What size protein skimmer

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

Hello everyone so I’ve had my 40 gallon reef for almost 2 years now and I’ve been running a Skimz sk181 and it just doesn’t seem to be running right or I just can’t get it dialed in. It’s really frustrating!! It pulls some junk out but by no means like it should does anyone have any suggestions on what’s a good skimmer for a 40g?

My bio load includes
2 frostbite clowns
Royal gramma
A orange striped prawn goby
2 tailspot blennys
Mystery wrasse

Warpaint scoly
A selection of acros
And a hammer coral

Ludders · Oct 12, 2017

I have zero experience with that skimmer in particular, but it should handle that bio load no problem.

When you say it pulls some junk out, have you got a pic of what it's skimming?

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

I just cleaned the collection cup so there nothing in the but it fills up 1/4 of the way in a week and it’s a watery light green color.

Here’s a picture of it right now

Whipples · Oct 12, 2017

How often do you clean the neck on the collection cup? and have you cleaned the pump and air lines recently?

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

Whipples said:
How often do you clean the neck on the collection cup? and have you cleaned the pump and air lines recently?

I clean it once a week and I just replaced the pump about a month ago cause my last pump stopped working so yes.

Whipples · Oct 12, 2017

Hmmmm. That is interesting then. I am not familiar with skimz skimmers but usually skimmer issues are caused by the pump, volute, airline, or something in the water. Any recent change to your regimen that may be affecting the foam head?

Cment · Oct 12, 2017

How often are you doing water changes and what percent each time? Do you have a fuge with macro algae? How often are you feeding and what are you feeding?

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

I just recently started doing water changes again because I got a bad algae outbreak I’m doing 5g water changes once a week. As far as food goes I have an automatic feeder the feeds or pellets 3 times a day and I try to feed rods food at least once a day 2 times if I can

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

And yes I have some chaeto in my five growing like crazy

Yuki Rihwa · Oct 12, 2017

Technically you don't even need skimmer with that bio load on that size tank, with frequent water change everything will be ok.
My tank is 40B (47.7G), I have clams and few softies coral, 4 fishes that similar to your live stock and I don't even need skimmer (I have to took my skimmer off my system so my tank can be a bit dirtier for my softies coral), Nitrate pretty stay undetectable with API test kit but I'm assume I have at least 1~2 ppm of Nitrate.

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

Yuki Rihwa said:
Technically you don't even need skimmer with that bio load on that size tank, with frequent water change everything will be ok.
My tank is 40B (47.7G), I have clams and few softies coral, 4 fishes that similar to your live stock and I don't even need skimmer (I have to took my skimmer off my system so my tank can be a bit dirtier for my softies coral), Nitrate pretty stay undetectable with API test kit but I'm assume I have at least 1~2 ppm of Nitrate.

That’s what I was thinking but I figured I have way too much algae growing so a protein skimmer would help

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

It’s everywhere!

madweazl · Oct 12, 2017

What depth is your skimmer sitting at? Looks like it should be at 7-9.5" of water.

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

madweazl said:
What depth is your skimmer sitting at? Looks like it should be at 7-9.5" of water.

It’s sitting a little over 8

GoVols · Oct 12, 2017

Alvin Alejandro said:
It’s sitting a little over 8

What do your phosphates and nitrates test to?

And you need good kits.

Do not use API for phos. or nitrates but / API gets the job done for cal and alk.

These are the kits that I use:
Phos. - Hanna ULR checker (Must keep the vials spotless)
Nitrates - Salifert Nitrate kit.

Also, Are you using pure RO/DI water?

Regards, GoVols

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

GoVols said:
What do your phosphates and nitrates test to?

And you need good kits.

Do not use API for phos. or nitrates but / API gets the job done for cal and alk.

These are the kits that I use:
Phos. - Hanna ULR checker (Must keep the vials spotless)
Nitrates - Salifert Nitrate kit.

Also, Are you using pure RO/DI water?

Regards, GoVols

Last time I tested they were both undetectable I use Red Sea and Hannah checker
Before I started doing water changes nitrates we at 20ppm and phosphates at .20. For a while I didn’t take care of it. I think that there’s still phosphates and nitrates leaching from the rock that’s why it’s undetectable

Whipples · Oct 12, 2017

They (nutrients) are in the system, just currently in the form of algae. Do you blow detritus off the rocks as maintenance? A skimmer is only going to remove a portion and it seems like you've got all the right elements going in terms of nutrient export. By not having detectable nutrients there could be an imbalance causing the algae growth as there may not be enough organisms competing for the nutrients as they release.

GoVols · Oct 12, 2017

Alvin Alejandro said:
Last time I tested they were both undetectable I use Red Sea and Hannah checker
Before I started doing water changes nitrates we at 20ppm and phosphates at .20. For a while I didn’t take care of it. I think that there’s still phosphates and nitrates leaching from the rock that’s why it’s undetectable

Yes, I've had old live rock leach and it was not detectable, because the algae was holding in the phosphates.
But... My algae was only on the old live rock and no where else.

Fired up a GFO reactor, problem solved.

I'd test again and you need to use pure RO/DI water, for everything.

If you don't have one. Buy a RO/DI unit with a built in tds meter.

My phosphates are at .03ppm / .2 is high.

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

GoVols said:
Yes, I've had old live rock leach and it was not detectable, because the algae was holding in the phosphates.
But... My algae was only on the old live rock and no where else.

Fired up a GFO reactor, problem solved.

I'd test again and you need to use pure RO/DI water, for everything.

That’s all I use. As far as gfo goes I don’t really want to add more equipment to my system since I don’t really have much space. Gfo is great I just don’t have the space for it

Alvin Alejandro · Oct 12, 2017

Whipples said:
They (nutrients) are in the system, just currently in the form of algae. Do you blow detritus off the rocks as maintenance? A skimmer is only going to remove a portion and it seems like you've got all the right elements going in terms of nutrient export. By not having detectable nutrients there could be an imbalance causing the algae growth as there may not be enough organisms competing for the nutrients as they release.

I haven’t lately I probably should start doing that