Ato and protein skimmer

[saltynovice378]

I have a 30 gallon red sea max. Looking for an ATO and protein skimmer....any suggestions..skimmer is going in tank back compartment. Looking at the Tunze 9004 Doc.

 

[Mike J.]

The Tunze 9004 seems to be a popular choice for your tank.

 

[Deblack3]

I have a Bubble Magnus Curve 5 for my 90 gallon... works fantastic and as far as a ATO the Autoaqua smart controller with this guys tanks Acrylic Aquarium Auto Topoff ATO Reef Reservoir Container | eBay You can have a custom one made if you contact him. I had a 4.75x17x17 made and I slide it behind the Stand out of sight.

 

[Deblack3]

word of caution though the Autoaqua smart controller uses a pump out of the ATO tank. Your ATO tank water line has to be below the the outlet tube or you will get some syphon action going on out of your ATO tank.

 

[saltynovice378]

Thanks....looking at Tunze for Ato

 

[Gopi]

I've got the Tunze 9004 DOC skimmer and am using a JBJ ATO with Accela pump on my JBJ 45.

 

[saltynovice378]

How do you like the 9004? Mine should arrive tomorrow. Does the jbj Ato have an eye sensor or just mechanical?

 

[Gopi]

How do you like the 9004? Mine should arrive tomorrow. Does the jbj Ato have an eye sensor or just mechanical?

I love the 9004. Took maybe 3-4 days to break in, had to empty often (like...every time I turned around) for the first couple days. Since it was in the back and below the top of the glass, I was OK with the cup overfilling. Lots of microbubbles is normal for about two weeks. They have an accessory sponge you can buy for that period if you want. Also, its just about dead silent. No whistling with their silencer.

The JBJ ato uses float valves, no light sensor. It does come with 2 valves so you could run it to detect min and max water levels in tank or have one detect when reservoir is low. I'm using just one float for min water level, but will probably hook up the second for a max level this weekend.

 

[saltynovice378]

Thanks Gopi..just got mine and tried to fit it in the back of my red sea max 130 D compartment. No luck. The body fits but the top cup there's too much plastic in the way for it to fit. I even tried to put it in my tank but since the close lid system no good. Needless to say I'm disappointed and I really wanted this thing to work with my tank. Now I have no protein skimmer running in my tank. I wonder if this means that it's time to get a small sum to fit in the cabinet of my tank and place the skimmer there. Not sure what to do

 

[Gopi]

Bummer that it doesn't fit! I had to rotate mine 90 degrees to make it fit right...I'm assuming you tried turning it to the side already?

 

[saltynovice378]

Gopi...what tank are you using your skimmer in?

 

[Gopi]

I have a JBJ 45, not the red sea...was just kind of hoping for you

 

[saltynovice378]

Thanks can I go without a skimmer I only have a few frags LPS couple of fish some crabs and shrimp

 

[KillerKlownFish]

I just got the 9001 last month works great fits in the RSM 130d

 

[saltynovice378]

Thanks Killer...is coming in tomorrow. Where did you situate the 9001, where the stock skimmer was?

 

[KillerKlownFish]

Yeah there's a video for the media basket at InTank.com you can also find it on YouTube. It can be adjusted in different ways. You can pretty much put it anywhere.

http://youtu.be/d2AiHpYw7qQ

 

[saltynovice378]

Thanks Killer. i saw that video but the basket is not necessary right? I use the bio ceramic that came with the tank along with GFO and carbon reactor.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

You could keep the same set up as stock and just switch out the skimmer. The basket organizes it a bit more. I was told the rock acts as a filter so I could toss the media. If you keep the media use chemi pure elite instead of the basic carbon that came with it.
You can add the purigen if you want. I just remember what a pain it was to get to the carbon and media to change them. I guess you would mount the skimmer on the left side since you won't be using the basket. It maybe difficult to keep the sponge filter where it goes since it won't have anything to push up against