Underperforming Skimmer: How do you know?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

SKIMMERS can leave room for doubt! Well for me anyway. But how do you know if it's underperforming or not?

There could be many reasons your skimmer is underperforming like it's undersized, sump water level is too low or too high, not enough or too much air is going into it, the pump needs cleaned, the skimmer is too dirty, it's just not a good skimmer design and so on etc. But how do you really know? Your skimmer may "look" to be performing well but how do you know if it's doing the job? Maybe it's not the problem at all? Let's talk about that today!

How do you, personally, gauge whether or not your skimmer is performing correctly and not underperforming?

 

[Greybeard]

See that nasty stuff? That's pretty normal, shot taken on a Thursday, gets emptied every Saturday.

Gunk. It's pulling gunk. Vertex 180i... and yes, I'm well aware that Vertex is gone. I'll keep running this one until I can't fix it anymore.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

See that nasty stuff? That's pretty normal, shot taken on a Thursday, gets emptied every Saturday.

Gunk. It's pulling gunk. Vertex 180i... and yes, I'm well aware that Vertex is gone. I'll keep running this one until I can't fix it anymore.

Yes but just because you have skimmer nog doesn't mean it's performing good enough for your system.

 

[Magellan]

Skimmer?? What are THOSE?!

 

[Greego]

Coral and fish look good?
Parameters in check?
Algae in check?

If yes to those questions then it’s performing well enough.

 

[madweazl]

It's a Deltec, of course it's working perfectly...

 

[Kevan Sharp]

I have been having issues with my skimmer under performing for about 4 months. I have sought out advice from this group and the red sea group with not a lot of guidance. Issue is that I keep having to crank the gate valve (plus sign - clockwise), tighter and tighter and still can barely get anything to skim. And then other times it floods because I have the valve too open. I have been losing some corals that had been very healthy. My nitrates are too high (for me) at about 30-50.

I bought a new skimmer, but did not install it as I waited to figure out why mine wasn't working.
I finally spoke to a Red Sea representative at a local reef show. They indicated that is a sign that my pump is not performing correctly (RSK 300). I contacted the Red Sea support team, and they have helped confirm the problem and since it is under warranty, are sending me a new pump. Now I can return my new, unboxed skimmer. (I was actually excited to use the new one Aquamaxx DC02 since it is DC and allows adjustment of both the pump and the gate valve.) and, as a DC pump will be more quiet.

But, alas, money talks and $500 can come back to me. Thank you Red Sea!

 

[Cheche]

Yes but just because you have skimmer nog doesn't mean it's performing good enough for your system.

It is pretty clear the his skimmer is working really good. And yes bcoz he have all that nog 2 days before he clean the skimmer that right there tell you it is working good for his system . Idk what else you looking for only if the tank can talk or the skimmer can’t tell you ..

 

[Elgreco]

Don’t let the pic fool ya ( just cleaned), my Maxspect Aeraqua Duo skimmer is straight up beast mode in removing crap out of the tank!

 

[Kevan Sharp]

It is pretty clear the his skimmer is working really good. And yes bcoz he have all that nog 2 days before he clean the skimmer that right there tell you it is working good for his system . Idk what else you looking for only if the tank can talk or the skimmer can’t tell you ..

the tank can talk -- Nitrates and healthy coral and fish! lol!! Just have to test water to 'talk to the tank.'

 

[DaneGer21]

See that nasty stuff? That's pretty normal, shot taken on a Thursday, gets emptied every Saturday.

Gunk. It's pulling gunk. Vertex 180i... and yes, I'm well aware that Vertex is gone. I'll keep running this one until I can't fix it anymore.

while squinting... sorta

 

[radiata]

How are we defining "underperforming"?

 

[Greybeard]

It is pretty clear the his skimmer is working really good. And yes bcoz he have all that nog 2 days before he clean the skimmer that right there tell you it is working good for his system . Idk what else you looking for only if the tank can talk or the skimmer can’t tell you ..

About what I'm thinking.

Water is clear, animals are healthy, nitrates running about 4ppm, phosphate 0.11.

I will say this system, using the same skimmer as my last system, collects a bit more gunk, and grows less gunk in the skimmer. This system is running Zeovit, so I'm guessing a bunch of what I'm skimming is bacteria. No refugeum light spilling into the skimmer, so the body stays cleaner, longer.

My first skimmer ran on a wooden air stone. I've had everything from a point of sale Skilter, to a Precision Marine Bullet 1 Beckett Injector model. I'm as happy with this one as any I've ever owned.

 

[Greybeard]

while squinting... sorta

Yeah, well, do you happen to have a recent shot of your skimmer cup? Best I could do

 

[Fishko]

My x120 eshops is working too well stripping me of nitrate and phosphate in my 30g nano. Benefit is i can feed a lot with not a lot of consequences. Havent done a water change in a few months. Sad they discontinued the skimmer

 

[Sdot]

Nyos FTW....

 

[Sdot]

while squinting... sorta

This..

 

[Hemmdog]

Mine are alright, not as good as when I first bought them. Skim looks like Snapple not tar. Looking to upgrade at some point. I’ve been prowling the marketplace for a used Royal Exclusiv.

 

[aclaimsman]

My Simplicity works great and is very quiet

 

[Blknovass]

I have an all in one tank so space is very limited. I currently have a CRC skimmer what a lump of crap. I have to clean the air hose daily as it can’t suck enough air through it. I tried many things with it but it is just plain and simple no good.