Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mcarroll]

Because I'm low on funds I'm using a used coral life 125 super skimmer. I know they're not even close to being considered decent by many reefers and at first I would have agreed. It either wouldn't work, or it would skim pure white bubbles. After a break in period of over a month and it stopping completely it's finally pulling dark black and green nasty skim haha. I'm saving up for after the move when I set the cube up to put a reef octopus on this tank. B

Awesome!

Keep in mind that as long as this skimmer is performing WELL like that but NOT skimming 24/7 (a good thing), a new skimmer isn't going to do any better. (An under-sized skimmer would be skimming 24/7.) As long as it is doing the job and isn't too bad to keep clean, I'd keep what you already put money in.

If you were going to buy new anyway, I think I'd look for a sale or otherwise a better value than what you are loking at presently.

-Matt

 

[Connie]

+1 on the Aqua C. I have the EV240 on my 180g and it does a great job and its easy to clean. My 2nd choice would be Aqua Maxx.

 

[ohio reefer]

Awesome!

Keep in mind that as long as this skimmer is performing WELL like that but NOT skimming 24/7 (a good thing), a new skimmer isn't going to do any better. (An under-sized skimmer would be skimming 24/7.) As long as it is doing the job and isn't too bad to keep clean, I'd keep what you already put money in.

If you were going to buy new anyway, I think I'd look for a sale or otherwise a better value than what you are loking at presently.

-Matt

Thanks! I'm looking at all brands and trying to see what would work best for me. And when I say not working I don't mean not skimming. I mean no water is being pulled through it. The pump was not pulling In any water. I may just replace the pump and re use this skimmer.

 

[mcarroll]

Replacing the pump SHOULD be a lot cheaper. :)

-Matt

 

[saltyaquatic]

What would be a good skimmer for a 60 gallon frag tank? Money isn't a huge factor but wanna get bang for the $ as well?

Thanks

 

[mcarroll]

What would be a good skimmer for a 60 gallon frag tank? Money isn't a huge factor but wanna get bang for the $ as well?

I'd look for a used AquaC Remora. Great skimmer, very flexible, super easy to maintain...should be able to find a used one for ~$100 or less, I'd guess... Has to be the best bang:buck for your tank size.

I tried to think of a reason to spend more, but I'm not coming up with any reasons that are very significant.

Is the tank intended to be mobile/for show at all?
I like the simplicity of an all-in-one frag system, but were you planning to plumb a sump anyway?
Any other requirements aside from gallonage?

-Matt

 

[mfinn]

What would be a good skimmer for a 60 gallon frag tank? Money isn't a huge factor but wanna get bang for the $ as well?

Thanks

Have a sump?

 

[saltyaquatic]

skimmer

Will have a sump. it will be for a home frag tank. Was looking at the 100g reef octo, but wanted to ask for opinions first.

Thanks for the replys.

 

[mfinn]

Will have a sump. it will be for a home frag tank. Was looking at the 100g reef octo, but wanted to ask for opinions first.

Thanks for the replys.

One of the best smaller skimmers I've used is the SSA skimmers.

I have one on my 50 and it just keeps skimming away producing a full cup of dark skimate every 4-5 days.
Sea Side Aquatics CS Series Internal Protein Skimmers

There are a ton of skimmers to pick from.
Good luck

 

[mcarroll]

Will have a sump. it will be for a home frag tank. Was looking at the 100g reef octo, but wanted to ask for opinions.

So is it a grow out tank or a sales tank? Trying to get an idea what the scenario will be for these frags.

Reef Octos are pricey to me. Unless you find a good deal or buy used I'd keep looking.

Used AquaC EX120's are pretty easy to find used and should be a much better value, just for one suggestion. Their Urchin model would be a good fit too, but a lot more rare to find than the 120.

How much are you thinking of paying?

 

[saltyaquatic]

will be a grow out tank. It's funny you mention the urchin because I happen to have one in the garage. Might go well with a jebao dc pump.

thanks for all the info guys!

 

[mcarroll]

will be a grow out tank. It's funny you mention the urchin because I happen to have one in the garage. Might go well with a jebao dc pump.

thanks for all the info guys!

Bingo...sometimes there's no better skimmer than then one you already own! :) Amazingly small footprint for the amount of skim you can get too.

-Matt

 

[Tropboi561]

So my pump for my skimmer is dead. I bought a new impeller thinking that was it. The pump is a Sedra 3500 with 350 gph. So my question is, can I use a different pump on the skimmer.

 

[mcarroll]

Almost surely, yes. (You can still get a Sedra 3500, too.)

What skimmer is it?

-Matt

 

[Tropboi561]

It's the ASM G2 skimmer

 

[mcarroll]

I think you just have to figure out which size plumbing you have and any pump with similar sized plumbing will fit.

Getting the correct water throughput would be the only trick...and there has to be a ton of threads with how it's worked out for other people who've tried as that's a skimmer that's been around a while.

A Sedra 3500 isn't that expensive (<$100) though, so maybe that's not a bad way to go?

-Matt

 

[Railcar79]

Any input on the Bubble Magnus Curve 5? I have an older Reef Octopus 150 with the slip tube, and I am looking for a bottom pump model that will fit better in a 10 inch deep (front to back) sump, for a 72 bow.

 

[mcarroll]

Any input on the Bubble Magnus Curve 5? I have an older Reef Octopus 150 with the slip tube, and I am looking for a bottom pump model that will fit better in a 10 inch deep (front to back) sump, for a 72 bow.

Why are you switching?

-Matt

 

[Railcar79]

Cause the reef octopus isn't that good. I had to change the impeller because the original broke. The new impeller wasn't foaming like the old one, so I replaced the entire pump, still not working like it was. So rather than throwing more money at an old skimmer that barely fits in my sump, might as well replace with a new one.

 

[Railcar79]

And for clarity, my reef octopus is the old model with the slip tube and the old style pump