THe FAQs Of Skimmers read this BEFORE you buy one
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:37 am
Well after seeing that no one has stuck out their neck and taken the leap to do this I figured I would since I have probably used or worked with or on 70% of the skimmers in use today. As a rule all sump based skimmers out perform their HOT or HOB (HOT= Hang on Tank) (HOB= Hang on back) (basically the same thing) relatives for one simple reason. Your HOB or HOT skimmers do not come standard with surface skimmers or prefilter boxes as they may be called, and those that do are finicky ones that only work when the water is just so. A sump model gets surface scum and most waste easily as it is collected by an overflow box or the overflow/flows on the sides of the tank then brought down. Also a HOT or HOB filter performs better hung on the sump if possible since it then gets the nastier surface scum etc as well.
Rule number one. Unless using the skimmer I reference below (the air driven skimmer), Money does matter when buying. Do not skimp on a skimmer as it is one of the most vital units to a SW success story. It provides heavy waste reduction, Water purification, and keeps you, the aquarist, happier and your maintenance job requirements a lot lower, as it keeps fish healthier.
1. The counter current or air stone driven skimmer.
While this skimmer is not the latest technology nor the best technology, the right height and skimmer neck design coupled with a powerful air pump and good lime wood air stone (yep no blue or white ones got to pay for the wood for the smaller bubbles they have) the traditional Design can easily out skim any skimmer on the market below 100 dollars. Also it is the only skimmer that can be easily built by yourself and scaled to whatever size you want. While it is neither the prettiest nor the most compact skimmer it can and does out perform the seaclone the skilter and the bakpak series in its 20-30 dollar form.
If you coupled it with a tetratec deep water pump and a 4ft reaction chamber version as seen on WWM DIY skimmer, it can compete easily in the range with the aqua c remora and the euroreef skimmers for 50-100 gallon tanks. This design typically either pumps water to it and back or sits inside the tank in a corner.
2. The venturi designed skimmers.
This covers 90% of all skimmers out there except the aqua c remora which uses an air pulse style nozzle which is very effective and the euroreef which uses a similar design with several water jets. This design is limited in that most skimmers using this actually hamper the pumps power and use its impeller to mix the air bubbles into froth; most of these skimmers are not worth their cost without minor or serious modifications.
Venturi skimmers use the principles of fast moving water to literally suck air into the reaction chamber of the skimmer which is then forced through various tubing or chambers until it reaches the collection cup. Most skimmers use this technology; however the manufacturers do not use the correct pumps for them or vastly overrate their abilities to skim. Even the red sea Berlin skimmers at 150 bucks are unable to really skim without a much higher powered pump (660 gph or higher rather than the 550 recommended)
While such technology does have great benefits, it must be understood that your average venturi skimmer is really rated for around half of what it says. Examples below
seaclone 100 20 gallons 29 at most
Seaclone 150 30-40 gallons 55 at most (very low fish and invert stocking though 2 on a 55 is a lot better)
Skilter do not bother if the tank is over 20 gallons and you did not get it very cheap.
CPR bakpak one of the best venturi skimmers for smaller tanks, these guys do great on 20- 30 gallon tanks.
Red sea Berlin classic/turbo While this claims up to 250 gallons I realistically see 55 to 75 gallons. With a proper modification to a Rio 1700 or higher and or a maxi jet rated for 700 gph or so this skimmer really does begin to become powerful.
This technology in skimmers is 10-15 years old and when properly sized to a tank and doubled or modified if necessary these skimmers work great, they simply are not worth their retail pricing though otherwise. This is the mid level way to get into skimming, however being that skimmers in this category are only 50-70 dollars less than the low end of the best skimmers available I once again recommend that you DO NOT buy these unless either you get it very inexpensively, or you have a small tank that space is at a premium so outside tubing or sump is not available for air driven units.)
The venturi system is a great one for public aquariums, and is readily used in large systems where 150 GPM (gallons per minute) or more are used as the flow creates so much more turbulence that it truly can pull a lot of waste out.
3. The jet driven or combination skimmers (also the downdraft) cover the euro reef ets cts and other models as well as the aqua c remora and urchin series and the ev-120 and up group of aqua c heavy duty skimmers.
These work on the principles of forcing water and air to mix in various patented ways that increase their ability to skim. If you buy a unit too over rated for the tank it is on you can actually over skim the water and remove a lot more than you wanted to from the water. While this is hard to do it is a possibility so buy one for the tank size range you will be sticking too.
These skimmers generally are either UNDERRATED or are rated for the middle of what they can handle. While the entry into these skimmers is 150 dollars for a remora or urchin skimmer (the urchin is the sump the remora a HOB skimmer) or 250 to 300 dollars for these skimmers they pull out everything you can think of from the water. If you buy a unit rated for 100 gallons it will keep those 100 gallons as clean as possible. All the skimmers in this category are for larger tanks except for the remora and urchin series. These are the best of the best and once you own one you rarely run into the skimmer not being able to keep up with the fish you have. Only by under buying or grossly overstocking a tank does one overpower one of these.
Skimming is an essential part of a tank system. Only the miracle mud system says that skimming is not a good idea, and with their system of nutrient controls it isn’t necessary. However for the vast majority of us who keep bigger fish than they should, more fish than they should or simply hate the maintenance chores the tank demands, a skimmer helps ease the burden.
I highly recommend to you to please use this guide while comparing testimonials from actual users of the skimmers I mention. Most of this knowledge and opinions I have either learned over my 11 years in saltwater or through the complaints of numerous WWM emails about skimmers or tanks crashing, algae issues and general unhappiness over their tanks due to poor skimmer purchases or uses.
I hope this helps and if a Mod would sticky this if it’s helpful that be great.
Also if you would like the modification ideas I used on my skimmers I will be glad to pass them along.
Rule number one. Unless using the skimmer I reference below (the air driven skimmer), Money does matter when buying. Do not skimp on a skimmer as it is one of the most vital units to a SW success story. It provides heavy waste reduction, Water purification, and keeps you, the aquarist, happier and your maintenance job requirements a lot lower, as it keeps fish healthier.
1. The counter current or air stone driven skimmer.
While this skimmer is not the latest technology nor the best technology, the right height and skimmer neck design coupled with a powerful air pump and good lime wood air stone (yep no blue or white ones got to pay for the wood for the smaller bubbles they have) the traditional Design can easily out skim any skimmer on the market below 100 dollars. Also it is the only skimmer that can be easily built by yourself and scaled to whatever size you want. While it is neither the prettiest nor the most compact skimmer it can and does out perform the seaclone the skilter and the bakpak series in its 20-30 dollar form.
If you coupled it with a tetratec deep water pump and a 4ft reaction chamber version as seen on WWM DIY skimmer, it can compete easily in the range with the aqua c remora and the euroreef skimmers for 50-100 gallon tanks. This design typically either pumps water to it and back or sits inside the tank in a corner.
2. The venturi designed skimmers.
This covers 90% of all skimmers out there except the aqua c remora which uses an air pulse style nozzle which is very effective and the euroreef which uses a similar design with several water jets. This design is limited in that most skimmers using this actually hamper the pumps power and use its impeller to mix the air bubbles into froth; most of these skimmers are not worth their cost without minor or serious modifications.
Venturi skimmers use the principles of fast moving water to literally suck air into the reaction chamber of the skimmer which is then forced through various tubing or chambers until it reaches the collection cup. Most skimmers use this technology; however the manufacturers do not use the correct pumps for them or vastly overrate their abilities to skim. Even the red sea Berlin skimmers at 150 bucks are unable to really skim without a much higher powered pump (660 gph or higher rather than the 550 recommended)
While such technology does have great benefits, it must be understood that your average venturi skimmer is really rated for around half of what it says. Examples below
seaclone 100 20 gallons 29 at most
Seaclone 150 30-40 gallons 55 at most (very low fish and invert stocking though 2 on a 55 is a lot better)
Skilter do not bother if the tank is over 20 gallons and you did not get it very cheap.
CPR bakpak one of the best venturi skimmers for smaller tanks, these guys do great on 20- 30 gallon tanks.
Red sea Berlin classic/turbo While this claims up to 250 gallons I realistically see 55 to 75 gallons. With a proper modification to a Rio 1700 or higher and or a maxi jet rated for 700 gph or so this skimmer really does begin to become powerful.
This technology in skimmers is 10-15 years old and when properly sized to a tank and doubled or modified if necessary these skimmers work great, they simply are not worth their retail pricing though otherwise. This is the mid level way to get into skimming, however being that skimmers in this category are only 50-70 dollars less than the low end of the best skimmers available I once again recommend that you DO NOT buy these unless either you get it very inexpensively, or you have a small tank that space is at a premium so outside tubing or sump is not available for air driven units.)
The venturi system is a great one for public aquariums, and is readily used in large systems where 150 GPM (gallons per minute) or more are used as the flow creates so much more turbulence that it truly can pull a lot of waste out.
3. The jet driven or combination skimmers (also the downdraft) cover the euro reef ets cts and other models as well as the aqua c remora and urchin series and the ev-120 and up group of aqua c heavy duty skimmers.
These work on the principles of forcing water and air to mix in various patented ways that increase their ability to skim. If you buy a unit too over rated for the tank it is on you can actually over skim the water and remove a lot more than you wanted to from the water. While this is hard to do it is a possibility so buy one for the tank size range you will be sticking too.
These skimmers generally are either UNDERRATED or are rated for the middle of what they can handle. While the entry into these skimmers is 150 dollars for a remora or urchin skimmer (the urchin is the sump the remora a HOB skimmer) or 250 to 300 dollars for these skimmers they pull out everything you can think of from the water. If you buy a unit rated for 100 gallons it will keep those 100 gallons as clean as possible. All the skimmers in this category are for larger tanks except for the remora and urchin series. These are the best of the best and once you own one you rarely run into the skimmer not being able to keep up with the fish you have. Only by under buying or grossly overstocking a tank does one overpower one of these.
Skimming is an essential part of a tank system. Only the miracle mud system says that skimming is not a good idea, and with their system of nutrient controls it isn’t necessary. However for the vast majority of us who keep bigger fish than they should, more fish than they should or simply hate the maintenance chores the tank demands, a skimmer helps ease the burden.
I highly recommend to you to please use this guide while comparing testimonials from actual users of the skimmers I mention. Most of this knowledge and opinions I have either learned over my 11 years in saltwater or through the complaints of numerous WWM emails about skimmers or tanks crashing, algae issues and general unhappiness over their tanks due to poor skimmer purchases or uses.
I hope this helps and if a Mod would sticky this if it’s helpful that be great.
Also if you would like the modification ideas I used on my skimmers I will be glad to pass them along.
As for the best system for a sump I am a firm beliver after 11 years in the refugium and macro algea system and powerful skimmer mixed. This is to have the best combination of small coceopod and other invert growth and waste removal via skimmer and macro algaes in the sump.
. I thought everyone could chip in, no?