Skimmer Q&A Thread

townjas · Feb 4, 2015

I would still like to know if anyone sees a problem with running my skimmer below the "Water Level Mini". I know that closing the gate valve is letting less water through the skimmer, but am I going to damage the pump?

reefermadness55 · Feb 4, 2015

soo my skimmer stopped bubbling a few days ago, i have a cpr bakpak 2 i believe, if i blow into the air intake, it starts bubbling a little bit again then stops after a half hour or so, it feels clogged when i blow, but the airline is totally clean. any solutions or ideas?

luke33 · Feb 4, 2015

townjas said:
I would still like to know if anyone sees a problem with running my skimmer below the "Water Level Mini". I know that closing the gate valve is letting less water through the skimmer, but am I going to damage the pump?

Unless you run the pump dry it will be fine. The issue may be that your skimmer won't skim because the water inside the skimmer is to low.

luke33 · Feb 4, 2015

reefermadness55 said:
soo my skimmer stopped bubbling a few days ago, i have a cpr bakpak 2 i believe, if i blow into the air intake, it starts bubbling a little bit again then stops after a half hour or so, it feels clogged when i blow, but the airline is totally clean. any solutions or ideas?

Clean out the venturi and pump and it will pry be fine.

DJE · Feb 4, 2015

Hi- I'm in the market to buy another skimmer and would like to try an external skimmer this time around. I currently run an JNS SK-3 on my Elos. My tank with sump is 150g total water volume. It is SPS dominate and I have a few fish. I would like to add more fish so it'll be a heavy bio load. My budget is $500 to $600. Any recommendations on an external skimmer?

mikebev6 · Feb 4, 2015

Aquac Remora

What's your opinion on the Aquac Remora? I have a 75 gallon display, with a 29 gallon sump. I have about 100+ pounds of liverock. One blue green chromis, and two bangai cardinals. I think I have a decent cuc.

s2nhle · Feb 5, 2015

any corals? LPS? SPS? Soft?

mikebev6 · Feb 5, 2015

I have a few different frags of zoas, some palys, a hammer, a birdsnest frag, 2 toadstools, a devils hand, a peppermint/trumpet, a smaller acan colony, and a brain maze coral.

DJE · Feb 6, 2015

DJE said:
Hi- I'm in the market to buy another skimmer and would like to try an external skimmer this time around. I currently run an JNS SK-3 on my Elos. My tank with sump is 150g total water volume. It is SPS dominate and I have a few fish. I would like to add more fish so it'll be a heavy bio load. My budget is $500 to $600. Any recommendations on an external skimmer?

Any one?

mandarin417 · Feb 6, 2015

DJE - Chat with Jeff at lifereef.com. He makes very well built solid venturi skimmers which I believe out perform the modern skimmers.

From an earlier post on this thread: I just converted from a contemporary skimmer to a tried and true venturi like I had 18 years ago from LifeReef.com. I forgot how well those skimmers performed and how easy they are to maintain. Jeff is a terrific person to work with if you have any questions or need recommendations. I have a SVS3-24 driven by a Sicce Silent Synca 5 on my 160ish gallon system. Jeff's design makes the skimmer very quiet.

s2nhle · Feb 6, 2015

mandarin417 said:
DJE - Chat with Jeff at lifereef.com. He makes very well built solid venturi skimmers which I believe out perform the modern skimmers.

From an earlier post on this thread: I just converted from a contemporary skimmer to a tried and true venturi like I had 18 years ago from LifeReef.com. I forgot how well those skimmers performed and how easy they are to maintain. Jeff is a terrific person to work with if you have any questions or need recommendations. I have a SVS3-24 driven by a Sicce Silent Synca 5 on my 160ish gallon system. Jeff's design makes the skimmer very quiet.

+1 for the price Lifereef is one of the good skimmer out there.

Partsman41953 · Feb 7, 2015

I am here also for advice on a skimmer. I have a 90 gallon tank which I am setting up and will be using a 30 gallon Aqueon tank for
my skimmer and just add the baffles after I find a skimmer. My problem is that since I am new to having an aquarium and sump...my 28 gallon
now uses a HOB Reef Octopus skimmer, and I purchased a short stand thinking it would be easier to clean. I was not aware that I needed
the extra height to get a skimmer in and out. I have 23" from the bottom of my stand to the bottom of the aquarium, when I put the aquarium
on the stand so I am limited in size. The sump is 16-3/4" high. I plan on housing LPS and SPS coral along with some fish and a clean up
crew with maybe some shrimp. Since I am working on a limited budget as I need to acquire the rest of the equipment as well which skimmer
would you suggest I go with. I hear a lot of people say go with the Reef Octopus NWB 150. I see that is a good skimmer but it is 22" tall and
I do not know if I will be able to get the cup off to clean it.

Please let me know which skimmer you would suggest.

Thanks

mcarroll · Feb 7, 2015

mikebev6 said:
What's your opinion on the Aquac Remora? I have a 75 gallon display, with a 29 gallon sump. I have about 100+ pounds of liverock. One blue green chromis, and two bangai cardinals. I think I have a decent cuc.

The Remora is a proven skimmer for your tank size. It's also very flexible, easy to clean and easy to find for sale used.

Partsman41953 said:
I am here also for advice on a skimmer. I have a 90 gallon tank which I am setting up and will be using a 30 gallon Aqueon tank for
my skimmer and just add the baffles after I find a skimmer. My problem is [...]I purchased a short stand thinking it would be easier to clean. [â€¦]I have 23" from the bottom of my stand to the bottom of the aquarium[...]

Check out the Tunze 9410 - it may be short enough.

If not, I'd check with Reef Dynamics and AquaC (USA manufacturers) about a custom skimmer. Shouldn't be a problem.

Snitter · Feb 7, 2015

Does the water in my sump need to be at the min mark for the skimmer to work properly. Its a reef octopus 150

s2nhle · Feb 9, 2015

I can't see the output from your pic. do not submerge the skimmer output. The waterline should be below the water out gate.

Snitter · Feb 9, 2015

Its well below the output there. But from what you said I can run the water up to the bottom of the output

Big Larr · Feb 11, 2015

Hey sorry for the ignorance as I have never used a skimmer but I have seen some on eBay for $35 and was wondering if they would work or not and if you say not then what is the good reason why you are saying not

AaronOB82 · Feb 11, 2015

I have a 14" hang on skimmer/refugium setup and I absolutely love it. Its inexpensive. Only $70! I got in from AquaTraders.com
Hope this helped!

LSKreefer · Feb 15, 2015

Hi everyone, I upgraded my 20g long nano to a 46g bow-front and I got all the goodies a better light, filter and a aqua maxx hob skimmer. Now this is basically a new aquarium except for my corals and live rock that I took from my 20g plus added some live rock. I set up my skimmer as the directions stated (not very clear) but got on line and watched a couple videos.

My dilemma is when I turn it on it goes crazy and keeps overflowing. So what am I doing wrong or is it because the aquarium is newish. I have put in some bacteria daily as well.

Can someone give me some advise on how to get this started.

Thanks
Linda

427HISS · Feb 15, 2015

Congrats on selecting the best HOB- skimmer on the market !

I bought one and liked it so much, I bought a second.

Which model is yours, the HOB-1 ?

Don't worry, the skimmer will break in within a week or so.
Keep the water level low for this period.

I'll take a pic of my wife's 29g and show you just how well these guys work !!!

I went through 3 skimmers, including the TUNZE 9001, and mine kicks their butt's.