Skimmer Q&A Thread

Connie · Aug 29, 2012

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I have a question. I presently have a Marineland 100 in-sump skimmer. It has done an OK job for almost 3 years, but needs a new motor now, but I would prefer to buy a more rugged, reliable, quiet skimmer. What would you recommend for a 90g mixed reef, dsb, heavy load. It must be in-sump with smallest footprint possible. The left side is the refugium which is enclosed and had filter tray and bioballs, but I removed the bioballs and replaced with cheato. The right side is the sump 11 3/4 x 13 1/2 and that is where I need to put the new skimmer. Your recommendation will be very much appreciated!

Connie

uf_gators · Aug 29, 2012

You bet... I spent a lot of time searching and reading and asking ? Everywhere .... If I had to do it again. Yes I would still get the CS1.... The other would had been a Octo with the better blaster pump. But the stellar deal I got on a skimmer that sells everywhere else for 300+ , I cant complain ...

byronious · Sep 18, 2012

I will be starting my 55g tank in about 3 weeks. My wife & I are excited. She already wants to go bigger. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, including these forums. My question is this. Is it okay to get a skimmer for a bigger tank like 125g and run it on the 55g until I upgrade tanks?
Thanks

Troylee · Sep 18, 2012

byronious said:
I will be starting my 55g tank in about 3 weeks. My wife & I are excited. She already wants to go bigger. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, including these forums. My question is this. Is it okay to get a skimmer for a bigger tank like 125g and run it on the 55g until I upgrade tanks?
Thanks

You can but don't expect it to work very well after a week or 2... For the first 2 weeks it will run like a champ then go into idle mode and only skim periodically... If your planning a upgrade in the near future I would go for it.... If your talking a couple years down the road I would get a properly sized skimmer now...hth

byronious · Sep 18, 2012

Thanks Troy Lee. I will take your advice.

uf_gators · Sep 18, 2012

byronious said:
I will be starting my 55g tank in about 3 weeks. My wife & I are excited. She already wants to go bigger. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, including these forums. My question is this. Is it okay to get a skimmer for a bigger tank like 125g and run it on the 55g until I upgrade tanks?
Thanks

Yes..... Especially if you decide to upgrade down the road to a 75,90,... It will not hurt your tank f
To go to the next size up.

jlymner · Sep 18, 2012

any thoughts on the CPR skimmers?

Troylee · Sep 18, 2012

jlymner said:
any thoughts on the CPR skimmers?

I'd pass if possible.... They work but there on the bottom of the list..

jlymner · Sep 21, 2012

so the motor on the CPR is intermitant... I have a 46 gal bow front with just a couple of fish (clowns) and maybe a doz soft coarls.. should get a new pump or a new skimmer... I do have a sump.. don't know how much room I have though...

I was running the CPR hob off the back of the skimmer...

mojo · Sep 21, 2012

The tunze 9006, the seaside cs1 or cs 5.5 would both do well.

jlymner · Sep 23, 2012

Only about a 7"x7" opening in the sump.. Typically 7" in of water in it....

jlymner · Sep 25, 2012

hmm reading the directions on the

The tunze 9006 sounds like it will work in my sump... right?
They can also be used in aquarium cabinets withvariable levels from 100 to 280 mm (3.9 to 11 in.). Inthis mode, the accessories are used to generate aconstant internal water level; in this case the watercirculates with an inlet of 100 percent of aquariumwater. The cartridge core on the outlet pipe ensures

bubble-free outgoing water

mcarroll · Sep 26, 2012

You are correct.

Unless you have a particularly deep zone in your sump that can accommodate the 9006's depth requirement (you're close, so check), you would need to employ the sump conversion kit. This will add a few inches to the 9006's footprint, so if you need this addition it would be worth-while to get the exact measurements of the "enhanced" skimmer.

FWIW, while the 9006 is also one of the skimmers I would recommend, a new replacement CPR Accela pump for your skimmer is only about $22 at various online establishments. If you were satisfied with the CPR's performance before, I wouldn't let a worn out pump change your mind - this would be your most economical route to get a working skimmer.

If you wanted to shop used, the AquaC Urchin is also a fine skimmer that would fit your space. The Urchin and its nearly identical hang-on cousin the Remora would both be fairly common on the used equipment forums and classified sites - ballpark price should be under $100.

-Matt

jlymner · Sep 26, 2012

Thanks alas I got maybe a tablespoon or two of green water from the CPR in the couple of months it ran :squigglemouth: so looking for an upgrade I think part of the problem was trying to get it fit in the sump hanging on the back... also the pump stopped putting out bubbles so I added an air stone before the pump died again...

zemuss · Sep 26, 2012

Mojo,

What is the best skimmer for a 34 gallon?

I currently am using the Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 and can't seem to get it dialed in properly. If I don't keep the neck clean it will reduce the amount of skimmate. However, the skimmate is more wet than I have seen others show and wonder if it is a dial in issue, meaning I am running it too wet or wrong water level. Currently I have it in about 8 1/2 inches of water and dialed in at 4.

"Z"

Rev a suggestion on these types of thread would be to create a book mark because it is very hard to find the information you require.

Connie · Sep 26, 2012

I had asked a few weeks ago for recommendations on a skimmer for a 90g reef. Well, scratch that. I somehow talked the hubby into getting a 180g! I am going to be using the same sump and need something with a small footprint that will fit in 12 x 14. I will have sand, medium load. I have been doing some research and The AquaMaxx EcoMaxx EM200 has good reviews. Does anyone here have experience with it? Is there another one that would do a better job? I don't want to break the bank, but I don't want to get a cheapie and waste money either. Suggestions and recommendations?

Reef Rover · Sep 29, 2012

I am new to the hobby and have been doing a slow build on a 100 gallon with an eventual 30 gallon sump/refugium. Ran into you guys today at the MACNA show. We used to do Cichlids so the tank will be heavier on fish and lite on LPS/softies. Initially I strapped a Reef Octopus BH1000 on to get the tank started until I figured out what to do and had the intent of moving it to a 30 gallon QT later. Now I am trying to research out the replacement skimmer and think I have it down to one of 3:
1. Skimz SM-121
2. Hydor Performer 705
3. Eshopps PSK-200

I want to "over skim" due to the fish bio load will probably be medium to heavy with only 6 - 8 LPS/softies to start with until we get comfy with the coral aspect of the hobby. Any one of these a clear cut winner or am I missing one that would be better in the $220.00 - $300.00 price point.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Rover

GratefulReef · Sep 30, 2012

Hmm, its funny I was just talking about my skimmer being the next upgrade after my lights in a couple weeks. I have a 75g mixed reef tank currently running a seaclone(i know theyre not too great) Money is not an issue to a certain point, so what Im asking is give me a high end, a middle and a low end that way I can shop around, used/new etc and see whats avail to me. HOB models only please my sump isnt setup for a skimmer atm. The seaclone seems to work, but I realize it could be better. Thanks in advance!

mcarroll · Sep 30, 2012

Connie said:
I had asked a few weeks ago for recommendations on a skimmer for a 90g reef. Well, scratch that. I somehow talked the hubby into getting a 180g! I am going to be using the same sump and need something with a small footprint that will fit in 12 x 14. I will have sand, medium load. I have been doing some research and The AquaMaxx EcoMaxx EM200 has good reviews. Does anyone here have experience with it? Is there another one that would do a better job? I don't want to break the bank, but I don't want to get a cheapie and waste money either. Suggestions and recommendations?

Due to the fact that there's a limited amount of good any skimmer is going to be able to do (physics...link) there's good reason to economize, but I would caution against cheaping out as well. You will get what you pay for, within the price-range of reason.

The smart way to economize is to key in on the fact that skimmers don't really wear out: Buy Used! (Of course classifieds and other resources are also available.) There are many good possibilities that you might see come up for sale if you give it a bit of time. A short, but necessarily incomplete, hotlist that I would suggest...focusing on high performance, and likelihood of being offered for sale: AquaC EV150 through EV240, Euro Reef (many models possible), Tunze 9011 (or larger), Tunze 9410. (There are a range of Euro Reef knock-offs that would also be serviceable, including Reef Octopus. Cone skimmers are also Euro Reef clones with a smaller skimmer body - if you are deciding between skimmers don't pay more for this shape.) ETSS has a range of possible options if the price were attractive.

Reef Rover said:
I am new to the hobby and have been doing a slow build on a 100 gallon with an eventual 30 gallon sump/refugium. Ran into you guys today at the MACNA show. We used to do Cichlids so the tank will be heavier on fish and lite on LPS/softies. Initially I strapped a Reef Octopus BH1000 on to get the tank started until I figured out what to do and had the intent of moving it to a 30 gallon QT later. Now I am trying to research out the replacement skimmer and think I have it down to one of 3:
1. Skimz SM-121
2. Hydor Performer 705
3. Eshopps PSK-200

I want to "over skim" due to the fish bio load will probably be medium to heavy with only 6 - 8 LPS/softies to start with until we get comfy with the coral aspect of the hobby. Any one of these a clear cut winner or am I missing one that would be better in the $220.00 - $300.00 price point.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Rover

Just a point of fact about the skimming vis a vie the LPS/softie plan. Presuming you have no intent on abusing the tank with fish load/feeding load, there's a very good argument to be made for under or even NOT skimming a tank like this. All that fish poop (and its resultant bacteria-laden morsels) is exactly what these corals want to eat! I would not change from the skimmer you have only on the basis you have stated. Now if you know going into it that your going to be jamming a lot of fish (and subsequently a lot of food!) into the tank, then sooner or later you will be pulling out all the stops to make it work: oversized skimmer, GFO and carbon reactor(s), maybe even an algae scrubber (aka ATS).

For higher value, I would be shopping on the used market for some of the same brands mentioned to Connie above. (Smaller models than those recommended, including the AquaC Remora and Urchin Pro models, would be most appropriate.) I run a system the size of yours (but heavy SPS, low fish) on an AquaC EV90 (similar size-wise to those Pro models) which easily handles the tank.

GratefulReef said:
Hmm, its funny I was just talking about my skimmer being the next upgrade after my lights in a couple weeks. I have a 75g mixed reef tank currently running a seaclone(i know theyre not too great) Money is not an issue to a certain point, so what Im asking is give me a high end, a middle and a low end that way I can shop around, used/new etc and see whats avail to me. HOB models only please my sump isnt setup for a skimmer atm. The seaclone seems to work, but I realize it could be better. Thanks in advance!

For a hang-on solution on a tank your size, it's hard to beat the value of a used (and I'll start sounding like a broken record here...) AquaC Remora. Without a pump I've seen these go for $70 or sometimes less if you're patient and put some effort into looking. With a pump, right around $100 is common.

Something you did not mention, but which I would heartily consider, is one of the Tunze in-tank skimmers. Very compact 4"x4" 'footprint', and nothing ugly or noisy hanging off the outside of your tank! Again with patience and diligence you may find a Tunze 9006 (or similar but older 9005) or 9010 on the used market, but if the price for a brand spanking new one is within range, it's still quite worth it and recommended IMO. In fact, if you'd like to look at a really complete solution for an "all in one" tank such as yours, check out their Reefpack 505. Beefy skimmer, sweetest ATO on the market, and very nice power carbon/floss/whatever-you-want filter for additional filtration/circulation - all integrated to a really tidy, unobtrusive package.

-Matt