Skimmer Q&A Thread

[jlt23]

What air meter (including scale) is everyone using to check their skimmers? Also if you have a link where you can buy one it would be appreciated.

 

[mojo]

I dont know what model I have off hand I ll have to look.

the
rma-22 dwyer air meter is a small one people use. THe rmb model is they way to go it is a little larger but its a little easier to read and is more acurate.

 

[mojo]

ok the Dwyer RMB-52 is good from 0 to 50 scfh . Take a look on ebay. I found some there but cant really post a link

 

[jlt23]

ok the Dwyer RMB-52 is good from 0 to 50 scfh . Take a look on ebay. I found some there but cant really post a link

Thanks

 

[Saltwatercoral2]

recommend me a skimmer for a 90 gallon tank, 30 gallon sump. heavy stocking. I havent decided if i want a 90 or a 75, so it will be one of the two tanks. Thanks

 

[cubsare1]

my p.m. rl 100 pump went to hell (zapped me and tank) is there a better replacement pump i should look at? The pump is rated for 1000 liters or about 264gph (if my math is correct). Or just junk it and get a different skimmer, its on a 40br with a 20 gallon sump.
Thanks

 

[mojo]

my p.m. rl 100 pump went to hell (zapped me and tank) is there a better replacement pump i should look at? The pump is rated for 1000 liters or about 264gph (if my math is correct). Or just junk it and get a different skimmer, its on a 40br with a 20 gallon sump.
Thanks

if you like it then replace the pump. I think you can get a stock octo 1000 tubine pump and use the parts from your old pump to make it into a skimmer pump. Should be the same block. just change pinwheel and venturi and the output fitting. Otherwise you could go with a sedra 3500 setup but you would need to buy it setup as a skimmer pump. The Sicce psk 600 would pretty max the skimmer out . The bubble blaster 1000 would work too but might be hard to get it attatched to the body.

The pump on your skimmer is the same black as the octo pumps and the aquamedic pumps. So with that said.

ON your tank your skimmer is fine. A sro 1000, tunze 9006, vertex in 100 gen3 would all work fine.

hope that helps kind of random thoughts today. feeding baby.... lol

 

[adam87]

Mojo, I just got a new Marineland 220. Will I be ok using my SRO3000 on this tank?

 

[Zoacoral]

75 gallon, 30 gallon sump. heavy stocking, which skimmer for me?

 

[Jayboogy510]

Here are a couple pics of the new guy.

I suppose you replaced the Atb 840 with the Alpha 170 on your 90 gallon? Which will you say was better for your 90?

 

[swissgaurd]

hi mojo
i recently picked up a SWC skimmer its 24" high has dual 600 sicce pumps was looking for some info on this skimmer, have you reviewed this skimmer and which model # would it be.
if by chance do you know what this skimmer was worth new

thanks

vic

 

[mojo]

Mojo, I just got a new Marineland 220. Will I be ok using my SRO3000 on this tank?

Yeap that skimmer will do fine. If you add on a frag tank or get a really heavy load you may want to go with a5000. but a 3000 would be a great fit.

 

[mojo]

75 gallon, 30 gallon sump. heavy stocking, which skimmer for me?

what price range?

The sro 2000 int would work well, A nice skimmer that is pretty new to market but has a great pump is the sea side aquatics cs1. It has a sicce syncra psk600. Nice small footprint and retails for $299. That would be a great fit for the 75g as well.

Check them both out. Both will doa great job.

Mojo~

 

[mojo]

I suppose you replaced the Atb 840 with the Alpha 170 on your 90 gallon? Which will you say was better for your 90?

The atb was amuch better fit.

Look at the pictures. You will see the base of the skimmers is about the same. But the neck on the alpha 170 is much bigger. Now this will allow for more air draw but you will need more load to fill the neck.

However you cant just crank up the air and water with just increasing the neck size. this will create a turbulent skimmer and could creat microbubbles. Also you end up taking away from the pros of the cone design.

the alpha is built like a tank. But just didnt perform as well as the atb 840.

 

[mojo]

hi mojo
i recently picked up a SWC skimmer its 24" high has dual 600 sicce pumps was looking for some info on this skimmer, have you reviewed this skimmer and which model # would it be.
if by chance do you know what this skimmer was worth new

thanks

vic

well without seeing it, it is hard to say. Is it a 10 " diameter ? It would seam like it was a swc 250. But I am pretty sure they came with psk 1000 pumps. I could be wrong, new they are about $450 ish

 

[oigimsar]

what price range?

The sro 2000 int would work well, A nice skimmer that is pretty new to market but has a great pump is the sea side aquatics cs1. It has a sicce syncra psk600. Nice small footprint and retails for $299. That would be a great fit for the 75g as well.

Check them both out. Both will doa great job.

Mojo~

How does this compare to the SWC 160?

 

[mojo]

The swc 160 is a good skimmer. But the pump is a atman 2500. its a pretty cheap pump. The Sicce syncra is a better pump and is more quiet as well.

 

[swissgaurd]

well without seeing it, it is hard to say. Is it a 10 " diameter ? It would seam like it was a swc 250. But I am pretty sure they came with psk 1000 pumps. I could be wrong, new they are about $450 ish

here is a picture of it,the base of the skimmer is 11" dia.
does that change anything.
thanks
vic

 

[mojo]

yes, its a cone its a swc 2s . it originally came with psk 2500 pumps. THe pumps that are on it now are a nicer pump but I would of used the psk 1000 pumps over the 600's. Still a great skimmer. I found an original model new going for $519. But when they first came out were 700 ish.

So I hope that helps. They are pretty big skimmers . Great for larger tanks.

 

[swissgaurd]

thanks mojo i will be using it for 350 gallons of water,should be more than enough .i wonder if one pump will work if 2 is to much
i picked it up for 400 with the 2 brand new pumps

thanks
vic