Skimmer Q&A Thread

[Ben little79]

I think ive had mine about 6 months. Its definitely an up grade from the instant ocean skimmer i used prior to this one. Before that i always used the hang on style prizm. I like my reef octopus

 

[ATB USA]

The reef octopus i use is great. Its just super sensitive to the changes in water levels in my sump. Im saving for ato now to fix that. Any suggestions on a good reliable ato

Avast makes a good one.
Autotopoff.com makes good ones. Get the two float one

 

[Gravityreefing]

Wow you have a super nice one mine is just like yours only smaller i have the 110. I use it on a 125 mostly a fowlr tank couple softies like mushrooms and zoos. I like mine its easy to clean and set back up. How often is your cup filling up

Ben I ha entry used mine yet am in the process of setting my tank up. I built a 180 gallon tank and plumbed it and built a stand for it as well with magnetic doors and a canopy. Everything on it is magnetic. I will post some pics soon. Am renovating the room for it right now. Just wanted to see if you liked yours.. Bc am stuck with mine lfs won't take it back bc it's been too long me having it..

 

[HappyDays]

Hi guys, I was wondering what your experience/opinion might be in regard to buying a protein skimmer for my setting.

I have a 55g (fish + corals) and I use a seaclone 100 (that i have modified) which works ok.

About 3 months ago I got a 40g aquarium, which I set up to host mainly corals. In my garage I had an unused Terminator II, however while it works fine it is noisy, needs a lot of room near the aquarium, and leaks.

So I have decided to upgrade one of them.

I am now debated whether I should buy another seacloone and then modify it for the 40g (leaving the 55g unaltered) or move the old seaclone from the 55g to the 40g and get a better one for the 55g. One problem is that I don't have a sump and so my options are limited to hang on skimmers.

I was wondering if you guys have any suggestion/experience of a good hang on skimmer.

 

[mcarroll]

If it is brand-new, in the box, selling it here on the forum or your local reef club (for example) wouldn't be a bad move if that's what you want to do. You could probably get what you paid for it or at least really close. Or use it a while and see if it maybe is just fine for you. If not then you can sell used and feel like at least you gave it a try and got some use out of it.

 

[mcarroll]

[…]I was wondering if you guys have any suggestion/experience of a good hang on skimmer.

Tunze's in-tank, magnetically mounted skimmers and AquaC's Remora are my favorites for your scenario.

 

[Ben little79]

I use to use two hang on red sea prizm skimmers very little is visible in tank and they pull alot of foam out . only problem with them was you have to adjust them just right so no micro bubbles go into tank and there not the easiest to clean back to new quality

 

[mcarroll]

For some reason it didn't click the first time I read that you were still shopping for an ATO. Any skimmer is going to be sensitive to a variable water level. I definitely wouldn't bother trying to run a skimmer if I did not have an ATO. Manually dosing RO water on at least a daily basis to maintain level is an option to an ATO, however. Just not a very convenient one.

 

[Ben little79]

Yeah i know it really bites i cant wait to get ato. Wut brand you use?

 

[mcarroll]

Anything with an electronic sensor, really.

I use an Ultralife currently, and it's a good basic one. Any of the ones mentioned should be just as good. Tunze makes some nice ones.

I don't like the ones based on mechanical floats like those typically used for RO vats or the ones that use airline and a pressure sensor.

 

[HappyDays]

@ Mcarroll: thanks for your suggestion. I want to get a better skimmer for the 55g since it is slowly becoming fuller with corals and fish. I am also planning to buy an ATO to keep it leveled (if you have any thoughts about i am open to any tips).

At another level, I was wondering how difficult would it be to set up a sump system: is there any drilling in the aquarium?

 

[Ben little79]

Just bye over flow box and a sump no drilling or taking tank down its super simple.

 

[Ben little79]

How far away from wall is your tank? You need atleast 6inches from wall to back of tank to get an over flow in and to maintenance it when necessary.

 

[Ben little79]

The tunze was nice . it looked so small wasnt sure if it was good. Thankyou for the tip.

 

[Ben little79]

Wut about the water refill genie by fins. Has anyone ever heard of or used this product. Thought about this ato but also wasnt sure.

 

[HappyDays]

I don;t have 6" from the wall, unfortunately it's 2" probably 3" at the best. I made the mistake when I first got my thank to place it too close to the wall.

But I am now seriously considering an ATO to add to my thank, and as I said earlier, I am open to suggestions about good skimmers (hang on) that fit within $200 budget.

 

[Ben little79]

The prizm red seas are about100.00 a unit. How about an over flow on the side you have room there.

 

[BW208]

I've always had a reef aquarium. Never done fowlr before. But I acquired a 200g tank that I am going to turn into a fowlr. What skimmer do you guys recommend for that setup. Not positive on stocking list yet. It's a ways away. I'm sure there will be a pretty heavy bio load though.

 

[HappyDays]

Indeed, that is where I have currently my SeaClone. I want to replace it, and add something more "robust", especially because the aquarium is getting crowded, mainly corals are doing well and growing.

I am probably going to get a Reef Octopus Bh2000. what do you guys think?

Also, what about the BakPak2? Has anybody used it? what do you guys think?

 

[Ben little79]

Wut are the down falls on using trickle filter on reef tank. Should i convert my wet dry to reef sock.