Skimmer Q&A Thread

[reeftivo]

Thanks. I will likely do in tank to avoid mess for sure. Trying to parse if the new Sicce shark 300 is a better option than the tunze 9001 for about the same price

The customer service for Tunze is very good. Roger Vitko is a great source if you need help on anything. with that being said, I had a 9001 on my nanos and never liked it. it had one very tiny sweet spot and any fluctuations in water level made it either overfoam or produce nothing. That's just my experience with it though and it was an older unit (they've redesigned since then). I also felt it was cheaply made for the price point. The sicce 300 actually looks good and appears to have a slightly larger reaction chamber. The Sicce pumps are good pumps too and with a 5 year warranty i would lean towards the Sicce.

 

[EchoPear]

The customer service for Tunze is very good. Roger Vitko is a great source if you need help on anything. with that being said, I had a 9001 on my nanos and never liked it. it had one very tiny sweet spot and any fluctuations in water level made it either overfoam or produce nothing. That's just my experience with it though and it was an older unit (they've redesigned since then). I also felt it was cheaply made for the price point. The sicce 300 actually looks good and appears to have a slightly larger reaction chamber. The Sicce pumps are good pumps too and with a 5 year warranty i would lean towards the Sicce.

Thanks!

 

[LiquidSpace]

have a 200 gallon aquarium, sump probably has about 40 gallons. I have decided on the Deltec because it’s apparently very silent which is what I need in the location where it’s going.


The 100i is rated for up to 255 gallons and the 1500i is rated from 265 to 395. When fully stocked my system will have a large bioload and I’m going to feed relatively heavy. I’m thinking the 1500i is what I want but I don’t want to be oversized. Any thoughts?



https://deltecdirectusa.com/product...20791&pr_ref_pid=6823550353559&pr_seq=uniform



https://deltecdirectusa.com/collect...roducts/deltec-1500i-in-sump-protein-skimmers

 

[Troylee]

have a 200 gallon aquarium, sump probably has about 40 gallons. I have decided on the Deltec because it’s apparently very silent which is what I need in the location where it’s going.


The 100i is rated for up to 255 gallons and the 1500i is rated from 265 to 395. When fully stocked my system will have a large bioload and I’m going to feed relatively heavy. I’m thinking the 1500i is what I want but I don’t want to be oversized. Any thoughts?



https://deltecdirectusa.com/product...20791&pr_ref_pid=6823550353559&pr_seq=uniform



https://deltecdirectusa.com/collect...roducts/deltec-1500i-in-sump-protein-skimmers

I personally haven’t used deltec skimmers but I’ve used plenty of others.. I will say this! If anything get one that’s rated close to your tank size not bigger. A smaller skimmer will run 24/7 and keep a foam head doing its job while one that’s to big will only skim intermittently and be a head ache for you. Constant adjustments and never get it to just run smooth.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I personally haven’t used deltec skimmers but I’ve used plenty of others.. I will say this! If anything get one that’s rated close to your tank size not bigger. A smaller skimmer will run 24/7 and keep a foam head doing its job while one that’s to big will only skim intermittently and be a head ache for you. Constant adjustments and never get it to just run smooth.

Great point. I also have a reefmat so this makes total sense. Thank you!

 

[telesonic]

Why do people often say “nano skimmers are junk” or that they are “useless” or not worth your time/money because they don’t do anything? I never understood the why behind it or how that is measured.

I am setting up a 33 Long glass box with no sump that eventually I would like to fill with life and shorten my water change intervals with a high bioload. I was looking at things like the new Sicce shark skimmers, the aqua ready hang on HF-M or one of their standalone skimmers, and others I can’t remember the name of on BRS.

I know the sicce ones are a needle wheel which after reading the skimmer rundown sticky seems like a good technology for a skimmer. Is the “all nano skimmers are junk” just an old saying? Could someone explain why?

Thanks! I’m new

There is nothing wrong with nano skimmers. Unfortunately, using a pinwheel is old technology. I ( EUROREEF) used to build nanoskimmers of different sizes using a proprietary impeller material using a small pump which makes a huge amount of foam making it a very efficient skimmer. Thinking about starting to produce these again since every skimmer still uses old pinwheel technology which we introduced into the USA from Germany many years ago.

 

[five.five-six]

There is nothing wrong with nano skimmers. Unfortunately, using a pinwheel is old technology. I ( EUROREEF) used to build nanoskimmers of different sizes using a proprietary impeller material using a small pump which makes a huge amount of foam making it a very efficient skimmer. Thinking about starting to produce these again since every skimmer still uses old pinwheel technology which we introduced into the USA from Germany many years ago.

So, you are who I submit a warranty claim with?

My mesh-mod (old technology) works great with my radiums (also old technology)

 

[telesonic]

That is really a nice skimmer. What pump are you using on that one?
As far as warranty, you’re about 24 years too late since EuroReef no longer exist. But I like your old technology :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:.
I still have some parts left over if you need any parts let me know.

 

[LiquidFunk]

There is nothing wrong with nano skimmers. Unfortunately, using a pinwheel is old technology. I ( EUROREEF) used to build nanoskimmers of different sizes using a proprietary impeller material using a small pump which makes a huge amount of foam making it a very efficient skimmer. Thinking about starting to produce these again since every skimmer still uses old pinwheel technology which we introduced into the USA from Germany many years ago.

Hey Robert, long time no talk :)
I used to sell you your pumps when I worked at Sunlight Supply.
Perhaps this is matter of semantics and verbiage choice, but Pinwheels are hardly old technology as almost every skimmer today uses them. Perhaps you feel a pinwheel and Needle wheel are different?

Now Meshwheel? That is one that used to work well that I never see discussed any longer. I seem to think your skimmers used a meshwheel. I think they mostly just didn't hold up and needed replaced frequently right?

-joel

 

[reeftivo]

here's some blasts from the past. Some still relevant.

A trip down memory lane of needle wheel impellers | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Of all the specialized equipment we use on our reef tanks, we dare say none are as aquarium-specific as the needle wheel impellers that drive most of our protein skimmers. The design of the needle…

reefbuilders.com

i remember the alloy mesh impellers from Euroreef and that created some serious foam. For a while at least until they got clogged and started breaking apart LOL. I used to add cut & rounded filter mesh, zip tied to some of my impellers and that would work well for a while until it didn't. They would often load up with detritus and get imbalanced which would ruin a pump here and there. AH, the good old days of trial and error.:face-with-hand-over-mouth:

 

[telesonic]

Hey Robert, long time no talk :)
I used to sell you your pumps when I worked at Sunlight Supply.
Perhaps this is matter of semantics and verbiage choice, but Pinwheels are hardly old technology as almost every skimmer today uses them. Perhaps you feel a pinwheel and Needle wheel are different?

Now Meshwheel? That is one that used to work well that I never see discussed any longer. I seem to think your skimmers used a meshwheel. I think they mostly just didn't hold up and needed replaced frequently right?

-joel

Joel, you are absolutely right. When I designed the nano skimmers, I used a meshwheel impeller which made a huge amount of foam using a very small pump. Unfortunately the impellers did not last because salt water attacks aluminum over time. I looked at other materials but they were too expensive even though they would not be destroyed.
Turns out that I am going to be testing a special coating that is guaranteed to protect aluminum. Once the results are positive, I may decide to manufacture different sizes of impellers to fit different skimmer pumps. I wish I could tell you the incredible difference in foam creation with extremely small bubbles resulting in huge total surface areas for the garbage to cling to. This increases the efficiency of a skimmer tremendously. In one test with a Sedra pump on a larger skimmer, it blew the top off the skimmer cap and I had to decrease the air intake. Anyway, we will see what happens in the future.
When I said old technology, I meant that nobody has developed a better means of creating foam and I know it can be done.

 

[telesonic]

I found a compound to protect the mesh impeller which I will be testing in the next couple of weeks. If it works like the seller claims, it would allow me to once again produce these crazy foam making impellers without them falling apart over time. Will let people know the results.

 

[aray]

Looking for a recommendation on Reef Octopus skimmer sizing. Waterbox 150.4 rough dims are 48x24x22, actual total system volume is 114 gallons (88.5 Display and 25.5 Sump). Currently running a Reef Mat 1200, I would prefer not to over do it and be able to leave some nutrients in the water. I'm currently looking at the 2 sizes listed below, open to other recommendations as well. My skimmer chamber water depth is only 8.25", the Reef Octopus line was the only brand I was seeing that came close to that recommended water level

Classic 110INT 4” Internal​

• 60 gal (Light)
• 90 gal (Medium)
• 130 gal (Heavy)

Classic 150INT 6” Internal​

• 110 gal (Light)
• 150 gal (Medium)
• 210 gal (Heavy)

 

[YMJDEA]

嘿 Mojo，很高兴您来到 R2R，感谢您分享您的专业知识！

你有没有检查过 ORCA 250 撇渣器？

谢谢。

 

[Freenow54]

This is the official R2R Skimmer Q&A Thread where the answers to your questions are as concentrated as skimmate!

We will do our best as a community to answer questions you have concerning protein skimmers so ask away!

Thank you!

I suggest starting a longevity log, for HOB, and in sump. I can only talk to my relatively short experience. Also I am unaware of new products. Certainly would have been helpful when I started. I am sure there are a lot of unfounded opinions . For instance instead of me assuming Eshopps was one of the very few manufacturers of HOB . I would have loved to know about Octo 1000. The same with Tunz Skimmers. Which raises the question of a platform for Manufacturers to advertise instead of word of mouth. A ridiculous situation all around. Ie GM Chevy Ford Chrysler .....

 

[mmartynek]

Hello! I have a 125 gal SPS tank. Recently our protein skimmer as been acting super wonky and it will overflow from the top of the right chamber whenever I plug it in. It's a Octo Classic 100-HOB protein skimmer. I'm pretty new to using protein skimmers so any advice would be really helpful! I've attached some photos of it and happy to answer any further questions.

 

[reeftivo]

have you tried disconnecting the airline from the nipple in the first pic and using a small bottle brush to clean out the air intake? Looks like you air is getting choked off and that the # 1 culprit. I use a bottle brush for my skimmers air intake nipples but you can use whatever you have on hand. i've used q-tips, split chop sticks, smooth ends of drill bits etc..


Just use something that won't scar the inside of the air intake. if you scratch it up it will clog faster over time. Bottle brushes work best

 

[dooner248]

for that sizeThis is the official R2R Skimmer Q&A Thread where the answers to your questions are as concentrated as skimmate!

We will do our best as a community to answer questions you have concerning protein skimmers so ask away!

Thank you!

External protein skimmer: I have a 210 gallon tank with no skimmer and no sump. A member here suggested an external skimmer as hang ons for that size don’t seem available. Suggestions?

 

[Cow]

I have a Regal 150 external on my 75g and am having the hardest time getting consistent skim mate. What's hilarious to me is I also have a Bubble Magus 7 and Vertex Omega 150 on 2 other new tanks that broke in with zero adjustment.

You'd think with all this granular control I should have no prob fine tuning it. What I'm wondering is if my 75g tank is clean to the point it's not generating much skimmate. I'm about to pull one of my other skimmers and run it on 75g to test this theory. This is the first time I've run a no fish reef tank.

The skimmer seems to run best on the 2nd motor setting, I was trying out the 3rd and it seems to generate less skimmate and is noisy. Here's a video https://photos.app.goo.gl/nniYZtMRnPAwmYBbA

 

[mmartynek]

have you tried disconnecting the airline from the nipple in the first pic and using a small bottle brush to clean out the air intake? Looks like you air is getting choked off and that the # 1 culprit. I use a bottle brush for my skimmers air intake nipples but you can use whatever you have on hand. i've used q-tips, split chop sticks, smooth ends of drill bits etc..


Just use something that won't scar the inside of the air intake. if you scratch it up it will clog faster over time. Bottle brushes work best

Hi reeftivo,

Thanks for your comment! Yes, I have tried cleaning/disconnecting the airline. I usually clean it with q-tips as you said, and I clean it at least once a month. The skimmer stopped acting up not too long after I made this initial post and was behaving until today. I troubleshooted (cleaned it, looked for blockages in all the tubes, etc.) but it still overflows every time I plug it in. I've attached a video this time, it starts right after I plug it in.