Ultra Reef Akula Skimmer Review

AquariumSpecialty

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Can’t agree more SunnyX. I’ve been reefing non stop for 36 years and these are the best skimmers I’ve ever used. Thanks for the feedback. That’s what a foam column should look like with an Ultra Reef! From my cell phone it looks like the skimmer body is solid white but it’s clear acrylic with that much foam inside.
 
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mandarin417

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I’ve been running my ultra reef skimmer for over a year now and it has never failed me and is the best skimmer I have ever used.
 

xmjxflipx

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I have this same skimmer from the post I saw from sunny...honestly one of the best quality skimmers ever ..huge cup and beefy...won't ever go to another skimmer again lol
 

SunnyX

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Hi Sonny I just got that same skimmer and I am have a hard time to tune it if you don’t mind what water lvl do you have the skimmer in and how high up the skimmer buddy do you have the bubbles ?
Any help is appreciated
Hi Sonny I just got that same skimmer and I am have a hard time to tune it if you don’t mind what water lvl do you have the skimmer in and how high up the skimmer buddy do you have the bubbles ?
Any help is appreciated


Hello!

You will want the water level to be just below or at the line shown below. I have found this to be the best level for performance.

Concerning the bubbles, that is a personal choice as some like to skim wet or dry. I like to skim a little on the wetter side.

I would remove the skimmer cup and then power up the skimmer. Adjust the valve until the bubbles are slightly pouring over. Then attach the cup and let is run for a day. After which, if there is not enough skimmate being pulled you can adjust the value to open or close, increasing or decreasing the level of water in the skimmer.

It'll likely take you a few days to dial it in properly but once set, you really wont have to mess with it again. Mine has been set at its current setting for over a year now with no adjustments.

After a year of operation I can say that this skimmer is flawless, worry free, and does a fantastic job. I am not sponsored in anyway with the skimmer. I am just a happy customer sharing my experiences.

1688832132829.png

1688832286198.png
 

Rmike545

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Hello!

You will want the water level to be just below or at the line shown below. I have found this to be the best level for performance.

Concerning the bubbles, that is a personal choice as some like to skim wet or dry. I like to skim a little on the wetter side.

I would remove the skimmer cup and then power up the skimmer. Adjust the valve until the bubbles are slightly pouring over. Then attach the cup and let is run for a day. After which, if there is not enough skimmate being pulled you can adjust the value to open or close, increasing or decreasing the level of water in the skimmer.

It'll likely take you a few days to dial it in properly but once set, you really wont have to mess with it again. Mine has been set at its current setting for over a year now with no adjustments.

After a year of operation I can say that this skimmer is flawless, worry free, and does a fantastic job. I am not sponsored in anyway with the skimmer. I am just a happy customer sharing my experiences.

1688832132829.png

1688832286198.png
Did exactly what you said and now we wait lol for a day
 

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spsick

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Did exactly what you said and now we wait lol for a day

I know a lot of people say theirs skimmed awesome in day one but if it helps mine took a week to really start working nicely. Maybe others have higher organics etc.
 

Rmike545

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Hello!

You will want the water level to be just below or at the line shown below. I have found this to be the best level for performance.

Concerning the bubbles, that is a personal choice as some like to skim wet or dry. I like to skim a little on the wetter side.

I would remove the skimmer cup and then power up the skimmer. Adjust the valve until the bubbles are slightly pouring over. Then attach the cup and let is run for a day. After which, if there is not enough skimmate being pulled you can adjust the value to open or close, increasing or decreasing the level of water in the skimmer.

It'll likely take you a few days to dial it in properly but once set, you really wont have to mess with it again. Mine has been set at its current setting for over a year now with no adjustments.

After a year of operation I can say that this skimmer is flawless, worry free, and does a fantastic job. I am not sponsored in anyway with the skimmer. I am just a happy customer sharing my experiences.

1688832132829.png

1688832286198.png
Ok here what it looks like after a day I should have a lot more skimming then this I have 5 big tangs, 3 chromis, flame hawk, sand sifting goby, big maroon clown, and fox face And my nitrates and phosphate are rising.
Do you think it’s getting to much air or not enough air ?
 

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trevorhiller

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Hello!

You will want the water level to be just below or at the line shown below. I have found this to be the best level for performance.

Concerning the bubbles, that is a personal choice as some like to skim wet or dry. I like to skim a little on the wetter side.

I would remove the skimmer cup and then power up the skimmer. Adjust the valve until the bubbles are slightly pouring over. Then attach the cup and let is run for a day. After which, if there is not enough skimmate being pulled you can adjust the value to open or close, increasing or decreasing the level of water in the skimmer.

It'll likely take you a few days to dial it in properly but once set, you really wont have to mess with it again. Mine has been set at its current setting for over a year now with no adjustments.

After a year of operation I can say that this skimmer is flawless, worry free, and does a fantastic job. I am not sponsored in anyway with the skimmer. I am just a happy customer sharing my experiences.

1688832132829.png

1688832286198.png

Sunny the black piece around the white venturi between the acrylic body... is that a DIY thing or did it come that way? I have the UKS-160 and it leaks some bubbles around that area because it's not an air tight seal. I'd love to get that "Part"
 

spsick

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Sunny the black piece around the white venturi between the acrylic body... is that a DIY thing or did it come that way? I have the UKS-160 and it leaks some bubbles around that area because it's not an air tight seal. I'd love to get that "Part"
Mine came with that also. It’s just a flimsy piece of foam that doesn’t do much.
 

reeftivo

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Ok here what it looks like after a day I should have a lot more skimming then this I have 5 big tangs, 3 chromis, flame hawk, sand sifting goby, big maroon clown, and fox face And my nitrates and phosphate are rising.
Do you think it’s getting to much air or not enough air ?
just let it run and it will eventually kick in. may want to skim a little wetter with those big fish but i would leave it for now
 

reeftivo

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Mine came with that also. It’s just a flimsy piece of foam that doesn’t do much.
it's just a temporary add on they provide for breaking in and reducing micros for a while. it won't eliminate them but it does help a bit.

you can leave it or toss it after break in. the small gap where the venturi slips into the body won't affect anything after it breaks in and doesn't need to be water/air tight since the reaction chamber bubbles will settle above that venturi.
 

SunnyX

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Ok here what it looks like after a day I should have a lot more skimming then this I have 5 big tangs, 3 chromis, flame hawk, sand sifting goby, big maroon clown, and fox face And my nitrates and phosphate are rising.
Do you think it’s getting to much air or not enough air ?

Hello,

That looks good, and what I would expect on a new skimmer. You could close the valve and skim a little wetter if you'd like. It'll pull out some more much. Also, give the skimmer some time to break in. The new parts in the skimmer can initially affect performance.

Sunny the black piece around the white venturi between the acrylic body... is that a DIY thing or did it come that way? I have the UKS-160 and it leaks some bubbles around that area because it's not an air tight seal. I'd love to get that "Part"

Hi! As others have stated, the part is the foam insert provided with the skimmer.
 

Genvid

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I bought a Akula 160, I'm wondering if someone connected it to a CO2 scrubber, how did you do it.
 

reeftivo

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Pull the line from the silencer where it attaches to the venturi on the pump and let it dangle (wont bother anything) or remove the hose altogether. Then attach the Scubber directly to the venturi nipple
 

Rmike545

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Any idea what size air tube will fit on the pipe in the silencer on the Akula 200 to connect it to a co2 scrubber?
 

Kedron1977

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I’ve owned most high end skimmers that have been on the market the last five years (Bubble King, Deltec, Nyos, Reef Octopus) and today I want to talk about one that is sort of new to the USA but is a reputable name overseas I believe from Italy.

Enter the Ultra Reef’s Akula UKS skimmer (I have the 160 version).

First impressions:

- In the box I thought the body was glass. The acrylic is so nice and clear and when tapped with the finger almost felt like glass.

-Super simple assembly.

-Very robust rubber feet to absorb vibration.

-Titanium screws
-Very thick material; dead on if not better than Bubble King.

- Sicce PSK+ series pump; proven performance affordable cost of replacement. I love the Royal Exclusiv RD3 but it’s a big financial hit if it needs replacement. Which they usually don’t.

-Air adjustment screw on silencer. This should be standard on all skimmers to hone in the foam, especially on AC pump skimmers.

-DEAD SILENT. I can not hear it at all. The noise in my video is the overflow.

- Zero break in, immediately started skimming.

- Very fine adjustments can be made for precise level in the skimmer.

-Uses a gasket on the collection cup rather than a twist lock or O ring. O rings tend to wear quickly when being constantly removed from their seat and the twist lock on the Nyos has developed a reputation for almost welding itself on.

449EFED3-420B-40DF-A2C7-558E238DF91F.jpeg image.jpg
Do they come a auto shut off just in case it overflows
 

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