What makes skimmer a better then skimmer b?

[riche]

I know it’s a open question but I have been wondering for awhile, what makes one skimmer better then another?

Let’s base it on a 150 gallon volume set up for numbers.

I see people say smaller is better, then they say bigger is better.

Well since there are tons of skimmers that would fit in this range, why is one style or type better then any other?

Does it come down to personal preference or color or name or?

 

[mainereefer]

All depends on the pump

 

[windemerejack]

I think alot of it is the difference in noise each one makes as some are dead silent and others are too noisy whatever you do.
Another is how easy it is to control the skimmer, some are adjust this, that and the other, others are basically plug and play.

 

[Cory]

Taller skimmers will make darker foam. Wider skimmers will make darker foam. Contact time. Smaller bubbles too. More surface area and slower rise rate. Pump performance and air quantity injected is important too.

 

[polyppal]

A good skimmer has a powerful/reliable pump, robust build construction and adjustability over water intake (& air intake in better models). DC models are much more expensive, but usually much quieter if that's an issue for you.

The larger the reaction chamber, the more foam can be produced, so generally the better. There's a lot of hype but I would recommend a skimmer that has a long history of reliability - like a Reef Octopus classic. I use an Aquamaxx and love it.

 

[GoVols]

I know it’s a open question but I have been wondering for awhile, what makes one skimmer better then another?

Let’s base it on a 150 gallon volume set up for numbers.

I see people say smaller is better, then they say bigger is better.

Well since there are tons of skimmers that would fit in this range, why is one style or type better then any other?

Does it come down to personal preference or color or name or?

A good skimmer stays dialed in for a very long time without having to keep making adjustments.

The last time that I read up, as long as a skimmer is dialed in, they all pull out the same amount of DOC, due to physics, but the better ones remove the DOC at a faster pace.

Have been running a non DC BK (since 2014) and you need to go with their ratings. If you oversize with a BK, then you may have issues with it pulling out DOC unless you run a DC model, to be able to choke it back.

To me, a good skimmer pulls out your DOC, then idles back the skimmate, until your feed again the next day. If you're always pulling out skimmate 24/7 then that skimmer may be too small to get the job done in a timely manner.

So, If you're basing it off a 150 and went with a BK, then go by Royal Exclusiv's ratings to pick the right-sized skimmer.