skimmer advice or opinion

Franna29

Franna29

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Hey Masa,

I am looking to buy a new skimmer soon, my system is about 250l in total, with 5 chromis,2 clowns,watchman goby,2 cleaner shrimps,5 hermits,4 snails.( tank link below) currently running a TS1 and want to upgrade, option I am looking for is.

Reef Octopus Protein Skimmer NW-110 rated for 380l( will this be to small)


Reef Octopus Protein Skimmer NW-150 rated for 570l(will this one be to big)




or



Bubble Magus Curve 5 Protein Skimmer rates for 500l



picture.php
 
I feel the skimmer does not skim properly I either end up with a dirty neck and almost no skimate in cup or skimming to wet, and also believe the skimmer is the hart of the tank and the better the hart works the better the tank will be doing. thanks.
 
My tank is 1200x450x450 (with sump +/- 350L)

I just upgraded to a Curve 5 - But I am Carbon dosing, keeping softies, lps and sps.

I feel a Curve 5 would be too powerful for your tank...

I am going to be selling my old skimmer in the next week or two - Its a Reef Octopus RO-PS1000 (With bubble blaster pump) Its the older version:

RO-PS-1000Int.jpg


This skimmer was slightly underpowered for my setup, overflowing with good skim mate way to quickly and don't think it was pulling what it should have been from my setup
 
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@trad

What water level are you running your Curve 5 at?
 
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trad said:
you have to get it as close as possible to 23cm otherwise the foam doesn't get high enough.
@poiromaniax I had to up the level in my sump from 14 to 23cm to get it to work properly.
Click to expand...

Mines sitting at about 26cm at the moment - I don't know if its still breaking in or low bioload but I don't get a serious skim mate yet.

Put it in about 2.5 weeks ago
 
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Strange, my tank is only 3 weeks old, got some old LR from @Adee 's sump. plus 2 fish and very light feeding.

The skimmer took about a week to kick in but I've already cleaned thick (almost black) paste from the sides and although skimming very wet, get a beer colour skimmate +- 1cm in the cup every 3rd day.

I have the bubbles set at the bottom of the skimmer cup.

Only thing I can think is you should check that there aren't any leaks from where to cable goes in etc. and check the setup, the holds should not in in line with the pump outlet...
@poiromaniax
 
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trad said:
Only thing I can think is you should check that there aren't any leaks from where to cable goes in etc. and check the setup, the holds should not in in line with the pump outlet...
@poiromaniax
Click to expand...


I don't know if that was autocorrect but I don't understand?

Leaks from which cables?

The holds?
 
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poiromaniax said:
I don't know if that was autocorrect but I don't understand?

Leaks from which cables?

The holds?
Click to expand...

Sorry just me typing to fast.

The holes in the cup that the the pump outlet shoots the water into should not line up with the pump outlet. Not sure if you saw but the holes only go two third around and there is a section to block the flow from the pump shooting straight up into the skimmer cup... hope that makes sense.

It's not a big issue but it the hole where the cable goes through the floor of the skimmer (also where the pumps connects via the side) aren't sealed I think this might allow dirty water to escape rather than going out the control valve where you set 1/2/3/ max.
 
trad said:
Sorry just me typing to fast.

The holes in the cup that the the pump outlet shoots the water into should not line up with the pump outlet. Not sure if you saw but the holes only go two third around and there is a section to block the flow from the pump shooting straight up into the skimmer cup... hope that makes sense.

It's not a big issue but it the hole where the cable goes through the floor of the skimmer (also where the pumps connects via the side) aren't sealed I think this might allow dirty water to escape rather than going out the control valve where you set 1/2/3/ max.
Click to expand...

Ah, ya I did make sure that the holes weren't lined up.

Will check the cable spot.

Maybe I should also move it to my first sump chamber.

I currently have my BioPellet reactor in first chamber, skimmer in second, return third.

Wonder if It will make any diff if move the skimmer into same chamber as reactor
 
I would go with the Bubble Magus. I have the Curve 7 and the Curve 9 and am happy with both of them. The Curve 7 is on a tank that previously had a Reef Octopus skimmer on it (I think it was an NW-150) and the Bubble Magus definitely pulls out more. Of course this could be due to how I had the Reef Octopus set up. So the RO is also a good skimmer but, if I had to choose between them, I'd choose the BM.
 
colins said:
I would go with the Bubble Magus. I have the Curve 7 and the Curve 9 and am happy with both of them. The Curve 7 is on a tank that previously had a Reef Octopus skimmer on it (I think it was an NW-150) and the Bubble Magus definitely pulls out more. Of course this could be due to how I had the Reef Octopus set up. So the RO is also a good skimmer but, if I had to choose between them, I'd choose the BM.
Click to expand...
thanx for the advice:m106:
 
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