Did I order the wrong size skimmer?

Swingline77 · Jul 28, 2018

I'm putting together a 90 gal tank, plus a sump with about 10 gal. I ordered a reef octopus 110 int, since it moves about 90 gal of water/hr. I don't want the Essence 130. I'm new to the hobby, and don't need anything too expensive just yet. I'm wondering if I'll be kicking myself for not getting the 150 int.

DSC reef · Jul 28, 2018

It's really going to depend on your bioload. We ran a SCA-303 rated at 150 gallons since I feed heavy. I think that skimmer will be just fine.

Swingline77 · Jul 28, 2018

good to hear. Thanks.

mitch91175 · Jul 28, 2018

Swingline77 said:
I'm putting together a 90 gal tank, plus a sump with about 10 gal. I ordered a reef octopus 110 int, since it moves about 90 gal of water/hr. I don't want the Essence 130. I'm new to the hobby, and don't need anything too expensive just yet. I'm wondering if I'll be kicking myself for not getting the 150 int.

No doubt that the skimmer will be fine, but I do think that sometime in the future when you do have more bioload that you would have wished you had just spent the little extra to get the bigger skimmer. It's not the end of the world that you went smaller either, but that is something that you will learn quickly in the hobby (go with your gut). You seem to be questioning if the decision was right, so that tells me that you plan to have a heavier bioload and feel that you'll need a larger skimmer down the road. You can at some point carbon dose to help with nutrients, but also keep in mind that having nutrients in your system isn't a bad thing either (unless you are one of those that feel you have to have an ultra low nutrient system - ULNS).

Filter socks will also help you out as well if you are going to be using them in your sump. You'll just have to get on a schedule of replacing them (cannot wait for the Klir to be released and hope that it is all it's being drummed up to be).

Swingline77 · Jul 28, 2018

I cancelled the order. I'll be getting the 150.

mitch91175 · Jul 28, 2018

Swingline77 said:
I cancelled the order. I'll be getting the 150.

Good decision in my book. Glad you were able to cancel it and get what you actually wanted in the beginning.

Swingline77 · Jul 29, 2018

Out of curiosity, what would happen if the tank were massively UNDERpopulated? I guess the worst that would happen is that no skimmate would be produced. I'd guess that if no skimmate is produced, then there really isn't enough in the system to be an issue, right?

Forsaken77 · Jul 29, 2018

Swingline77 said:
Out of curiosity, what would happen if the tank were massively UNDERpopulated? I guess the worst that would happen is that no skimmate would be produced. I'd guess that if no skimmate is produced, then there really isn't enough in the system to be an issue, right?

Not necessarily. There's just not enough for the skimmer to function properly.

I wouldn't even worry about that though. BRS recommends the 150 for tanks up to 120 gallons with a light load. So you're right where you should be. Even if your tank is medium stocked, you'll be fine. It's a 6" body, which isn't that large where you would have this problem.