DC vs AC Skimmer... What are your thoughts?

[Pistondog]

As far as skimmate performance, there isn't going to be a difference, only that the way you achieve the proper flow through the skimmer body is done differently.

If your DC skimmer is putting out frothy skimmate it's because it's tuned to do so. You can achieve the same goal with an AC pump.

The benefits are as gablami stated. It boils down to preference, longevity over efficiency. for most people it's a moot point and you stick to what you're familiar with.

Not necessarily. The adjustability of a dc, speed controllable pump allows another knob to tune the pump to your bioload.
With ac, one size fits all.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Not necessarily. The adjustability of a dc, speed controllable pump allows another knob to tune the pump to your bioload.
With ac, one size fits all.

What? I'm not following. What are you saying?

 

[kenchilada]

Went Deltec 1000ix here because it’s an AC pump. Also will run redundant AC return pumps.

Compare product reviews of AC vs DC. More expensive, less reliable. No thanks.

 

[mrpizzaface]

Curious, what did you end up buying?

Bubble King, though I was really close to getting a Tunze.

 

[Pistondog]

@Siterlimonpot
You can turn down the speed of a dc pump and reduce volume of water/air entering the skimmer. This is different than an ac motor which runs at constant speed, no adjustment.
Ac motor aways at 100% speed
Dc motor with controller (is varios) 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% speedz

 

[tricky_tran]

I just inherited this Marine Technical Venturi skimmer and am looking for a pump to run it. Apparently I can use whatever return pump I want as long as it has enough output. It came with an external Iwaki pump, but i want to run it in sump. I hear this is an awesome unit if I have the right pump and I’m leaning toward a DC pump.

 

[Pistondog]

I just inherited this Marine Technical Venturi skimmer and am looking for a pump to run it. Apparently I can use whatever return pump I want as long as it has enough output. It came with an external Iwaki pump, but i want to run it in sump. I hear this is an awesome unit if I have the right pump and I’m leaning toward a DC pump.

Is there a gph rating on the Iwaki, that would help with the size of dc.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

@Siterlimonpot
You can turn down the speed of a dc pump and reduce volume of water/air entering the skimmer. This is different than an ac motor which runs at constant speed, no adjustment.
Ac motor aways at 100% speed
Dc motor with controller (is varios) 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% speedz

I see, my point was that you can achieve the same settings but through mechanical means. Instead of slowing the pumps RPM you would restricts flow through the reactor with a gate valve.

 

[tricky_tran]

Is there a gph rating on the Iwaki, that would help with the size of dc.

Its a MD-70RLT - 25.6 gal/min ~ 1536 gal/hr...

 

[flyfisher2]

@Siterlimonpot
You can turn down the speed of a dc pump and reduce volume of water/air entering the skimmer. This is different than an ac motor which runs at constant speed, no adjustment.
Ac motor aways at 100% speed
Dc motor with controller (is varios) 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% speedz

This is my deductive reasoning, please correct me if I'm wrong. If I were to buy say a Deltec 1000 and went with the AC , the skimmer will be tuned to ideal settings for whatever system they tested it in and I may or may not be lucky enough to fall within the acceptable range for said skimmer vs going with the DC and having more adjustment options and ultimately a better performing skimmer ?

 

[flyfisher2]

Bubble King, though I was really close to getting a Tunze.

Awesome pick. I spoke with the owner extensively at Reefapalooza 2015 and was very tempted to buy one but held off. Still have their card somewhere. Thats the Ferrari of skimmers. Hat's off

 

[Pistondog]

Its a MD-70RLT - 25.6 gal/min ~ 1536 gal/hr...

That looks like strictly a water pump, vs water pump with venturi.

Iwaki MD-70RLT-115 | Sealless Magnetic Drive Pump | BPH Pumps

The Iwaki MD-70RLT-115 is perfect for a wide range of chemical and pharmaceutical applications. Order this sealless magnetic drive pump online today.

www.bphpumps.com

This has more gph, but you can dial back if required

VarioS-6 Controllable DC Pump (1720 GPH)

Reef Octopus VarioS DC pumps give you enhanced performance and precise control of flow through your aquarium's reactors, sump, or closed loop system. With complete control through the VarioS Controller, you can control the flow of the pump, enter feed modes (15 or 60 minutes), add a safety float...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

If you think you need the venturi version, just add an 'S' to the part number, varios 6 or 6s.

I don't know which that skimmer requires.

 

[Pistondog]

This is my deductive reasoning, please correct me if I'm wrong. If I were to buy say a Deltec 1000 and went with the AC , the skimmer will be tuned to ideal settings for whatever system they tested it in and I may or may not be lucky enough to fall within the acceptable range for said skimmer vs going with the DC and having more adjustment options and ultimately a better performing skimmer ?

Or if you change fish load, or add a sump or oversize your skimmer, which was recommended a couple, of years ago.
And some skimmers are more forgiving to different conditions than others.

 

[tricky_tran]

That looks like strictly a water pump, vs water pump with venturi.

Iwaki MD-70RLT-115 | Sealless Magnetic Drive Pump | BPH Pumps

The Iwaki MD-70RLT-115 is perfect for a wide range of chemical and pharmaceutical applications. Order this sealless magnetic drive pump online today.

www.bphpumps.com

This has more gph, but you can dial back if required

VarioS-6 Controllable DC Pump (1720 GPH)

Reef Octopus VarioS DC pumps give you enhanced performance and precise control of flow through your aquarium's reactors, sump, or closed loop system. With complete control through the VarioS Controller, you can control the flow of the pump, enter feed modes (15 or 60 minutes), add a safety float...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

If you think you need the venturi version, just add an 'S' to the part number, varios 6 or 6s.

I don't know which that skimmer requires.

This is the Venturi

 

[Pistondog]

This is the Venturi

So you probably just need the pump without the venturi.
Varios 6

 

[flyfisher2]

Went Deltec 1000ix here because it’s an AC pump. Also will run redundant AC return pumps.

Compare product reviews of AC vs DC. More expensive, less reliable. No thanks.

Watched the Deltec video and was impressed with the Skimmer and the anti overflow system. How happy are you with it? What did you have before?

 

[ca1ore]

The more recent MTC skimmers used mazzei injectors (a brand of venturi). Mazzei need a pressure rated pump to perform at their best, thus the iwaki 70. That probably is overkill, but you may find that flow rated DC pumps perform poorly. There are a few older threads here on R2R on that skimmer.

 

[kenchilada]

Watched the Deltec video and was impressed with the Skimmer and the anti overflow system. How happy are you with it? What did you have before?

Still setting up this tank and getting back into the hobby but I’ve had several Deltec skimmers and calcium reactors and they’ve always performed great and lasted a long time.

 

[tricky_tran]

The more recent MTC skimmers used mazzei injectors (a brand of venturi). Mazzei need a pressure rated pump to perform at their best, thus the iwaki 70. That probably is overkill, but you may find that flow rated DC pumps perform poorly. There are a few older threads here on R2R on that skimmer.

Thanks for the additional insight! The tank is going into the living room and I’m worried about noise from the Iwaki

 

[X-37B]

I run 2 tunze 9410's. One dc one ac.
You can not hear the dc running. The ac is noticable.