Skimmer Q&A Thread

MarcoG · Jun 16, 2012

hi!

This is actually my first post on the forum. I just bought a Reef Octopus Diablo 160 XS (gate valve). My issue is about the outlet being above the water line in my sump and causing a lot of noise splashing into the sump. Can I rotate the outlet to be underneath (or use pvc to extend) the water line or will this cause issues with skimming performance?

Thanks!
Marco G

cubsare1 · Jun 16, 2012

If you use pvc you will need to drill holes so as not to create back pressure

MarcoG · Jun 16, 2012

Thanks for the reply! How did you attach it to the PVC that the skimmer comes with?

cubsare1 · Jun 16, 2012

Thats just a rubber adapter from home depot (plumbing department) my output on that skimmer is metric but the 1 1/2" coupler fit good then 1 1/2" pvc from there

mojo · Jun 16, 2012

MarcoG said:
hi!

This is actually my first post on the forum. I just bought a Reef Octopus Diablo 160 XS (gate valve). My issue is about the outlet being above the water line in my sump and causing a lot of noise splashing into the sump. Can I rotate the outlet to be underneath (or use pvc to extend) the water line or will this cause issues with skimming performance?

Thanks!
Marco G

use pvc to extend it below the surface. if you end up with back pressure just rotate it until its partially in the water and out.

you will be fine. it will take care of the splash.

kmaintl · Jun 25, 2012

Hey Mojo, I've been reading through the threads and have seen a lot of your posts. Thanks for taking your time out to help so many reefers. The information I've seen you post is priceless.

Ed ~aka kmaintl

mojo · Jun 26, 2012

No problem Ed, If I ever get the time I am going to set up a page with every skimmer I have ever had what size tanks they are good for and my thoughts. Also suggested skimmers for certain size tanks and water levels they should be ran at.

That way I can just refer people there...

mikrobkirk · Jun 27, 2012

Wow, I like this site. Seems more friendly than the other 2 I always frequently checked in at. I am fairly new to the hobby (almost 3 years now) as compared to most. Glad to be here. MOJO, you seem like the go to guy on SKIMMER questions. So here we go. I have recently set up a old 220 gallon (built like a TANK in 1986) 7'x24"x24" Oceanic FOWLR tank. It was really old school, with spray bar return holes in the center bottom. After much work on covering holes, and re-plumbing this thing, and repairing and re-configuring the 6' sump, finally its up and running with a new reeflo 2600 external pump. Has cycled and have started to stock a couple fish. Its going to be a semi-aggressive tank. Will probably have eventually about 10 - 12 Large fish. It came with a bunch of obsolete equipment. Which brings me to your area of expertise. This thing came with 2 old style skimmers which I would like to see if I could get working until I can afford to buy a newer style cone type. The smaller of the 2 has a sticker on it that says its a "Seaquest" "Made in the USA". I cant find anything on it. It came without a pump, so I have tried a few I have here. A older style Maxi-jet 1000, a RIO 2500, and most recently I bought a new Sedra KSP-3500 needle wheel pump thinking I could get one of these units working good enough until I get settled on what to purchase and recoup some hobby money. The constant first level of the sump is 9". So that is where I have tried them at. I have a light bio-load right now of 3 small damsels, a juvey maroon clown, and a wrasse, and the biggest Maroon Clown I have ever seen (9"), and a crab. Tank cycled a month ago, and did another little mini-cycle when I added the last 3 fish (the 2 clowns and wrasse), and has been stable since then. Except the nitrates started climbing last weekend to almost 60, so I did a 30 gallon water change, and it brought it down to about 20. I have tried different combinations of the pumps on both of the skimmers. Along with ball and gate valves on discharge side, and keep the discharge pipes out of sump water line. I also bought 2 new aireator stones and even tried a new oceanic and red sea wood aireator block for the bigger type skimmer which had one on it. The wooden one goes inside the second inside tube, and the small ceramic stone went into the 1/2" down tube from the pump. I am getting a little junk in the bigger one, if I really play with it every day. Any help would be appreciated. I am trying to send pics, but can't seem to. 

kmaintl · Jun 27, 2012

mojo said:
No problem Ed, If I ever get the time I am going to set up a page with every skimmer I have ever had what size tanks they are good for and my thoughts. Also suggested skimmers for certain size tanks and water levels they should be ran at.

That way I can just refer people there...

That's an awesome idea!!! I did notice that you have to keep typing some of the same language, over and over again... and that takes a lot of time and energy. It could be draining. About 5 years ago, I experience the similar, but people use to call me and talk for 45 mins at a time. Yes, do that webpage!!!

mikrobkirk · Jun 27, 2012

Wow, I like this site. Seems more friendly than the other 2 I always frequently checked in at. I am fairly new to the hobby (almost 3 years now) as compared to most. Glad to be here. MOJO, you seem like the go to guy on SKIMMER questions. So here we go. I have recently set up a old 220 gallon (built like a TANK in 1986) 7'x24"x24" Oceanic FOWLR tank. It was really old school, with spray bar return holes in the center bottom. After much work on covering holes, re-configuring the 6' sump, its up and running with a new reeflo 2600 external pump. Has cycled and have started to stock a couple fish. Its going to be a semi-aggressive tank.

Will probably have eventually about 10 - 12 Large fish. It came with a bunch of obsolete equipment. Which brings me to your area of expertise. This thing came with 2 old style skimmers which I would like to see if I could get working until I can afford to buy a newer style cone type. The smaller of the 2 has a sticker on it that says its a "Seaquest" "Made in the USA". I cant find anything on it. It came without a pump, so I have tried a few I have here. A older style Maxi-jet 1000, a RIO 2500, and most recently I bought a new Sedra KSP-3500 needle wheel pump thinking I could get one of these units working good enough until I get settled on what to purchase and recoup some hobby money. The constant first level of the sump is 9". So that is where I have tried them at. I have a light bio-load right now of 3 small damsels, a juvey maroon clown, and a wrasse, and the biggest Maroon Clown I have ever seen (9"), and a crab. Tank cycled a month ago, and did another little mini-cycle when I added the last 3 fish (the 2 clowns and wrasse), and has been stable since then. Except the nitrates started climbing last weekend to almost 60, so I did a 30 gallon water change, and it brought it down to about 20. I have tried different combinations of the pumps on both of the skimmers. Along with ball and gate valves on discharge side, and keep the discharge pipes out of sump water line. The larger of the 2 skimmers uses 2 airstones and a dual line airpump, so i also bought 2 new aireator stones and even tried a new oceanic and red sea wood aireator block for the bigger type skimmer which had one on it. The wooden one goes inside the second

tube, and the small ceramic stone went into the 1/2" down tube from the pump. I am getting a little junk in the bigger one, if I really play with it every day. Any help would be appreciated. I am trying to send pics.

mojo · Jun 27, 2012

with our setup and water level the aquamaxx am250 would be a great choice. It will work wit hour water depth and will cycle a lot of water. This will be good for the large fish load. It uses a sedra 9000 pump and the skimmer is built by jns. They are great skimmers. I have had one myself and for the money it will be hard for you to beat.

Mojo~

Ianfaulk · Jun 28, 2012

Hey Mojo, I recently purchased a 90 gallon tank that I plan to add a 30 gallon sump to. What sump would be best for around 200?

mojo · Jun 28, 2012

man sump wise that would be hard for 200. I make my own sumps but the trigger sumps are really nice. Premium had some in clearance that were good as well. 36 in long ones too.

Ianfaulk · Jun 30, 2012

What about under 300.00? I've been looking at reef octopus, bubble Magus, aqua euro, and eshopps.

MBG75 · Jun 30, 2012

Ianfaulk said:
What about under 300.00? I've been looking at reef octopus, bubble Magus, aqua euro, and eshopps.

Octopus SRO are phenomenal but not cheap. Bubble Magus are priced great and skim like animals. But have some pump issues. I have a BM NAC7.

Look into seaside aquatics skimmers. They are a direct copy of a Bubble Magus. But use a Sicce pump. U can make offers on their skimmers on eBay.

Dcyco1 · Jul 5, 2012

Skimmer suggestion for a Oceanic 45 cube would be appreciated.

Ianfaulk · Jul 6, 2012

sorry mojo I meant protein skimmer not sump. I have bumped the budget to 300, and I have my eye on bubble magus bm220a, reef octopus diablo xs 160, and tunze 9011. which of these do you like the best, and what would you recommend that Isn't on this list?

numsie · Jul 6, 2012

Well, after much research and conversation I have come to the conclusion that I will not be able to get a good skimmer that will fit in my small sump so I have decided to go with a JNS VS1 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer that I plan on hanging on the outside of my sump. Since I only have room in the sump for a 5" foot print skimmer I felt this will be my best option, any thoughts? Anyone here have a HOB skimmer attached to their sump? Good or bad thoughts?

mojo · Jul 6, 2012

Ianfaulk said:
What about under 300.00? I've been looking at reef octopus, bubble Magus, aqua euro, and eshopps.

Best skimmers under 300 IMO, THe sea side aquatics cs2, THe vertex in 180, THe octo xs 200....ect. there are soem just over 300 that are really nice like the sro 2000, the JNS SK2 ect..