Lets talk skimmers

mtfatwork · Jan 29, 2009

Since I am new here it is only right that I start a volitile thread lol. But seriously, I would like to hear what works and doesn't work for you and your tank setups. Please be specific as it will be a good way for everyone to envision, and for me to get to know some of you folks.

I will go first!

I have a custom built 220g sps dominant display tank with about 25 fish in it. I run an Aquatic Acrylics 1850 skimmer on it. With my bioload in my tank and the frag tank that leaves me with around 450 gallons of water, this skimmer kicks butt! I have been too lazy to vac detritus in the frag tank for like 4 months now. there is actually a thick layer of it covering the bottom of the tank (this is my personal frag tank). With all that being said, every coral holds amazing color in there, has great growth, and there is never a speck of algae.

I also have a 120 lps tank. I have about 6 fish in there and I run a bubble master 200 on it. Seems to work pretty good, but I think I would like to try something else on it.

3rd tank is an anemone tank. I also have some leathers floating around in there and a couple pairs of clowfish. The tank is about 14 gallons has 30 anemones and 4 fish. I use a Euroreef 6-1 with an upgraded pump and that thing pulls some gunk!

Lastly, On my frag system, I have about 300 gallons of total water volume, a 4x4, 2 6x2's, and a 150 sump with all the doo dads... lol I run a reefmania skimmer on it (I forget which one but it is an 8" body). I honestly have to say that our acrylic work up here in MN is top notch. It must be because we spend so much time locked up inside when it is below zero

so there is my intro... how bout you?

Ladipyg · Jan 29, 2009

Well, your sure to start some heated discussions about skimmers with this thread:xd:. I think the "perfect" skimmer is the Holy Grail always being sought by SW fanatics. After many different models, I finally settled on a Euro-reef Model RS 180...the gunk that thing pulls out of my 65 gallon bowfront with a 20 gallon sump / refugium is amazing. I know it's over kill for my size tank but I couldn't fight with the price (free) and it will work as I begin moving things over to my 120 gallon that will have a 35 gallon sump. I think the needlewheel impeller is what makes the difference, it whips the water into a super fine foam.

mtfatwork · Jan 29, 2009

I am a needle wheel person myself as well, but I have run an MRC beckett before with good results. I am not trying to start a fight, I just want to know what works for other folks. After all, there is no wrong way to keep a reef, and no real right way, it is just what works for you

Ladipyg · Jan 30, 2009

That wasn't a dig...just a joke...people are always passionate about what works for them. Doesn't mean it would work for you, too many variables in keeping tanks. When I started keeping saltwater fish 41 years ago we used undergravel filters, NO lighting, no skimmers, fuges, calcium reactors etc. I think the fish I kept thrived because I was religous about water changes weekly and had a friend that worked at a fresh seafood importer and provided me with the occasion dead fish I could grind up whole and use as food. It has been an interesting trip in the hobby with the changes and advancements made. We didn't keep corals, most of use didn't have any additional flow in our tanks, like the mutiple wavemakers we use now, we didn't know a whole lot about the fish we kept. I had an orange and purple angler that I loved (called him Alice Cooper Crapper) that ate a Tomato clown as big as he was...that was a shock back then...now we know better. I'd be hard pressed to decide the SINGLE greatest factor that inproved our ability to keep SW fish and corals alive and thriving...it would be a toss up between Protein skimmers and lighting.