WORTH IT ? Tunze Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 9004

[427HISS]

I'm setting up a 29g BioCube for my wife. It will mostly be for clams, softies, some LPS's and a medium load of small fish.

Is the Tunze Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 9004 worth the price of apx. $115 ?

Actually, with weekly water changes (say 5g) and chemical media,is a high dollar skimmer, if any skimmer,.... really needed ?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Diamond1]

I have read a couple of good reviews on them. One thing was they skim on the wet side but most little skimmers I have seen skim on the wet side. Being a Tunze I'm sure it's built well. They are very quiet too.

 

[427HISS]

Someone said with only being 29g, that a skimmer is not needed, but I believe with a moderate fish load, I disagree. Even with a weekly 10% water change
Do you concur ?

I've even thought of making or buying a hang on the back & simple air driven skimmer.

 

[Ladysaber]

I hated mine. It didn't skim and the footprint inside the tank was a huge downside. Invest in a RO HOB. You won't be sorry.

Jenn

 

[427HISS]

Hey Jenn, I'm surprised being a Tunze, but that's why I listen to fellow hobbyists first, and not so much of the manufactures.

Who is RO ?

 

[reef_grrrl]

I have a reef octopus bh1000 on my 20 gallon. It's a HOB, I think I saw some reviews that said it does fit on tanks like yours but not 100% sure. It works fantastically, I only have one fish and some softies and LPS, but it's improved water quality a ton. It was $189 but I think BRS has a sale on them now.

 

[427HISS]

Is the water level very sensitive ?
Can you post of pic of your tank and the skimmer ?
Does it produce a lot of micro bubbles in the tank ?
Is it noisy ?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Ladysaber]

RO is Reef Octopus. I went from an RO BH90 to the Tunze. I didn't like the fact that the tunze didn't surface skim. My filters pick up a ton of junk but only from the middle and lower portion of the tank. With the Tunze, the cup had to be emptied once a week or so. The RO I have now has to be emptied every other day or it will overflow. It's worth the upgrade in my opinion..

 

[427HISS]

Wow that's weird. Guess I'll be looking at a RO.

Is the water level very sensitive ?
Can you post of pic of your tank and the skimmer ?
Does it produce a lot of micro bubbles in the tank ?
Is it noisy ?

 

[Ladysaber]

Noise level is that of a HoB skimmer. It's not annoying and it's much quieter than my BH90. Micro bubbles.. I had none, even during break-in, I feel water level sensitivity is per individual machine. What works for my skimmer may not work for you. Once the tank hits a certain water depletion level, the skimmer makes some funky noises and that's my cue to add water.

 

[Ladysaber]

I'll try an get a picture tomorrow for you

 

[427HISS]

Great, I'll be searching for a good deal.

Being square, how's the circulation vs round ?
Thanks !

 

[Ladysaber]

I don't notice a difference. I'm sorry.. My middle child has been running high fevers all day today and my last thought was the tank today. Once I get a moment of peace tomorrow and the lights are done ramping up for the day, I'll get you some pictures of the skimmer.

 

[Ladysaber]

Here's the pics.. Not sure if this will help you.

This is the top portion/canopy..

Lower portion..

Canopy door closed..

Canopy open..

 

[EW_Fish]

I'm using a tunze 9002 skimmer and for the price It does great on my 30g AIO. Its super quiet unless you open the air valve all the way. It skims mostly wet.

 

[badfish2]

I would opt for something you can hide in the chambers of the bio cube. The surface skimmer if mostly beneficial when its run in tank, your overflow will surface skim your tank water. Hob will make you push the tank off the wall which may not be possible with an established tank. IMHO a HOB kills the overall clean look of the bio cube.