Skimmer Q&A Thread

[LSKreefer]

Thanks, that's what all the reviews was saying that it was pretty good. I can't keep it running as it will keeping overflowing. How can you keep the water level low?

 

[427HISS]

Ok, so sorry I haven't been able to clean the tank for 2 weeks (very busy) so it's real dirty with salt spray and COCKATOO,....bird powder ! (yes, that's you my Shelby) !!! lol
Anyway, the amount of skimmate in the collection cup is 7 days of the darkest and smelly brown crap, that this skimmer puts out,
and there's only 3 small fish and not,...heavily fed.

Very east to adjust and clean. I just love this skimmer.

The newer one's have the new bubble plate and cone shape chamber. I would assume, the enhancement's make those even better.

Look at thick and tall the bubbles are in the reaction chamber !

 

[LSKreefer]

Thanks for the pictures, I hope mines gets that good. I thinking its the start up chemical that I used that keeps it overflowing.

 

[427HISS]

Yep, and bio & food related products will make any skimmer lower & rise. So, resist the urge to adjust the skimmer at these times.

 

[Jepsep]

Here's a question, all of a sudden the past few days my skimmer is going crazy and overflowing every few hours, after months of working perfect and getting good dark skim, now it's all clear and foam everywhere. Filter socks are clogging up in a few hours too instead of 2 days, any suggestions?

 

[s2nhle]

is there any change in water chemistry? several weeks ago, my skimmer was going crazy when my ato stuck and dumping a lot of kalk water in the sump. It also reacted to the live food that I feed my fish too. Another one is filter sock is new or just washed it.

 

[Tstead_504]

Does anyone run a Xenia refugium paralleled with a skimmer or perhaps as primary filtration?? Or know anything about a xenia filtration, there is not whole LOT of information about them. Please share photos, experience, and thoughts.

 

[Purpule Tang]

Hi,guys.
Today I bought reef octopus nwb 150 for 90 gallon tank is enough for my tank or not?
I like to keeping more lps,soft and several pieces sps.
Best,

 

[Mike J.]

Sure, it will be fine.

 

[Alwmh4]

size skimmer

Im sure in this giant thread this is addressed. I am trying to decide between a reef oct 200 and 220. My tank is 150 ga and my sump is 55. so Im looking at about 170-180 water volume when operational. 200 says it will accomidate 200 heavily stocked. However I read that you should buy a skimmer 1.5 times the water volume. It wont be an sps tank. Mixed probably. I've heard that you can overskim too. so....?

 

[mfinn]

I'm thinking about buying a ATI Power Cone 250-I skimmer.
Looking for anyone this has this skimmer and what they think of it.

ATI PowerCone 250 I-Series Skimmer with Controllable Pump

 

[codyren]

I just recently won a deltec sc1455 which is rated for up to 265 gallons. My question is, I am currently setting up a 40 gallon shallow system with 20 gallon sump. Is there such thing as a skimmer being "too big" for a system? The footprint on the skimmer is very small and would still sit perfect in my sump, and I love the skimmer. I just dont want to jeopordize anything with using it on this system. After consulting with a bunch of different LFS's, I am getting mixed reviews. Could anyone lead me in the right direction? Also, just want to add that I am not a newbie in the hobby, just the first time a unique situation like this presented itself (I never win raffles!). Any good input on this would help!

 

[s2nhle]

Yes, it is too big for your tank. It will probably sit iddle most of the time.

 

[mcarroll]

I just recently won a deltec sc1455 which is rated for up to 265 gallons.
[...]I just dont want to jeopordize anything with using it on this system.

First, you're not going to hurt anything by trying it on your tank. Unless you have another reason not to, I'd at least try the skimmer out - you might be surprised that it skims fine and then you've got a skimmer to keep through your next upgrade.

That said, it's a pretty big skimmer - good for about 150 gallons by my guess. If it does end up being "too big", what does that mean? There are a couple of possible outcomes. One, is that it may only skim for a short period of time each day. This is probably fine, but can make some people think there's something wrong with the skimmer or their tank. The other possibility is that it's so big that there's never enough DOC to form a foam head big enough to reach the skimmer cup - then your skimmer neck just get fouled up. Doesn't hurt anything, still takes out grunge, but does put more work on you to keep the skimmer clean.

If you have no plans to upgrade, then selling or trading this skimmer is a no-brainer IMO.

 

[Orly20]

Hello,

I'm going to up grade real soon and I'm looking at 150 gallons between dt and sump. The tank will be only sps and I know there are a bunch of new skimmers and designs out there now. I would love to know what are my best options for a budget of $700-$800 to work with?

Thanks

 

[mcarroll]

You needn't spend that much on a skimmer. And FWIW any new tech you've seen or heard about doesn't alter the basic physics of skimming which limit all skimmers equally.

Get a good one, just be aware that they all share the same limits.

Check out the Tunze 9410. Good traditional shape, and with modern features that actually make it better to own. The 9415 is a very reasonable upgrade from the 9410, but is for larger systems...could be too big.

$0.02.

 

[Alwmh4]

For a tank that's about 180 total volume, mixed reef... Reef octopus regal 200 or tunze 9410? Those are two that will fit in my sump

 

[mcarroll]

The closer to 200+ gallons, the more I'd think of the 9430. The RO seems too expensive or too small.

 

[210reef]

I just recently purchased a used sro 3000 reef octopus skimmer and I just started a brand new tank ben cycling for 2 weeks turned on skimmer and all it does is overflow. it is in 6.5 inches of water, checked the pump to make sure it was perfectly clean adjusted gate valve no matter what I do it just overflows what can I do to make it operate correctly??

 

[Reefing Madness]

Break in period. Gotta let it break in. Also, take it back off and give it a vinegar bath, this will help remove the resin on the acrylic, thats causing the issues.