What size skimmer for upgrade ?

[Idech]

Hello, my tank is 110 gallons DT + 40 gallons sump and I currently run a Simplicity 240 DC skimmer. I really like it a lot but it is not big enough. I want to buy the same brand/model but I don’t know if I should go with the next size or two size up.

Here is my list of fish. I feed twice a day (frozen) + nori every day.

1 x firefish goby
1 x blue eye kole tang / 2 spot bristletooth (ctenochaetus binotatus)
3 x Pajama Cardinal (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
2 x oscellaris clown
1 x yellow coris wrasse
1 x Matted aiptasia eating filefish (Acreichthys Tomentosus)
1 x yellow tang
1 x Japanese swallow tail (female)
1 x longnose hawkfish

Here are the different models (the one in red is the one I currently own) :

Thanks for your help !

 

[redfishbluefish]

My first question, would your two potential choices fit in your sump? That includes being able to get them in and out easily for cleaning.

Otherwise, I'm a believer that there is no such thing as a skimmer that's too big (within reason). I don't know these skimmers personally, but I wouldn't have a problem going up one to the 320DC, assuming it would fit.

Let's see if we get replies with those that have actual experience.

 

[Idech]

My first question, would your two potential choices fit in your sump? That includes being able to get them in and out easily for cleaning.

Otherwise, I'm a believer that there is no such thing as a skimmer that's too big (within reason). I don't know these skimmers personally, but I wouldn't have a problem going up one to the 320DC, assuming it would fit.

Let's see if we get replies with those that have actual experience.

I know for sure the 320 DC would fit. The other one might be tight, I would have to measure carefully.

I’ll wait for some more opinions and if everyone agrees that I should go bigger than the next up (320 DC), then I’ll have to find another brand if the Simplicity model is too tall and doesn’t fit.

 

[Idech]

Anyone else ?

 

[Uncle99]

Anyone else ?

I was just wondering what your goal is in upgrading to a larger skimmer?

What doesn’t the old one do now?

 

[Idech]

I was just wondering what your goal is in upgrading to a larger skimmer?

What doesn’t the old one do now?

Good question. Mainly because my nitrates (and phosphate) are too high and I would like to export more. Right now the pump is at its highest setting so I can’t make it work more.

The professional guy who came to check my tank also mentioned my skimmer was a little undersized, so that seems to confirm my idea.

 

[Uncle99]

Good question. Mainly because my nitrates (and phosphate) are too high and I would like to export more. Right now the pump is at its highest setting so I can’t make it work more.

The professional guy who came to check my tank also mentioned my skimmer was a little undersized, so that seems to confirm my idea.

Skimmer works more for dissolved organic removal rather than nitrate removal, so I’m not sure that will make a huge impact to that.

Lit fuge, carbon dosing and/or water changes would directly effect nitrates (and phosphate).

Biggers not going to hurt that’s for sure.
But the reduction might be small versus the cost.

 

[Idech]

Lit fuge, carbon dosing and/or water changes would directly effect nitrates (and phosphate).

I already have a refugium and it isn’t doing much. I do WC also.

 

[Uncle99]

I already have a refugium and it isn’t doing much. I do WC also.

It’s not big enough then, a lit fuge with good amount of green macro algae going to suck up nitrates for sure, phosphate as well.

It really depends much on what levels of nitrate are now, and where you want them to be.

I’ve reduced from 50ppm to 5ppm with nopox over 6 months.

I maintain 2-3ppm with a fuge and occasional water change.

The centre foot is all algae.

 

[Idech]

It really depends much on what levels of nitrate are now, and where you want them to be.

There at 24 ppm but creeping up.

So what size skimmer would you choose from the picture above ?

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

How many times do you dump the skimmer cup, what is the skim mate like? Chocolate pudding or weak tea?

 

[Blue Ring Octopus]

Have you CLOSELY inspected the entire air tube, use a flashlight to inspect the volute, mine was so clogged it needed a drill bit to clear it.

 

[Idech]

How many times do you dump the skimmer cup, what is the skim mate like? Chocolate pudding or weak tea?

Before I adjusted it last week, maybe every 2 weeks or so. Now it’s like every 5 days or so. But I also skim a little wetter.

So chocolate pudding before, strong tea now.

Have you CLOSELY inspected the entire air tube, use a flashlight to inspect the volute, mine was so clogged it needed a drill bit to clear it.

Funny you mention that, I just cleaned the whole tube and air intake today. It wasn’t clogged but a bit salty inside.

 

[Pod_01]

Just my 2 cents, when I purchased my skimmer number of years back I was told you based it on the size of your display not sump. Sump is part of filtration also corals do not add to the equation, corals actually filter water.

Based on your display and heavy fish load your skimmer is sized appropriately, I would keep it.

Maybe consider carbon dosing…
Is the fuge growing? If not perhaps it is trace limited and may require iron.

For reference I have 52gal display, I use Bubble King Double Cone 130, smallest skimmer they have and my NO3 is below 1ppm, PO4 is 0.2-0.3, I actually feed TM Phos Feed. I also feed heavy…

I suspect my corals are consuming as much N and P as possible. I do carbon dose, mainly to feed bacteria so corals have alternative food source.
I don’t run fuge but there is some algae.

Good luck,

 

[Idech]

Maybe consider carbon dosing…

I dosed vodka for maybe a year but I am trying to find a different way now. It remains an option.

Is the fuge growing? If not perhaps it is trace limited and may require iron.

Yes, it is growing nicely. It doesn’t seem to help much though.

As for the skimmer, I never read about not considering the sump, but I did read that oversized is not better and finding just the right size is best. I am second guessing myself now but I probably bought what was right.

 

[Pod_01]

I never read about not considering the sump, but I did read that oversized is not better

The below description summarizes what I followed when I got my skimmer.
Slief works for Royal Exclusive and he know skimmers. The discussion is from years back but overall I would follow the recommendations if I was in a market for a new skimmer.

Skimmer sizing is based on theoretical loads (amount of waste/DOC's in the tank from low to heavy). Generally, I suggest basing skimmer size on display volume as that is where the load (fish) is concentrated. Our sumps and refugiums don't contribute to the load but instead typically decrease load by removing organics or nutrients. While some systems have proportiately small sumps in relation to the display size, others may have relatively large sumps and refugiums relative to display sizing. As such, basing your skimmer choice on display size is typically the best way to go. This is especially true with skimmers that are properly rated. That proper rating however falls into a gray area. Many of the really cheap Chinese skimmers have very optimistic ratings where as skimmers like the Bubble Kings, Deltecs are conservatively rated and very efficient for their size and really shouldn't be oversized. Skimmers like Life Reef fall into the same category although they do have smaller neck diameters relative to the body size so oversizing one slightly won't result in as inconsistent operation.. Reef Octopus, RLSS, Aquamaxx, JNS, Bubble Magnus are typically relatively accurate on their sizing and should be sized based on the display volume like the others mentioned above for best consistency and performance.

Edit: One other thing I want to add is relative to loads and fish stocking. This is somewhat subject but a heavy load would typically be considered 1/2" of fully grown fish per gallon of display volume. This is kind of a general rule of thumb when it comes to stocking a salt water tank. This gets a little confusing since bigger fish like tangs, rabbit fish, large angles etc have much more girth not than smaller fish like wrasses, chromis, anthias etc. So calculating a truly heavy load can be a bit confusing. Larger fish contribute to the load much more so than smaller fish because of their appetite and the amount of waste they generate but the 1/2" per gallon is generally a good guideline for a truly heavy

Good luck,

 

[Idech]

The below description summarizes what I followed when I got my skimmer.
Slief works for Royal Exclusive and he know skimmers. The discussion is from years back but overall I would follow the recommendations if I was in a market for a new skimmer.




Good luck,

Thanks, that’s very informative !