effects of over-skimming

[L8 2 RISE]

I'm trying to figure out what skimmer to get and am having trouble. What effects can over skimming have? I was told that hard-corals disagree with it... is there any truth to this?

 

thanks

[L8 2 RISE]

umm...I dont know why this triple posted....

[capsfan]

yeah thats kind of wierd

[jason the filter freak]

over skimming doesn't exist

[zygote2k]

If you are looking for a good skimmer that is inexpensive, go with an Aqua Medic T 1000.

[jason the filter freak]

member crabby is selling a couple of turbo floaters right now

[yauger]

over skimming? myth...

[Larry Grenier]

I had a tank years ago that was under-skimmed and the coral that did best was zenia and my tube worms were multiplying.

 

I've knows folks with really nice tanks with healthy and georgeous corals that were heavily skimmed. Everything thrived, epecially the SPS but they couldn't keep zenia alive.

 

Draw your own conclusions.

[L8 2 RISE]

thanks guys, I'm going to need a rather oversized skimmer and I decided to go with bubblemaster. I'm going to have 4 tanks: a 75, 60, 50, and 40, so a total of 200 gallons with cephs in at least two of the tanks. The bublemaster 200 is rated to tanks up to 250 gallons which isn't oversized enough, per say, yet the bublemaster 250 is rated for 500+ gallon aquariums which is not too much for the cephs, heck, there is no too much for cephs, but I was wondering about other stuff (corals, other inverts, fish, etc) that will be in the system, could this actually be too much skimming?

 

from what I've seen above, I think I'm going to go with the 250, thanks a lot

[Grav]

cephs?

[vaironman]

It is a myth on overskimming. No such thing. Buy the most efficient and best skimmer that your wallet can afford.

 

Don't skim on skimmer.

[L8 2 RISE]

cephs?

 

cephalopods - cuttlefish, octopuses, squids, and nautilus (I'm getting cuttlefish and possibly and octo)

 

The problem with these is that they are THE messyest things out there, hence the really nice, top line, expensive skimmer. People who have reef tanks and corals always tell me that the most expensive part of setting up their tank was the lights, and the live rock, someone with a ceph tank will always tell you, the most expensive part of my tank was the skimmer and the live rock, and usually the skimmer ends up being more expensive than the lights would be for the same tank if you went the reef way.

[zygote2k]

IME, the T 1000 outperforms other skimmers in the same class like Deltec, ASM, or Euro-reef. They also make higher end commercial skimmers for large systems. Bubble kings seem to be drastically overpriced and over hyped. For a 200 gallon system, I can't imagine why you think you need that type of skimmer. For the cost of one Bubble-king, you could buy 4 T-1000's and their associated pumps.

[jason the filter freak]

IME, the T 1000 outperforms other skimmers in the same class like Deltec, ASM, or Euro-reef. They also make higher end commercial skimmers for large systems. Bubble kings seem to be drastically overpriced and over hyped. For a 200 gallon system, I can't imagine why you think you need that type of skimmer. For the cost of one Bubble-king, you could buy 4 T-1000's and their associated pumps.

 

agreed also pretty easy to mod, i have 2. I'd really reccomend passing over the bubble master and see if you can find a used GSA skimmer

[L8 2 RISE]

IME, the T 1000 outperforms other skimmers in the same class like Deltec, ASM, or Euro-reef. They also make higher end commercial skimmers for large systems. Bubble kings seem to be drastically overpriced and over hyped. For a 200 gallon system, I can't imagine why you think you need that type of skimmer. For the cost of one Bubble-king, you could buy 4 T-1000's and their associated pumps.

 

 

agreed also pretty easy to mod, i have 2. I'd really reccomend passing over the bubble master and see if you can find a used GSA skimmer

 

Just to clarify, I'm getting an ATI Bubble Master, NOT a Bubble king. Waaaaaaay diferent in price, but the bubblemaster is still a bit expensive. I've decided not to go with GSA for my own reasons, and even if I did go with it, a new GSA is more expensive than a new Bubble master. I'll look into the T 1000, I've honestly never heard of them.

[jason the filter freak]

Just to clarify, I'm getting an ATI Bubble Master, NOT a Bubble king. Waaaaaaay diferent in price, but the bubblemaster is still a bit expensive. I've decided not to go with GSA for my own reasons, and even if I did go with it, a new GSA is more expensive than a new Bubble master. I'll look into the T 1000, I've honestly never heard of them.

 

T-1000 goes by the more well known name as Turbofloater. They run on the same pump as the new line of GSA shorty's (just bought one) don't have the same issues as the eheim driven ones . I ditched the needle wheel for a mesh wheel mod.

[treesprite]

I always thought over-skimming was the same as "skimming wet". I though under-skimming was setting the skimmer on struggle mode thereby rendering it not as efficient.

[lanman]

I think most folks have been answering with the definition being to use a 700-gallon capacity skimmer on 70 gallons of water. NOT that anyone would actually do that....

 

 

 

 

bob

[steveoutlaw]

IME, the T 1000 outperforms other skimmers in the same class like Deltec, ASM, or Euro-reef. They also make higher end commercial skimmers for large systems. Bubble kings seem to be drastically overpriced and over hyped.

 

 

I have to disagree on both counts. While the T1000 is a pretty good skimmer, the Deltecs and Euro-reefs in the same class far outperform it. As for the Bubbleking, they are very expensive but to those who can afford them they are worth every penny. I've owned a T1000, a Euroreef and a Deltec.....and I would rank them (performance wise) as Deltec #1, Euro-reef #2 and the Aquamedic #3. But that is just my opinion.

 

Before you buy the ATI (if it's not too late), you may want to search reef central for peoples experiences with them. I have read that they perform very well but there is an issue with the Sicce pumps that they use.

 

Good luck.

[Gatortailale]

I have to disagree on both counts. While the T1000 is a pretty good skimmer, the Deltecs and Euro-reefs in the same class far outperform it. As for the Bubbleking, they are very expensive but to those who can afford them they are worth every penny. I've owned a T1000, a Euroreef and a Deltec.....and I would rank them (performance wise) as Deltec #1, Euro-reef #2 and the Aquamedic #3. But that is just my opinion.

 

Before you buy the ATI (if it's not too late), you may want to search reef central for peoples experiences with them. I have read that they perform very well but there is an issue with the Sicce pumps that they use.

 

Good luck.

 

 

I agree with Steve.

 

[wearing my personal opinion hat]

 

My first tank (125g) had a turbofloater on it and it was the worst skimmer I ever used - in my opinion. Original pump stopped working efficient after 9 months. I had to add a air pump to get it to work better. Even adding oceanrunner pump didn't help. A skimmer is the heart of your system. Yet many people try to skimp on the expense of getting a good one. DO you think I could keep 27+ fish is a 215g tank (around 300g total system) if I had a cheap skimmer on my tank - heck no. Sure it cost me a lot to get a deltec 702, but since Jan '06 I have had nothing but success with it.

 

I would like to know if zygo has ever used a deltec or bubble king and what he has base his opinion on. Sure you pay more, but you get what ya pay for.

 

If you want some better opinions on skimmers, see the thread in aquaco forum: http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25533 You can see the results of what pics peeps posted up on each brand.

[Gatortailale]

you can find a review of a ATI bubblemaster here: http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?show...c=11873&hl= by ybenormal and others

 

 

Good luck on your choice.

[zygote2k]

I can't think of the skimmer as being the heart of the system. Water quality is. I'd like to think that if you want to have absolutely the best water quality, you'd ditch the skimmer and use a well stocked refugium. I currently use this method which outperforms any skimmer.

[Gatortailale]

Removing organic solids via skimming = better water quality = healthy heart of the system.

 

I don't mean to pick specifially at your position zygo, but ... it appears then, based on your lack of response to my question of what your experience is with deltec, bubble king or other high end/high price skimmers, that you haven't personally used one of them.

 

Zygo, you got a specs/ratings you can share with all of us on size of refugium someone needs to balance size of tank (like what size well stocked refugium for a 75 or 90, or 120 ...). In my opinion, I don't think a person can run a little 5 or 10 g refugium on a 120 without a skimmer and be successful. But maybe your experience can help us understand what you base your statement on that a well stocked fuge is all one needs.

 

Many in the club use a small refugium in hopes that pods and other benefits make it back to the main system; but I only know of few members that may have large refugiums of 50g's or more, yet they still run a skimmer in addition to fuge.

 

To each their own I guess.

 

Late 2 Rise, Hope you take a bit more time to do some research on your own to learn what method you like, whether it's someting you will be able to maintain, and that it's easy to use and performs the task you want it to do = keep your water quality healthy. If you do go skimmer way, check out how easy (or not) it is to take collection cup section off to clean every few days. The easier it is to clean, the more you will do it and the better your skimmer will work.

[reefmontalvo]

I currently use a Tunze 9005 rated for 132 gallons on a 75 gallon with a 20 gallon fug it runs great I clean the collection cup once a week. I have seen Bubble Kings and Deltecs in action and I have even seen home made protein skimmers there a simple design, in the end it's what you as the consumer is willing to spend and its you who will feel if your equipment is the best for the application you are tryn to achieve.