Skimmer Q&A Thread

[philr]

The motor has burnt out twice. The first time was after about 2 or 3 years. The second time burnt out almost exactly a year later. I cant find any receipt or I would atttempt to return it. This time I am looking to fill out the warranty info.

 

[mcarroll]

Reef Dynamics is using EcoPlus pumps now (ASM is an early Reef Dynamics clone...down to the pump I think) and I think their custom outlet is similar to the sedra....they do have a 1:1 replacement for the Sedra 3500. Also have modified Eheims, but not sure if there's a size match specifically for the 3500...

If switching pumps is interesting (wont be cheap) maybe give them a call to verify their outlet plumbing is the same as yours or if there's a comparable Eheim. I suspect this gets you much better support for the pump (through ReefDynamics) in the future too, FWIW.

-Matt

P.S. If you search the forum or google for "asm skimmer club" and "asm skimmer faq" you might find some other good options.

 

[Stroubs]

Shopping for my skimmer

Hey I know I am late. Anyway I will be shopping for a skimmer in the next week or so. It will be for my 150 gallon tank. I am going to build a sump/refugium.
What would you recommend? Just want to say I appreciate everyone so far that has replied to my posts. Our excitement is growing my son and I will be
doing this project together.


Thanks
Mike

 

[Reefing Madness]

Diablo DCS 200 In-Sump Protein Skimmer
[h=1]Royal Exclusiv Alpha 250 Cone Protein Skimmer [/h]
[h=1]Bubble Magus BM-NAC9
Cone Protein Skimmer[/h]My Reef Creations MRC MR-2 Protein Skimmer

[h=1]SWC Xtreme Cone Protein Skimmer 250 S[/h]

 

[philr]

mcarroll,, great input thanks. I will search for info on that because I had been searching in vain to find a different pump to the sedra. The support for asm/sedra is not good.

 

[oupulino]

I saw that pipeless one looks amazing and about skimmer it looks very nice and well build I'm getting one tomorrow.
Skimmer is made in US so that is great we have to support our economy , right ?

What is best hight for this skimmer it says between 7" 10 "

 

[New2reefz]

I just got my cad lights pls-50 skimmer and I just got it tuned and runs great so far I love it and only have it in about 3"-4" of water

 

[banshee]

review on the vertex omega 150?

 

[Reefing Madness]

review on the vertex omega 150?

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/120649-vertex-omega-150-protein-skimmer.html

 

[mfinn]

I have a Bubble Master 250 skimmer that has 2 sicce psk 2500 pumps.
I have put up with these tempermental pumps for almost 6 years and I have had it with them.

I would like to change out the pumps and am looking at 2 different pumps.
The first is the Bubble Blaster 5000 needle wheel pump.
The second is trying a pair of the sicce psk 1000 pumps, which are suppose to be a ton better than the psk 2500.

Anybody have any experince with the BM250 and new pumps?

 

[mfinn]

I have a Bubble Master 250 skimmer that has 2 sicce psk 2500 pumps.
I have put up with these tempermental pumps for almost 6 years and I have had it with them.

I would like to change out the pumps and am looking at 2 different pumps.
The first is the Bubble Blaster 5000 needle wheel pump.
The second is trying a pair of the sicce psk 1000 pumps, which are suppose to be a ton better than the psk 2500.

Anybody have any experince with the BM250 and new pumps?

Anyone have a idea?

 

[mcarroll]

The psk1000 is supposed to be a drop-in replacement and cure most of the 2500's problems. I think that's the direction I'd go.

-Matt

 

[mfinn]

The psk1000 is supposed to be a drop-in replacement and cure most of the 2500's problems. I think that's the direction I'd go.

-Matt

That is the direction I'm leaning.
Thanks

 

[charleshardy5]

Please forgive me if this is the wrong thread to ask this in but it is a skimmer question and I need an answer haha. So talking to the guys at my LFS about starting a saltwater setup, when it came time to purchase a skimmer I feel I may have jumped the gun for a good deal... I have a 56 gallon reef ready tank with a 20 long sump tank set up. The guy at the store pretty much put it to me like this when I asked about skimmers. "You would be fine with a skimmer rated less than your total water volume, you may until the tank is established have to empty the collection dish more often but once the tank is cycled and get it going it'll be fine". Now I'm very new to marine tanks my knowledge doesn't extend much beyond African cichlids when it comes to aquariums at all and the guy in the shop has some very impressive tanks set up and what not so I made the assumption that he might know what he's talking about since I have no freaking clue. So I bought a skimmer rated for 55 gallons... I haven't gotten the tank up and running yet and I keep thinking about my decision to take their word for it I guess... Am I gonna be OK with what I have or should I take it back and upgrade? Thanks! (God I hope that makes sense)

 

[mcarroll]

You may be OK...it depends on the skimmer and how you plan to stock the tank. If the tank will be overstocked with fish, an underrated skimmer will probably not be satisfactory. (I wouldn't recommend overstocking the tank anyway though.)

What skimmer is it? And can you post a photo?

-Matt

 

[charleshardy5]

You may be OK...it depends on the skimmer and how you plan to stock the tank. If the tank will be overstocked with fish, an underrated skimmer will probably not be satisfactory. (I wouldn't recommend overstocking the tank anyway though.)

What skimmer is it? And can you post a photo?

-Matt

Hey, thanks for the reply,its a fluval sea PS1, sorry I can't post pics ATM I'm pulling 24 hour duty in the barracks :banghead: but I do not plan on overstocking my tank, maybe just a clown or two, a starfish and my cleanup crew, really wanting to get into corals as well but nothing finicky as I'm just starting out!

 

[mcarroll]

I might look into an AquaC Remora or Urchin skimmer. (The remora is the hang-on version of the Urchin.) Remoras are a lot more common, but I think with a little patience you should be able to find either one used for around $100...maybe less without a pump. Urchins are great skimmers, with a really tiny footprint - about 3" x 7" from memory. Either one is rated for 75 gallons, but you can put a slightly bigger pump on it and cover up to 100-120 gallons. Perfect for your ~60 gallon system.

-Matt

 

[charleshardy5]

I might look into an AquaC Remora or Urchin skimmer. (The remora is the hang-on version of the Urchin.) Remoras are a lot more common, but I think with a little patience you should be able to find either one used for around $100...maybe less without a pump. Urchins are great skimmers, with a really tiny footprint - about 3" x 7" from memory. Either one is rated for 75 gallons, but you can put a slightly bigger pump on it and cover up to 100-120 gallons. Perfect for your ~60 gallon system.

-Matt

Hey right on! I'll be sure to check those out, thank you for the advice

 

[mcarroll]

...won't be as cheap, but an AquaC EV120 or Remora/Urchin Pro would also be an ok choice too. They're basically one size up.

-Matt

 

[joherq]

60 gallon tank here with 30 gallon sump, currently running eshopps psk75 and i am tired of it looking for a better skimmer. Maxed out on the bio load... What are my options guys?