Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo
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Well I'm not completely off the omega 150 yet. I talked to Jen at pro line who is the dealer for these skimmers. And she said they are possibly switching out the ceramic impeller. The only negaive on these skimmers is that. I love the design build look etc. It's very sturdy and durable. If they could fix that one issue then this skimmer is more than fantastic.
I will be having an all new one sent to me. If this one goes too I will just have Jen at pro line send me a new impeller instead of sending the entire thing back. Hopefully soon the switch will be made. That will make a lot of people happy.
I saw them all after I purchased it. It's a beautiful skimmer. Really. I was so disappointed this thing broke before it was broken in. It's the people who haven't had a problem yet that gives me hope. And the possible switch. But I have been looking at others. Honestly if I had the extra cash I would get a life reef skimmer. Jeff at life reef who makes them is great. I have one if his overflows. It's worth a look.
bond300
Active Member
[h=2]Good Skimmer! I have one on my 90G/with the drain tube Mag 3 350gph
AquaC Remora Pro Hang-On Protein Skimmer (No Pump) Information[/h]Product Manuals & Documentation
Part #: Remora Pro
The revolutionary AquaC protein skimmers do not use venturis, downdraft tubes, or air pumps; they employ the patented "Spray Injection System." This innovation allows the protein skimmer to efficiently draw in much more air than any other of the top protein skimmers. This coupled with the superiorly designed compact reaction chamber yields results that will literally blow the waste out of your water.
How does Spray Injection Work?
In 1998, Jason Kim (owner and founder of AquaC) developed a patented process of protein skimming which has come to be known as Spray Injection. Unlike previous forms of skimming, our spray injection method enables huge amounts of air and water to be processed with a relatively small pump. Although it is a simple process, there is still some confusion as to how the spray injector works.
Imagine that you're washing your car – you've got a bucket full of soapy water and a garden hose with a fast-moving stream of water. By placing your thumb over the end of the hose, you can disrupt the stream into a turbulent, high –pressure spray. Now direct that spray down into the bucket of water, and you'll generate a massive amount of bubbles and air flow. That is exactly how our spray injector works.
The skimmer body acts as a water reservoir – the bucket in the example above. Water is pumped through the spray injector, which has a special nozzle that fans the water out into a pressurized spray. This spray shoots into the skimmer body, generating millions of tiny air bubbles. As the bubbles are formed, more air is sucked into the skimmer as a result of the local drop in pressure and the process continues.
Most other forms of protein skimming rely on special valves or media to generate the air flow, and these parts quickly become clogged with salt, dust, or even mineral deposits. The AquaC spray injector is a relatively large nozzle that resists clogging, and when combined with a pump prefilter, can be considered maintenance free.
"For its compact size and simple design, The AquaC protein skimmer is able to process a large volume of water and efficiently remove organic pollutants. I`m very happy with it!"
Fernando Nosratpour, Senior Aquarist
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
The AquaC Remora Series is the first hang-on protein skimmer under $250 to be able to generate a dry consistency of foam that previously only an in-sump "super-skimmer" is capable of.
Features:
Part #: Remora Pro
The revolutionary AquaC protein skimmers do not use venturis, downdraft tubes, or air pumps; they employ the patented "Spray Injection System." This innovation allows the protein skimmer to efficiently draw in much more air than any other of the top protein skimmers. This coupled with the superiorly designed compact reaction chamber yields results that will literally blow the waste out of your water.
How does Spray Injection Work?
In 1998, Jason Kim (owner and founder of AquaC) developed a patented process of protein skimming which has come to be known as Spray Injection. Unlike previous forms of skimming, our spray injection method enables huge amounts of air and water to be processed with a relatively small pump. Although it is a simple process, there is still some confusion as to how the spray injector works.
Imagine that you're washing your car – you've got a bucket full of soapy water and a garden hose with a fast-moving stream of water. By placing your thumb over the end of the hose, you can disrupt the stream into a turbulent, high –pressure spray. Now direct that spray down into the bucket of water, and you'll generate a massive amount of bubbles and air flow. That is exactly how our spray injector works.
The skimmer body acts as a water reservoir – the bucket in the example above. Water is pumped through the spray injector, which has a special nozzle that fans the water out into a pressurized spray. This spray shoots into the skimmer body, generating millions of tiny air bubbles. As the bubbles are formed, more air is sucked into the skimmer as a result of the local drop in pressure and the process continues.
Most other forms of protein skimming rely on special valves or media to generate the air flow, and these parts quickly become clogged with salt, dust, or even mineral deposits. The AquaC spray injector is a relatively large nozzle that resists clogging, and when combined with a pump prefilter, can be considered maintenance free.
"For its compact size and simple design, The AquaC protein skimmer is able to process a large volume of water and efficiently remove organic pollutants. I`m very happy with it!"
Fernando Nosratpour, Senior Aquarist
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
The AquaC Remora Series is the first hang-on protein skimmer under $250 to be able to generate a dry consistency of foam that previously only an in-sump "super-skimmer" is capable of.
Features:
- The Remora is built from translucent gray acrylic to inhibit the growth of algae and marine organisms.
- The skimmer can be ordered with a collection drain fitting (optional).
- The two screws at the base of the skimmer are used to adjust the Remora so that it is level with the back of the tank.
- Tank Size (Gallons): 50-120
- Dimensions: 22" tall x 7-1/2" wide x 3-1/4" deep
- Minimum tank opening 6-1/2" x 1"
- Minimum tank height 15-1/4"
- Minimum space behind tank 3-1/4"
- Maximum tank lip 1-1/2" wide
- Vertical clearance above tank 12"
- Includes nylon cleaning brush
New vertex omega 150 shipped. Let's hope no issues this go around. If so I don't know what I'm going to do. Go with bubble magus nac7 or just get a new impeller this time instead of shipping it all back. That took way too long.
Wrenchedup
Community Member
Hey mojo I need some advice on a skimmer build if you can help, I took a octo nwb-150 and changed out the old gray adjuster tube with a gate valve and the pump with a diablo 3500s needle with a silencer now I wanna get the best tuning this pump is extremely powerfull and it makes a ton of foam
Wrenchedup
Community Member
Wow I guess this thread is over?
Chris L
Active Member
I love my omega 150....thing is working great! Have had it running for about 1 month. How does the impeller just snap? I've heard of the issue but not sure why it is? I broke my 150 in with RODI and vinegar for about 1 day. No issues what so ever.
I have a Nac7 sitting in my basement collecting cob webs. The pumps on these things suck. At least they did when I bought mine 3 years ago.
That's good to know. I wonder if you got a bad pump. Maybe I got a bad impeller. But the issue being one that's well known I doubt it. I just hope my omega 150 doesn't have issues going forward. Still breaking it in. Not sure exactly where it should be.
What depth is yours in? And do you mess with the volute at all?
What depth is yours in? And do you mess with the volute at all?
thebest14life
Active Member
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So how do I setup my new corallife 220 protein skimmer
So I've never used a skimmer before - always had <30g tanks and was good with WC.
I'm about to move up to a 40g with a 24g sump/fuge so I started looking at skimmers.
I own some 3D printers and saw that someone here posted a 3D printable skimmer design not too long ago.
Protein Skimmer (ver. 1) by the_mad_scientist - Thingiverse
The feeling I get from reading posts is that as long as you're getting skimmate at a reasonable rate, you're in good shape.
Is that accurate?
And what are the potential issues, if any, of building and using this printed skimmer? I'm all for nice equipment/tools, but there's a certain satisfaction with making something yourself (for my tanks, I've printed my own overflow boxes, canopy hinges that broke, hose clamps, and pipe union fittings) - and it seems like a skimmer is something I could get away with fabricating on my own for a <70g system.
Money isn't the issue - so if the answer is "Spend $200-$300 to save yourself from potential catastrophe", that's fine too - I'm just not sure what the potential issues could be.
Thanks in advance
I'm about to move up to a 40g with a 24g sump/fuge so I started looking at skimmers.
I own some 3D printers and saw that someone here posted a 3D printable skimmer design not too long ago.
Protein Skimmer (ver. 1) by the_mad_scientist - Thingiverse
The feeling I get from reading posts is that as long as you're getting skimmate at a reasonable rate, you're in good shape.
Is that accurate?
And what are the potential issues, if any, of building and using this printed skimmer? I'm all for nice equipment/tools, but there's a certain satisfaction with making something yourself (for my tanks, I've printed my own overflow boxes, canopy hinges that broke, hose clamps, and pipe union fittings) - and it seems like a skimmer is something I could get away with fabricating on my own for a <70g system.
Money isn't the issue - so if the answer is "Spend $200-$300 to save yourself from potential catastrophe", that's fine too - I'm just not sure what the potential issues could be.
Thanks in advance
mcarroll
10K Club member
If you have a 3D printer and have run out of things to do with it, this may be the trick. FWIW, there shouldn't be much risk if you're running the skimmer in your sump - leaks just go back in the system. My questions would be about the type of plastic involved and the cost once all parts are accounted for. Considering you can pick up a used AquaC Remora skimmer (for example), which would kick butt on a 40 gallon tank, for well-less than $100 - and that includes everything to plug it in and make it go! - DIY (at least in this form) doesn't have a lot to offer on the value side....so I think you'd re-e-eally want to use that 3D printer for this to be worth while.
Also FWIW, since you're used to running a system without a skimmer, why not continue that way? A skimmer doesn't make a system any better after all...at most it allows you to space out your water changes a little bit and provides good aeration. :) Save yourself the $100+ on equipment and spend it on coral...or even better a bigger tank!
-Matt
Also FWIW, since you're used to running a system without a skimmer, why not continue that way? A skimmer doesn't make a system any better after all...at most it allows you to space out your water changes a little bit and provides good aeration. :) Save yourself the $100+ on equipment and spend it on coral...or even better a bigger tank!
-Matt
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The plastic costs me about $8. It's ABS. I've printed my overflow box, so there's no issue with the plastic. I'll look at that model for sure. I figured I already had most of the components necessary, so for me, the value is there, but I didn't realize <$100 models were good and available.
As for why, I would like to move up to a 200g, and I know I'll need a skimmer as I do, but the wife only allows baby steps with my money pit. :-)
I'm good with WC, and I'll continue them, but I've never had a tank with 60+gal so I'm wading into the world of skimmers now so that I'm not neck deep in a mess when I've got my dream tank up and running.
As for why, I would like to move up to a 200g, and I know I'll need a skimmer as I do, but the wife only allows baby steps with my money pit. :-)
I'm good with WC, and I'll continue them, but I've never had a tank with 60+gal so I'm wading into the world of skimmers now so that I'm not neck deep in a mess when I've got my dream tank up and running.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Skimmers are both fun and useful, but not nearly as necessary or mysterious as many make them out to be. They can easily be replaced with improved husbandry....I think of them more like a small insurance policy, plus they really are fun to set up and watch. :) They will at most remove about 1/3 of the junk you'd ideally want to remove from the water...a help, but not a huge difference in the way you will care for your tank.
$8 for plastic isn't bad, but is only the beginning of your costs. Cear pipe is expensive if you choose that, and I think will have to be manually cut and fitted to your printed parts. You also need a pump. You still may want to do it for the fun and learning, but my guess is that it won't be a good value when you add it all up. (Skimmers never really wear out so there are lots of great values on the used market....keeps your price of entry to a good skimmer pretty low.)
FWIW, I think Tunze probably has the best designed skimmers overall. No gimmicks like odd shapes or colored platics included, but some very unique design features. I would at least give these a glance if you want to consider a commercial skimmer as well. You may at least get an idea or two.
-Matt
$8 for plastic isn't bad, but is only the beginning of your costs. Cear pipe is expensive if you choose that, and I think will have to be manually cut and fitted to your printed parts. You also need a pump. You still may want to do it for the fun and learning, but my guess is that it won't be a good value when you add it all up. (Skimmers never really wear out so there are lots of great values on the used market....keeps your price of entry to a good skimmer pretty low.)
FWIW, I think Tunze probably has the best designed skimmers overall. No gimmicks like odd shapes or colored platics included, but some very unique design features. I would at least give these a glance if you want to consider a commercial skimmer as well. You may at least get an idea or two.
-Matt
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I used 2 2-liter bottles and an old maxi-jet I previously used for mixing water.
I'm installing it tonight, but it appears to be functioning - for a grand total of about $10 and 15-16 hours of print time.
I'm shopping for a skimmer, but it does appear that something solid for 60-70g is in the $200-$250 range - which isn't tough to justify because it'll last and I've never regretted buying nice equipment for my tanks, but I may put it off for a while if my home made version works decently. $250 is a lot of frags...
I'm installing it tonight, but it appears to be functioning - for a grand total of about $10 and 15-16 hours of print time.
I'm shopping for a skimmer, but it does appear that something solid for 60-70g is in the $200-$250 range - which isn't tough to justify because it'll last and I've never regretted buying nice equipment for my tanks, but I may put it off for a while if my home made version works decently. $250 is a lot of frags...
palito420
New Member
Hello! I hope this is the right place to post this...
I got a ETSS 800 protein skimmer running and a BlueLine 70 pump. Te excess water from the pump is directed to the tank and thats tHe water flow I use. I believe the pump shoots 1700 GPH and that should be enough for both (right??). Im wondering about the proper setup for this skimmer. I've seen some youtube videos where they are used externally and placed above water level with tubing leading down to the sump, but in my case I set it up inside the sump. The water exit tube is slightly below water level but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Initially I didn't know how to set it up so I closed the water exit valve to the point where water rose about halfway up the bigger tube where the collection cup is held, and it seed to be working ok, although the waste gathered wasn't that dark or that much. I then saw those videos and opened up the valve so that the bubbles now form at the very base where the tube begins to stick out and it also appears to work, but it does take a few days for the tube to fill up with very dry looking foam an it doest appear to be taking out that much, constantly at least. The other thing is that the downdraft tubes where the water shoots down and the bubbles begin to form holds bio-balls that were already in there when purchased from a friend and I'm not sure if this is helping bubbles form or breaking them. Does anyone have any experience with those skimmers? What is the proper way to get it functioning at 100%? Where should the bubbles form and water level be at (both at the downdraft tube and the bigger one collecting waste)?
Here are a couple pics taken right a while back with the bubbles forming halfway up and then now:
I got a ETSS 800 protein skimmer running and a BlueLine 70 pump. Te excess water from the pump is directed to the tank and thats tHe water flow I use. I believe the pump shoots 1700 GPH and that should be enough for both (right??). Im wondering about the proper setup for this skimmer. I've seen some youtube videos where they are used externally and placed above water level with tubing leading down to the sump, but in my case I set it up inside the sump. The water exit tube is slightly below water level but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Initially I didn't know how to set it up so I closed the water exit valve to the point where water rose about halfway up the bigger tube where the collection cup is held, and it seed to be working ok, although the waste gathered wasn't that dark or that much. I then saw those videos and opened up the valve so that the bubbles now form at the very base where the tube begins to stick out and it also appears to work, but it does take a few days for the tube to fill up with very dry looking foam an it doest appear to be taking out that much, constantly at least. The other thing is that the downdraft tubes where the water shoots down and the bubbles begin to form holds bio-balls that were already in there when purchased from a friend and I'm not sure if this is helping bubbles form or breaking them. Does anyone have any experience with those skimmers? What is the proper way to get it functioning at 100%? Where should the bubbles form and water level be at (both at the downdraft tube and the bigger one collecting waste)?
Here are a couple pics taken right a while back with the bubbles forming halfway up and then now:
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