Is this skimmer too big?

[Lovefish77]

Thinking of getting the reef octopus 220 sss regal (pic attached) on a very heavily stocked 75 display (+ 15 gallon sump). Do you think it could work? Or too big?
I currently run a smaller eshopps x120 skimmer on that system but was looking for something bigger.

Let me know what you think pls.

Thanks

 

[AV corals]

Running a skimmer that’s a little bigger than what’s recommended is perfect. I run the RSK-600 on my reefer 350 and it works flawlessly. Also the skimmer will in turn not have to work as hard either. Good choice on the octo 220!

 

[StatelineReefer]

Depending on the bioload, this could be the perfect size... you CAN overskim nutrients out of the water, but conversely, controlling when you skim is wisest anyways. If you keep coral, turning off your skimmer at night when corals typically feed is a smart idea.

 

[Lovefish77]

Depending on the bioload, this could be the perfect size... you CAN overskim nutrients out of the water, but conversely, controlling when you skim is wisest anyways. If you keep coral, turning off your skimmer at night when corals typically feed is a smart idea.

I just removed my algae scrubber and nitrates at 25ppm with a heavy buiload and feeding. Just afraid it will be too big and not effective

 

[Lovefish77]

Running a skimmer that’s a little bigger than what’s recommended is perfect. I run the RSK-600 on my reefer 350 and it works flawlessly. Also the skimmer will in turn not have to work as hard either. Good choice on the octo 220!

Thanks I heard mixed opinions about that, so making sure.

 

[StatelineReefer]

I just removed my algae scrubber and nitrates at 25ppm with a heavy buiload and feeding. Just afraid it will be too big and not effective

I'd have kept both, if I could, and just dose for nitrates and phos at night while the skimmer is off.

Both methods help a lot with PH elevation. One of the better reasons to go bigger and control nutrients by dosing or by on/off cycles. What are you targetting with your skimming?

 

[spsick]

I would say that skimmer is too big to produce a stable head unless you have 10 tangs and other fish in a 75. Even a 200sss is probably too big.

 

[Lovefish77]

I would say that skimmer is too big to produce a stable head unless you have 10 tangs and other fish in a 75.

That is what I thought too. I only have 4 tangs, not 10. Plus I have like 8 large black widow nems that get fed a lot too

 

[Lavey29]

I use the Eshopps 200 on my system which is same size.

 

[Lovefish77]

I'd have kept both, if I could, and just dose for nitrates and phos at night while the skimmer is off.

Both methods help a lot with PH elevation. One of the better reasons to go bigger and control nutrients by dosing or by on/off cycles. What are you targetting with your skimming?

Scrubber was just too much work to maintain really. Been using it for years, but I had to take it as it is taking too much space.

 

[Potatohead]

I have about the same size system and I use the RO 150SSS

 

[Rit6942]

When it comes to needlewheel skimmers......there is no such thing as too big.........they just dont mix a ton of air or make really small bubbles........

 

[ReefGeezer]

In my experience, that skimmer is way oversized.

I used to run a Reef Octo Recirculating 150NWS on my heavily stocked & fed 90 (up to 17 fish, including a 4" Tang, a 4" Hogfish, a 4" Wrasse, and 3X 3-4" Anthias). I had problems getting corals and even Coralline to grow. As the tank became more established, I also had trouble keeping N&P high enough levels. I finally replaced the big skimmer with with a less efficient Bubble Magnus Curve 7. The tank runs well now. I have plenty of Coralline and the corals are growing well. I still have to add a little nitrogen (I use ammonia), but that's because the corals are using it rather than it being exported by the skimmer.

The Curve 7 is probably about right. It is a little finicky though.

 

[spsick]

I’m running a BK mini 160 on my 75g with 8 fish and it’s borderline too big. I run it dry so it doesn’t bottom out my nitrate b

 

[Lovefish77]

In my experience, that skimmer is way oversized.

I used to run a Reef Octo Recirculating 150NWS on my heavily stocked & fed 90 (up to 17 fish, including a 4" Tang, a 4" Hogfish, a 4" Wrasse, and 3X 3-4" Anthias). I had problems getting corals and even Coralline to grow. As the tank became more established, I also had trouble keeping N&P high enough levels. I finally replaced the big skimmer with with a less efficient Bubble Magnus Curve 7. The tank runs well now. I have plenty of Coralline and the corals are growing well. I still have to add a little nitrogen (I use ammonia), but that's because the corals are using it rather than it being exported by the skimmer.

The Curve 7 is probably about right. It is a little finicky though.

I dumped the curve 7 as it is very moody. My fear is not bottoming out nitrates (I can always dump more food). My fear is that skimmer will not function well

 

[ReefGeezer]

I dumped the curve 7 as it is very moody. My fear is not bottoming out nitrates (I can always dump more food). My fear is that skimmer will not function well

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was recommending the Curve 7. The point was that running an oversized skimmer was bad for my tank.

 

[homer1475]

And I run a curve 5 elite on my heavily stocked(15 fish) 80G(85 total gallons with sump). Works very well, and is highly adjustable.

Oversized skimmers just don't work very well, or go through spurts where they either run well for a while, then won't work at all. Rinse, repeat until the organics are high enough again to make it work properly. They don't do much for keeping things stable.

 

[Lovefish77]

In my experience, that skimmer is way oversized.

I used to run a Reef Octo Recirculating 150NWS on my heavily stocked & fed 90 (up to 17 fish, including a 4" Tang, a 4" Hogfish, a 4" Wrasse, and 3X 3-4" Anthias). I had problems getting corals and even Coralline to grow. As the tank became more established, I also had trouble keeping N&P high enough levels. I finally replaced the big skimmer with with a less efficient Bubble Magnus Curve 7. The tank runs well now. I have plenty of Coralline and the corals are growing well. I still have to add a little nitrogen (I use ammonia), but that's because the corals are using it rather than it being exported by the skimmer.

The Curve 7 is probably about right. It is a little finicky though.

I have 4 tangs ranging from 4 to 6" each. Plus I feed the nems like an ounce or two of food weekly

 

[Troylee]

It might be tough to keep a stable foam head.. it will work great at first then idle till it has enough nutrients to build back up.. that’s not a bad thing from my experience.. I have a curve 5 on my 60gallon cube which is a little big but it works great!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

No such thing as too big of a skimmer. Bigger is better imo.
D