Skimmer Sizing (1 Viewer)

[jrounding]

Good morning,

I am currently running a Simplicity Aquatics 120DC skimmer on my RSR 300XL. 300 liter or 80 gallon system (if you prefer freedom units). I just started the reef care program and will dose nopox at 3 ml per day per their recommendations through my dosing pump. I will be testing phosphate and nitrate every day for the next couple weeks and dosing as needed. This skimmer is rated at 90 gallons for a medium bio load and only 60 gallons for a heavy bio load. Skimmate is dark and pretty dry, but I have to empty the skimmer cup every day or every other day. This could be dead cyano entering the skimmer since I’ve been battling it for some time now and appears the nopox is giving the good bacteria what it needs to out compete.The tank is currently about 1/3 stocked with fish and will be adding 5 chromis soon. I am feeding 1 cube of mysis in the morning and pellets in the evening. My mechanical citation is a ReefMat 500. So my question is should I be looking at a new skimmer? Also any recommendations on skimmer brand and size for this application? I’d prefer a DC skimmer option for adjustability.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Good morning,

I am currently running a Simplicity Aquatics 120DC skimmer on my RSR 300XL. 300 liter or 80 gallon system (if you prefer freedom units). I just started the reef care program and will dose nopox at 3 ml per day per their recommendations through my dosing pump. I will be testing phosphate and nitrate every day for the next couple weeks and dosing as needed. This skimmer is rated at 90 gallons for a medium bio load and only 60 gallons for a heavy bio load. Skimmate is dark and pretty dry, but I have to empty the skimmer cup every day or every other day. This could be dead cyano entering the skimmer since I’ve been battling it for some time now and appears the nopox is giving the good bacteria what it needs to out compete.The tank is currently about 1/3 stocked with fish and will be adding 5 chromis soon. I am feeding 1 cube of mysis in the morning and pellets in the evening. My mechanical citation is a ReefMat 500. So my question is should I be looking at a new skimmer? Also any recommendations on skimmer brand and size for this application? I’d prefer a DC skimmer option for adjustability.

Yes I'd look at a bigger one. If I recall the 120 is rated for a stocked 60 gallon and I usually go with one that's about 50% bigger than the recommendations so it's a bit small in my opinion. If you liked that skimmer then I'd go with the next size up, the 240, which is rated for a 120 fully stocked and would probably be just about perfect and the footprint is only about 10% bigger. You could also go with Red Seas recommendation of their RSK-300 which is only slightly bigger than than the Simplicity 240 and are awesome skimmers, but a bit more pricy.

 

[jrounding]

Do you think the Red Sea one is better? Ive also been looking at the reef octopus and bubble magus. There’s a huge variation in price, but I just don’t have enough experience to say which one is the best value for the money. I’ve had good luck with my 120DC skimmer and I do like the DC pump that allows a certain amount of adjustability. I like the Red Sea products as well, but I’m not sure if it is worth the extra cash.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Reef octo makes amazing skimmers for big tanks, but I don't have much experience with smaller ones so it's hard to say on those. I've got a few bubble magnus running and they are good reliable skimmers, but I prefer the Red Sea ones. They seem to do a better job when compared to similar sized bubble magnus and I find them easier to clean and more durable. Had a couple elite curve bubbles break rather quickly, less than 6 months, and I replaced them with RSKs. I think any of them would work just fine with very similar skimming abilities so it would just be if you want to spend extra now on a longer lasting skimmer, or replace/repair a cheaper one more often.

 

[jrounding]

I’ll probably pick between the Simplicity and the Red Sea. I like that the Simplicity is DC, but the Red Sea has a Sicce pump in it which should be reliable. I also like the neck wiper, bubble window and injection molded plastic on the Red Sea one. Plus Red Sea is very available here in Houston if I need parts. Then again the Simplicity one I have now had just been so good. Easy to take apart and clean, easy adjustment, quiet running. It’s been a really good skimmer.

 

[soymilk]

I got a nice reef octo sss 150 elite for sale

I'd get the simplicity 240dc over the red sea rsk300.

 

[jrounding]

I got a nice reef octo sss 150 elite for sale

I'd get the simplicity 240dc over the red sea rsk300.

I’ll probably go with the 240DC just because I have had great luck with the 120DC. Maybe oceanlife has one in stock and I can pick it up tomorrow. I see they are a Simplicity dealer.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

I’ll probably go with the 240DC just because I have had great luck with the 120DC. Maybe oceanlife has one in stock and I can pick it up tomorrow. I see they are a Simplicity dealer.

I don't have any in stock, but I can order you one if you have no luck finding one in town.

 

[BigRick]

I like both my simplicity 320 and reef octo w/ DC Diablo pump.

 

[jrounding]

I don't have any in stock, but I can order you one if you have no luck finding one in town.

Sounds good! Any particular reason why Google maps says you are temporarily closed? Your store is about 45 minutes from me so I will have to come check it out! I’m still stocking corals and fish in this tank.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Sounds good! Any particular reason why Google maps says you are temporarily closed? Your store is about 45 minutes from me so I will have to come check it out! I’m still stocking corals and fish in this tank.

We aren't completely open yet and go by appointment right now and google won't let you list as by appointment so it seemed like the best option for now. We are getting married very soon and going on honeymoon and all that so only partial hours until we get back and set a real opening date.

 

[jrounding]

We aren't completely open yet and go by appointment right now and google won't let you list as by appointment so it seemed like the best option for now. We are getting married very soon and going on honeymoon and all that so only partial hours until we get back and set a real opening date.

Awesome! I look forward to hearing when your opening date will be! I definitely will be by when that happens.

 

[jrounding]

I got a nice reef octo sss 150 elite for sale

I'd get the simplicity 240dc over the red sea rsk300.

The RO SSS150 looks nice, but may be too rich for my blood. It’s like 900 dollars new? lol!

 

[R-BallJunkie]

The RO SSS150 looks nice, but may be too rich for my blood. It’s like 900 dollars new? lol!

buy the used reef Octo if its a a decent price...i'm kicking myself for not going RO sooner. Damn good equipment. The elite series has different materials to allow for ozone injection vs standard RO.

 

[jrounding]

Thanks @soymilk! This thing is a beast! It’s only been running an hour and I’m already skimming gunk.

 

[MurseJB]

Thanks @soymilk! This thing is a beast! It’s only been running an hour and I’m already skimming gunk.

very nice skimmer!

 

[RR-MAN]

These skimmers are getting better and better no wonder we are dosing NO3 and PO4.

Can’t go wrong with reef Octo skimmers.

 

[jrounding]

These skimmers are getting better and better no wonder we are dosing NO3 and PO4.

Can’t go wrong with reef Octo skimmers.

That’s the truth. I have two bottles of Neophos and two bottles of Neonitro at the ready, lol!

 

[Cody]

These skimmers are getting better and better no wonder we are dosing NO3 and PO4.

Can’t go wrong with reef Octo skimmers.

I’d say it’s our understanding of reefs that’s gotten better. There hasn’t been any major revolution in the skimmer department since the invention of the needle wheel pump.

There is an argument to be made that the marketing and manufacturing of skimmers have both got in the way of progressing them to their full potential. For instance, a circular chamber makes much less sense than a square/rectangular one when you look at a chamber’s ability to provide water volume column without taking up as much real estate. However, a circular chamber is easier to manufacture, stronger, and more aesthetically pleasing than a rectangular one.

Also, a needle wheel is great for providing good air induction very easily with a one-stop-shop, but it has very little head pressure. Needle wheel pumps take the engine and transition and roll them into one unit. However, they can’t sustain a taller water column in the chamber, which does numbers for increasing contact time of micro bubbles to the water column, thus increasing the efficiency. The taller the better when it comes to skimmers.

Point being, I think that a proper understanding of correct bio-load, plus a better understanding of nutrient levels and what they mean, have lead to more successful reefs.

 

[soymilk]

me and my 20L with 6 tangs don't appreciate your post