Skimmer Q&A Thread

[HSLSaltwater]

Nice!

glad to hear you got it figured out!

report back on how it's performing once it gets bedded in;)

very neat skimmer you got there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to try to get one that was as quiet as possible to be “allowed” to have it in the living room . So a bummer when it was louder then everything else. But it’s seems to be very quiet now. So I’m going to photograph all the parts and send it to them so I didn’t do something weird that will damage the pump.

Atm it’s dead silent and makes less sounds then my mp40 when the sump is closed.

 

[jeancarlosc]

I bought a Skimz sh1 skimer and the pump burned out.
I can't find it to buy!
Is there a similar pump

 

[reeftivo]

I bought a Skimz sh1 skimer and the pump burned out.
I can't find it to buy!
Is there a similar pump

probably better off with something like the ice cap K1 nano

 

[tmbrun01]

This is the official R2R Skimmer Q&A Thread where the answers to your questions are as concentrated as skimmate!

We will do our best as a community to answer questions you have concerning protein skimmers so ask away!

Thank you!

Question for all of you with more experience tuning skimmers. My tank has been up and running about 9 months and I continue struggling with tuning. The issue thou is my Skimate Foam is too stable and it doesn't collapse in the cup. As you can see from pictures it will lift the cover and actually flow over the sides. Any thought on how to get this balanced.

 

[reeftivo]

Question for all of you with more experience tuning skimmers. My tank has been up and running about 9 months and I continue struggling with tuning. The issue thou is my Skimate Foam is too stable and it doesn't collapse in the cup. As you can see from pictures it will lift the cover and actually flow over the sides. Any thought on how to get this balanced.

what skimmer is that? looks flanged with screws. lifereef, MRC, bashsea?

i see no deflector ring on the lid which could be the main issue. Also should have the foam head at least an inch lower IMO. i would set that foam head along the bottom of the cup.

 

[reeftivo]

 

[tmbrun01]

The skimmer is an external recirculating REEFLO unit. I'll try adjusting the head height down a little and see if that helps. At times I felt was running too dry of skimmate, so much so that the particles built up on the walls of the cup like peanut butter. I started running it a little more wet to at least get the material to flow down into the external skimmate collector.

 

[Cheezle]

In case someone googles "what skimmer fits in the back of a red sea max nano peninsula 26 gal" the answer is the Innovative Marine Nano AIO protein skimmer. It has to go in sideways but by golly it works

The adjustment band can be annoying to deal with but it's not too bad. The lid could also be heavier to keep itself down but as far as I'm concerned it does it's job well lol

Ph has also increased a lil bit as well, by .2. Not loud either. Very happy with my purchase

Skimmed goodness

 

[reeftivo]

I would lower internal level a bit more and weight the lid with something on top.

full disclosure, i have owned a lot of skimmers but not one to the Reefflo units. hope someone chimes in for you with user experience. Good luck

 

[EchoPear]

Why do people often say “nano skimmers are junk” or that they are “useless” or not worth your time/money because they don’t do anything? I never understood the why behind it or how that is measured.

I am setting up a 33 Long glass box with no sump that eventually I would like to fill with life and shorten my water change intervals with a high bioload. I was looking at things like the new Sicce shark skimmers, the aqua ready hang on HF-M or one of their standalone skimmers, and others I can’t remember the name of on BRS.

I know the sicce ones are a needle wheel which after reading the skimmer rundown sticky seems like a good technology for a skimmer. Is the “all nano skimmers are junk” just an old saying? Could someone explain why?

Thanks! I’m new

 

[ClownSchool]

I know my Tunze was good up to 18 gallons with heavy bio load, 25 gallons for moderate, and it ran like a champ.

 

[EchoPear]

I know my Tunze was good up to 18 gallons with heavy bio load, 25 gallons for moderate, and it ran like a champ.

Do you mind specifying which model you had? Thanks

I hear the tunze nano skimmers are a pain to clean

 

[reeftivo]

Why do people often say “nano skimmers are junk” or that they are “useless” or not worth your time/money because they don’t do anything? I never understood the why behind it or how that is measured.

I am setting up a 33 Long glass box with no sump that eventually I would like to fill with life and shorten my water change intervals with a high bioload. I was looking at things like the new Sicce shark skimmers, the aqua ready hang on HF-M or one of their standalone skimmers, and others I can’t remember the name of on BRS.

I know the sicce ones are a needle wheel which after reading the skimmer rundown sticky seems like a good technology for a skimmer. Is the “all nano skimmers are junk” just an old saying? Could someone explain why?

Thanks! I’m new

Nano skimmers are not necessarily junk. They just dont have the bubble chamber size and dwell time to be as effective as larger in sump or external skimmers. Bigger, taller in sump or external skimmers will generally have longer dwell times for the bubbles to bounce around in the chamber and collect proteins on their surfaces. Nanos, not so much. The nanos reaction chambers are small so dwell time is at a minimal before the bubbles rise up into the collection cup. My experience with nanos was okay at best. i found they do provide some helpful added aeration to help with pH swings and a bit of a safety valve in the event there is some unexpected die off or nutrient spike. Like any skimmer, they can over foam if there is some sort of unforeseen die off or overfeeding, so in sump skimmers and nano skimmers that fit in an AIO chamber have some protections for foam spill off, but hang ons have the risk of dumping on the floor behind the tank. you can control nutrients with 10% weekly WC's but if you go the nano skimmer route it does have it's benefits. Draw backs for me were cleaning and frequency of cleanings compared to larger skimmers.

 

[ClownSchool]

Do you mind specifying which model you had? Thanks

I hear the tunze nano skimmers are a pain to clean

I was wrong. It’s good up to 37 gallons.
It’s a Comline mode.
Ran super quiet and created really thick Skimmet.

 

[EchoPear]

Nano skimmers are not necessarily junk. They just dont have the bubble chamber size and dwell time to be as effective as larger in sump or external skimmers. Bigger, taller in sump or external skimmers will generally have longer dwell times for the bubbles to bounce around in the chamber and collect proteins on their surfaces. Nanos, not so much. The nanos reaction chambers are small so dwell time is at a minimal before the bubbles rise up into the collection cup. My experience with nanos was okay at best. i found they do provide some helpful added aeration to help with pH swings and a bit of a safety valve in the event there is some unexpected die off or nutrient spike. Like any skimmer, they can over foam if there is some sort of unforeseen die off or overfeeding, so in sump skimmers and nano skimmers that fit in an AIO chamber have some protections for foam spill off, but hang ons have the risk of dumping on the floor behind the tank. you can control nutrients with 10% weekly WC's but if you go the nano skimmer route it does have it's benefits. Draw backs for me were cleaning and frequency of cleanings compared to larger skimmers.

Thank you for the explanation! This makes total sense.

I don’t have an RODI set up yet and haul it from LFS, so just looking for ways to help prolong water change day.

 

[reeftivo]

Thank you for the explanation! This makes total sense.

I don’t have an RODI set up yet and haul it from LFS, so just looking for ways to help prolong water change day.

A good 4 stage RO/DI unit should run you around 200. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[Shooter6]

Why do people often say “nano skimmers are junk” or that they are “useless” or not worth your time/money because they don’t do anything? I never understood the why behind it or how that is measured.

I am setting up a 33 Long glass box with no sump that eventually I would like to fill with life and shorten my water change intervals with a high bioload. I was looking at things like the new Sicce shark skimmers, the aqua ready hang on HF-M or one of their standalone skimmers, and others I can’t remember the name of on BRS.

I know the sicce ones are a needle wheel which after reading the skimmer rundown sticky seems like a good technology for a skimmer. Is the “all nano skimmers are junk” just an old saying? Could someone explain why?

Thanks! I’m new

My opinion is the nano ones are more finicky, will not produce skimmate for long periods, then right after they get tuned in, will go crazy and overflow onto the floor. I'd definitely do an in tank or in the overflow of an all in one , not a hob. I'd probably invest in a cutoff control switch that shuts it off when the collection cup gets half full.

 

[EchoPear]

My opinion is the nano ones are more finicky, will not produce skimmate for long periods, then right after they get tuned in, will go crazy and overflow onto the floor. I'd definitely do an in tank or in the overflow of an all in one , not a hob. I'd probably invest in a cutoff control switch that shuts it off when the collection cup gets half full.

Thanks. I will likely do in tank to avoid mess for sure. Trying to parse if the new Sicce shark 300 is a better option than the tunze 9001 for about the same price

 

[EchoPear]

A good 4 stage RO/DI unit should run you around 200. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

What’s worse is I already have most of the hardware (old RO unit from house) I just need new filters for. Haven’t found a good place to set it up so it isn’t an eyesore for wife

 

[reeftivo]

What’s worse is I already have most of the hardware (old RO unit from house) I just need new filters for. Haven’t found a good place to set it up so it isn’t an eyesore for wife

i hear you. mine is in the garage next to washer/dryer with the waste line running into the washer drain. if you don't have that option it would be tough to find a good spot. good luck!