Ultra Reef Akula Skimmer Review

[spsick]

Just not sure the difference in performance and if it’s quieter.

No difference in performance IMO just 1000% quieter

 

[EliMelly]

No difference in performance IMO just 1000% quieter

Ah so the wife….

 

[Mattiejay6]

Is there much of a difference between the DC and regular model?

The DC pump makes breaking the skimmer in actually an utterly easy process, versus having to deal with skimmer overflow on a pump with max output. crank the pump down to 5% for the first few days and then adjust away for perfect skim!

 

[EliMelly]

Got the skimmer all set up. It’s not skimming currently. All of the bubbles are at the top but aren’t going into the collection cup. Can someone please assist?

 

[spsick]

Got the skimmer all set up. It’s not skimming currently. All of the bubbles are at the top but aren’t going into the collection cup. Can someone please assist?

Skimmer either start skimming right away or take a week to break in. Usually if your bio load is light it leans toward the latter.

 

[EliMelly]

Skimmer either start skimming right away or take a week to break in. Usually if your bio load is light it leans toward the latter.

Makes sense I have about no fish in the tank. It has been up for a week though. I opened both nozzles all the way.

 

[2Plus2]

Hoping someone can assist me with my current pickle.....
Planning on running a pretty heavily stocked tank, and recently came across a UKS-180 DC but I fear it might be too big for my current set up.
Display 42 gallon with a sump volume of 20 gallons, can I make the 180 work?

 

[spsick]

Hoping someone can assist me with my current pickle.....
Planning on running a pretty heavily stocked tank, and recently came across a UKS-180 DC but I fear it might be too big for my current set up.
Display 42 gallon with a sump volume of 20 gallons, can I make the 180 work?

No way that’s too big. Go with the 160.

 

[rhaetuluscrenatus]

Ultra Reef is one of my desire besides the newest Zoox, sadly they don't have external for my tank,

 

[SpyC]

@AquariumSpecialty when do you think you will have the uks 180 dc or ac replacement pumps in stock? It seems the cable in my 180 got pinched in the skimmer body and part of the shielding has torn. Would love to get it replaced to remove the electrical risk.

 

[dedragon]

dont these just use standard sicce pumps or just a modified impeller? pretty sure a standard psk 1000 should do the trick just swap the impeller. Anyone know if there is a difference?

 

[SpyC]

dont these just use standard sicce pumps or just a modified impeller? pretty sure a standard psk 1000 should do the trick just swap the impeller. Anyone know if there is a difference?

Been a while since I’ve taken the pump out, but I think the pump is attached to the white base that gets screwed to the skimmer and the pump cannot be removed from that base.

 

[dedragon]

Been a while since I’ve taken the pump out, but I think the pump is attached to the white base that gets screwed to the skimmer and cannot be removed from that platform.

True i dont think ive ever removed or tried to remove it from the base. Never had to think about it before but i would hope it would be removeable without replacing the whole base.

 

[SpyC]

True i dont think ive ever removed or tried to remove it from the base. Never had to think about it before but i would hope it would be removeable without replacing the whole base.

That would be preferred and the best route for easier replacement of pumps. I am hoping there is a trick to it and I just haven’t been brave enough to use enough force to do it.

 

[125mph]

I have a bubble king supermarin 160 but I think its undersized and my P04 are rising... Running a 180G heavy bioload.

Looking at the ultrareef.. should I get to akula 200 or the Typhoon 200? I think my sump has the room for the Typhoon (just barely).

I just dont want to take a step down... would look at the bubble king again but rather not spend $1700 .
When is black friday sale, end of November? .. hard to buy this thing with November coming up.

 

[spsick]

I have a bubble king supermarin 160 but I think its undersized and my P04 are rising... Running a 180G heavy bioload.

Looking at the ultrareef.. should I get to akula 200 or the Typhoon 200? I think my sump has the room for the Typhoon (just barely).

I just dont want to take a step down... would look at the bubble king again but rather not spend $1700 .
When is black friday sale, end of November? .. hard to buy this thing with November coming up.

Having the ability to pull the pump for cleaning without removing the skimmer is a big convenience but I’m sure either would work well for your tank.

 

[125mph]

Having the ability to pull the pump for cleaning without removing the skimmer is a big convenience but I’m sure either would work well for your tank.

Do you think the performance is higher with the pump outside of the skimmer body? Or only marginal difference? I do like the pricetag of the AKula 200

 

[skey44]

Love my Akula 180 on my Infinis frag 125.4. It really performs great.

 

[spsick]

Do you think the performance is higher with the pump outside of the skimmer body? Or only marginal difference? I do like the pricetag of the AKula 200

I have not used the Typhoon myself but typically with the pump outside the skimmer body you get longer contact time and a higher tank rating. Aside from the aforementioned benefit of ease of cleaning. Cleaner pumps skim better.

 

[125mph]

Which would you rather have on a 180G heavy stock, given the cost is pretty much identical?

Bubble King Double Cone 200 or Typhoon 200?