Skimmer Q&A Thread
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Troylee
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Debates????? Ahahahahahahh lol... So what you thinking is gonna be the next big skimmer faze Jesse??? I mean as in shapes etc... I'm thinking something similar to a hour glass ahahahahah lol... I think were about due for a whole new kind of skimmer....
OP
OP
yea I have really been tossing that around. The hour glass isnt that far off. Look at hte bk cones and the ATI powercone. I am surprised they are not round like a ball. lol we will see I guess. I think you actually have some people thinking about the designs a little now. making some good products.
What about a reverse injector. Using pressurized Air and letting it pull water in ??? I am just saying. we will all have huge air compressors next to our tanks...
lol doubt it but you never know in this hobby.
What about a reverse injector. Using pressurized Air and letting it pull water in ??? I am just saying. we will all have huge air compressors next to our tanks...
lol doubt it but you never know in this hobby.
Hahnmeister
Active Member
You mean an airstone?:dribble:
zigzag
Community Member
mojo , Thanks for your time and contribution to the hobby. Your dedication is amazing.
I just bought my second SRO. The 1000sss model. I am a bit concerned with contact time. It seems with the pump under the skimmer it shortens tthe body hence shortening the contact time. Is this something i should be worried about? What are your thoughts.
I also wanted to know if i could adjust the water level/raise the skimmer enough to bring the gate valve out of the water?
50G breeder 30g sump- about 15g water.
Thanks
Zac
I just bought my second SRO. The 1000sss model. I am a bit concerned with contact time. It seems with the pump under the skimmer it shortens tthe body hence shortening the contact time. Is this something i should be worried about? What are your thoughts.
I also wanted to know if i could adjust the water level/raise the skimmer enough to bring the gate valve out of the water?
50G breeder 30g sump- about 15g water.
Thanks
Zac
OP
OP
a lot of new skimmers dont have the contact time the old ones did. I wouldnt be concerned as the newer skimmers move more water and have more air. The work more with brute force.
cmcneil
coral junkie
what skimmer would you suggest for an elos mini?my total water volume is only about 25g and ATM im using an itech 100.it is a great skimmer but way too big for my system so it doesnt skim that well for me.when i ran it on my old 57g it worked great but now it doesnt do much since there isnt alot of bioload for it.
OP
OP
well this is hard to tell but a good indicator is nutrient export. if you tank has a lot of extra gunk in it you will have to clean your glass a lot, your ammonia , trates and trites will usually run high.
Carbon can help with all this as well but it exhausts quickly
Skimmer?
You've answered some questions for me on the "other" forum, but just want your final opinion. About 70-75 gallons total water volume SPS tank with 7-10 fish, what skimmer would you recommend? I want the skimmer you would get, not necessarily, a budget skimmer, any skimmer. I want 0 micro-bubbles and I do get some out of my 1000sss. I don't know if I need something where I can run the output into the filter sock or what, but mico-bubbles are extremely frustrating to me. I thought about SWC 160 with upgraded cup and mesh wheel. Thanks for your help again.
You've answered some questions for me on the "other" forum, but just want your final opinion. About 70-75 gallons total water volume SPS tank with 7-10 fish, what skimmer would you recommend? I want the skimmer you would get, not necessarily, a budget skimmer, any skimmer. I want 0 micro-bubbles and I do get some out of my 1000sss. I don't know if I need something where I can run the output into the filter sock or what, but mico-bubbles are extremely frustrating to me. I thought about SWC 160 with upgraded cup and mesh wheel. Thanks for your help again.
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Steve Hwang
Active Member
I have a AIO with a back chamber of ~ 5.5 inches. On the site, SWC has a dimension of 6 by 7.25 inches. Does any one have the exact dimensions to see if it will fit? I really want this skimmer because I heard it’s a nice skimmer that’s dead silent. I really need a silent skimmer.
Reason I’m asking is cause I saw a CAD 39 gal AIO with SWC 120 inside its back chamber. And I think the chamber width is 5 inches…
Reason I’m asking is cause I saw a CAD 39 gal AIO with SWC 120 inside its back chamber. And I think the chamber width is 5 inches…
OP
OP
Well the Skimz SK 181 would be a great choice. Having the water exit the bottom of the skimmer helps with having 0 microbubbles. I said this one because I found the es 2800 pump to be a little loud. The smaller and larger pumps seem to be more quiet. I have the SM201 with the es5000 pump and it works very well. Getting ready to do a little photo shoot of it here in the next couple days.
if you ar etight on space you can go with the SM121, it would be a good little choice as well. Both will work well for you.
Mojo~
OP
OP
the swc 120 and the bm 3 series all use the same pump. Just a different wheel. I have actually had them both and they both did ok. They are a smaller skimmer and I had them on a super heavy stocked 60g tank. They did fine but just not as well as my old euroreef did so I put it back on. It just turned over more water.
what about a HOB skimmer
brannock_16
Active Member
Hello everyone,
I have the opportunity to pick up a Vertex Alpha 170 with Red Dragon pump to run on my 120 Gallon w/40 Breeder sump, LPS reef system. More water movement I have 2 Vortech MP40W ES and 1 Vortech MP10W ES, my return pump is a Magdrive 9.5 (for the time being. I am really disappointed with this pump and am looking to upgrade to a Magdrive 18), and I run a Via Aqua 20/20 with Rowaphos and a TLF reactor with Carbon 3-4 days per month. My tank is on the heavier side of being stocked:
1) Blue Hippo Tang
1) Diamond Goby
1) Target mandarin
2) Misbar Oscellaris Clowns
3) Lyretail Anthias
4) Bartlett Anthias
And temporarily (rescue from negligent reefers tank...working on being sold):
1) Blue Chromis
1) Bangaii Cardinal
I wanted to know if this skimmer would work well for my system. I also wanted to know what experience you guys have with them and if there are any after market mods that I can make to the skimmer to beef it up.
Thanks in advance for your help and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
I have the opportunity to pick up a Vertex Alpha 170 with Red Dragon pump to run on my 120 Gallon w/40 Breeder sump, LPS reef system. More water movement I have 2 Vortech MP40W ES and 1 Vortech MP10W ES, my return pump is a Magdrive 9.5 (for the time being. I am really disappointed with this pump and am looking to upgrade to a Magdrive 18), and I run a Via Aqua 20/20 with Rowaphos and a TLF reactor with Carbon 3-4 days per month. My tank is on the heavier side of being stocked:
1) Blue Hippo Tang
1) Diamond Goby
1) Target mandarin
2) Misbar Oscellaris Clowns
3) Lyretail Anthias
4) Bartlett Anthias
And temporarily (rescue from negligent reefers tank...working on being sold):
1) Blue Chromis
1) Bangaii Cardinal
I wanted to know if this skimmer would work well for my system. I also wanted to know what experience you guys have with them and if there are any after market mods that I can make to the skimmer to beef it up.
Thanks in advance for your help and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
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OP
OP
First let me say that the mag 18 upgrade is way too much flow for running a 120. The water in your system will go through your sump so fast it will hardly have a chance to get filtered. plus you get added microbubble issues with too large of a pump.
Now to the Alpha skimmer. THe alpha 170 is built like a tank. However it has a large pump on a small body. The first ones had a lot of issues with surging pumps. The had to restrict them down so much that a lot of people had issues with the pump surging. To solve this they made a new volute cover and a adjustable venturi. This gave you more control over the skimmer pump itself. However. In my opinion the neck is too large and the body is too small. Just not balanced well IMO. THe 200 is better balanced in the alpha line.
Dont get too worked up over the red dragon pump. It is no different than a airstar ( atb ) or a askol. They are all the laguna 1500 motor. Just a different volute cover and pinwheel. THe sticker on the red dragon is really expensive though. So if something happens to the pump it is a costly repair.
Performance is ok from the skimmer. For me it was dissapointing as it could of been so much more. I have owned one, one of the first ones to get one. And I was one of the first ones to get the alpha 250 as well. Its a monster, the 200 and 300 alpha models are the best IMO of the alpha line. if it isnt one of those I would probably spend my money elsewhere.
OP
OP
well best is a matter of opinion. I will give you a list of a couple that will give you great bang for your buck and work very well.
ATB 1050A would be a great choice but costly
The SRO 3000/5000 would be a another good choice.
THe aquamaxx am 250
The bk mini gen2 200
Hope that helps you narrow it down some.
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