Skimmer pump wattage according to your Apex?

kyley · Oct 11, 2019

Hi All,
I made a separate post about my Bubble Magus Curve 7 skimmer (on my 120g tank) using 69-71 watts despite the pump label saying 22 watts (SP2000 pump). So I'm considering a different pump or even a different skimmer.

I'm curious how other skimmers measure up on your Apex (or other controller). So what skimmer are you using, how much power are they rated for, and how much do they actually draw? Thanks!
--Kyle

Crabs McJones · Oct 11, 2019

Using a reef octopus 110int
Apex says its using 17-18 watts
pump is claimed to run at 9 watts
It's a brand new pump.

Entz · Oct 11, 2019

Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 . Apex is showing 12w, box says 11w.

So right on the mark. If you don't trust the apex you could try a Kill-a-watt meter, that is a big difference.

rkpetersen · Oct 11, 2019

Running an Eshopps S-200 on each of two systems.
The Sicce pump in each is listed at 18W.
Each of them actually consumes 22-25W, according to Apex monitoring.
Having a slightly larger power draw than rated probably isn't rare.
But 70W when it should be around 20W is huge.

kyley · Oct 11, 2019

Entz said:
If you don't trust the apex you could try a Kill-a-watt meter, that is a big difference.

rkpetersen said:
Having a slightly larger power draw than rated probably isn't rare.
But 70W when it should be around 20W is huge.

Exactly.

I don't have a Kill-A-Watt, but maybe I should see if someone local does. Everything else plugged into the Apex seems to be in line with expectations though (actually pulling less power than what it's rated at), so I don't have much of a reason to not trust it. I also tried in multiple outlets on the power bar with the same results.
--Kyle

MSB123 · Oct 11, 2019

Old skimmer was rated at 14 watts, pulled like 35 watts.

FactoryKTMmotocross46 · Oct 11, 2019

Very interesting. I have a skimz sm161. It's pulled 34 watts since purchased 2 years ago. I have a revogi wifi power strip that measures the watts. Manufacturer says total watts 12.

Sold4jc7 · Oct 11, 2019

I have the same issue my octo 110sss reads 18 watts on the apex and 9 watts on the kill-a-watt meter.

Sold4jc7 · Oct 11, 2019

I have the same issue my octo 110sss reads 18 watts on the apex and 9 watts on the kill-a-watt meter.

kyley · Oct 11, 2019

Thanks All! Keep the feedback coming. It sounds like skimmer pumps pulling more wattage than rated is common, but I haven't seen any issues quite as extreme as the two Curve skimmers I have!

kyley · Oct 16, 2019

Just a bump to see if anyone else might have some feedback (their data for skimmers to consider - or pumps with lower actual power usage that I could replace the factory one with)?
--Kyle

Sold4jc7 · Oct 16, 2019

There is a way to recalibrate the eb833 power monitoring. I've tried and didn't get any improved accuracy. Instructions can be found on Neptune's forum.

kyley · Oct 16, 2019

Sold4jc7 said:
There is a way to recalibrate the eb833 power monitoring. I've tried and didn't get any improved accuracy. Instructions can be found on Neptune's forum.

Interesting... That could be helpful. However, I don't have reason to doubt the numbers really. The other devices are reporting roughly the wattage that I would expect. The skimmer pump just seems to be very inefficient / not what the label says it should be.

jlts21 · Oct 16, 2019

I'm running a reef octopus 202s classic. Neptune shows 26w, pump states 35w on coralvue's website (aquatrance 3000s)

kyley · Oct 16, 2019

jlts21 said:
I'm running a reef octopus 202s classic. Neptune shows 26w, pump states 35w on coralvue's website (aquatrance 3000s)

Good to know, thanks. That's the opposite of what I've heard on other skimmer pumps. They all seem to be using more power than the label shows. I wonder if it could work in the Curve 7...
--Kyle

jlts21 · Oct 16, 2019

kyley said:
Good to know, thanks. That's the opposite of what I've heard on other skimmer pumps. They all seem to be using more power than the label shows. I wonder if it could work in the Curve 7...
--Kyle

not sure why. Maybe mines just a rare case

kyley · Oct 17, 2019

jlts21 said:
not sure why. Maybe mines just a rare case

Good result for you on the skimmer!
What return pump are you using? 275 watts?! Wow! My Jebao DCQ-10000 is at 58 watts (around 65% power IIRC).

jlts21 · Oct 17, 2019

kyley said:
Good result for you on the skimmer!
What return pump are you using? 275 watts?! Wow! My Jebao DCQ-10000 is at 58 watts (around 65% power IIRC).

It's a PanWorld 200PS (1750gph)

kyley · Oct 17, 2019

jlts21 said:
It's a PanWorld 200PS (1750gph)

That's a big *ss pump! ;Woot

jlts21 · Oct 17, 2019

kyley said:
That's a big *ss pump! ;Woot

it sure is! Got it knowing that I will upgrade my tank at some point and wanted to make sure that I would not have head pressure issues at all lol. Probably went a little bigger than what as necessary, but I don't do anything small!