would you choose a skimmer or a filter roller mat?

 

[Reef Jedi]

They make roller mats that will fit in the filter sock 4” hole. If you did that could you get a skimmer to fit in there also?

 

[bubbgee]

Skimmer has a lot more purpose. You can always get a filter cup and stuff it with floss you can just replace once a week or so.

 

[Freenow54]

I am looking at doing this as well. Wanted both. Have read where others only run hopefully the same as a roller mat ( an algae scrubber ). You can DIY one and hang it over top maybe? Use a PVC pipe with holes in it run it over the mat that is held in a container

with a drain. Here is what I have found hopefully what you are talking about. You can also make a reverse one

 

[exnisstech]

A couple of months ago I would have said roller no questions asked. After adding a skimmer to my SPS tank in August I got a 0.3 bump in pH. I'm not even emptying the cup just using the pH bump. In two months alk consumption has gone from 30ml AFR to 65ml daily and i can almost see the corals growing. My N and P are bottoming out so I've started shutting the roller off at night and letting it overflow. I ran into the same issues when I first started the roller bottoming nutrients also. They can work too well.
Today I would pick skimmer and get a drop in roller or look onto Reef diapers disposable socks. I ran the diapers on my reefer 170 and loved them vs cleaning socks.

 

[X-37B]

Skimmer.
Do away with felt socks and run 400 micron mesh.
Easy to clean once a month.
Run felt when you want to polish the system.
All 4 of my systems run them.
Funny I just gave away my BM large filter roller yesterday, lol.

 

[Dj City]

I have a 4 inch filter sock running now. No hole for the sock. It's on there with a bracket.

I also have the IOAIO skimmer running and it's "decent"
I'm not writing rave reviews on it but I can't bash it either.

I have an Aquamaxx ConeS skimmer that's REALLY good! It has an external pump.
I can get it to fit but that's pretty much all that will fit if I go that route. I don't even know if my 4inch filter sock will fit with that skimmer in that chamber.

I could get the Clarisea sk-5000 to fit but that would be it.
I don't think I could fit even the smaller IOAIO skimmer in with it.

The thing is, i want both better (and esaier) mechanical filtration AND better skimmer.

 

[atoll]

Of the 2 the skimmer.

 

[X-37B]

I have a 4 inch filter sock running now. No hole for the sock. It's on there with a bracket.

I also have the IOAIO skimmer running and it's "decent"
I'm not writing rave reviews on it but I can't bash it either.

I have an Aquamaxx ConeS skimmer that's REALLY good! It has an external pump.
I can get it to fit but that's pretty much all that will fit if I go that route. I don't even know if my 4inch filter sock will fit with that skimmer in that chamber.

I could get the Clarisea sk-5000 to fit but that would be it.
I don't think I could fit even the smaller IOAIO skimmer in with it.

The thing is, i want both better (and esaier) mechanical filtration AND better skimmer.

Any pics of the 4" setup?
Could you replace with a 7"?
I have the bracket and some 7" including mesh I could send you.
You can't overskim.
Put the best performing one you have on the system
I run 2 Tunze 9430dc skimmer on my 150.
1 is rated to 270g full on reef.
Bot sure how big the system is but the 4" 400 microns work well.
3 in my 150 have not been changed in 4 weeks.
This is the bottom of my sump with 1 9430. It has not been removed or cleaned in 1.5 years except for the neck and cup which lift out.

 

[Freenow54]

I have a 4 inch filter sock running now. No hole for the sock. It's on there with a bracket.

I also have the IOAIO skimmer running and it's "decent"
I'm not writing rave reviews on it but I can't bash it either.

I have an Aquamaxx ConeS skimmer that's REALLY good! It has an external pump.
I can get it to fit but that's pretty much all that will fit if I go that route. I don't even know if my 4inch filter sock will fit with that skimmer in that chamber.

I could get the Clarisea sk-5000 to fit but that would be it.
I don't think I could fit even the smaller IOAIO skimmer in with it.

The thing is, i want both better (and esaier) mechanical filtration AND better skimmer.

consider a HOB skimmer

 

[Dj City]

Equipment i want to use

Equipment I'm currently using and the space available

 

[Dj City]

Reef I want to use equipment on

 

[X-37B]

Reef I want to use equipment on

Do the upgrade and start a build thread so we can follow!
Looks like nice equipment.

 

[Dj City]

The thread I have is not an official build thread but I need to turn it into one.