Double Skimmer

Got my second skimmer put in today. I'm going to be running the Coralife 125 wet, because it has a drain hose I can hook to a large bottle. I'll be running the smaller Aquatraders skimmer dry. Anyone else running a set-up like this. I would love to hear some personal experience.

By the way I'll let you know how the little $30 skimmer that claims to be able to handle 75 gallons works. I was nervous about trying something with so much stigma surrounding the name, but hey for that cheap, can't be all bad.

 

Hey Mike
before I got my Deltec imported from UK Via a friend visiting me here
I ran 2 x air driven skimmers on my 5ft
I had an Aquamedic mini flotor one end and a Red Sea Berlin 90 at the other end
and 1 large HaiLea air pump driving them both

sounds crazy probably , but the symetry would have made Mr Monk happy!

Steve

 

Sounds about as odd as mine. I have a skimmer on both ends of the system flow path. Water can't even get half way through the system now without running into one of them. hehe

 

Ok, I am a little confused (you are running a skimmer "dry"?). Can you explain a little further how you have this set up. I am in the process of moving from canister filter (and being very successful with such) to doing it the "right" way. I have seen these "budget" skimmers and know some here locally that say they are just as good as the several hundred dollar versions (I don't believe it). Since I am doing all this work and building of sump and such, i want to do it all at one time and not have to add to it when I increase the size of my DT.

 

Running a skimmer dry means you put more air in than water. This means less water ends up in the collection cup. You can also run a skimmer wet. Either way collects a completely different type of crap.

 

Dry does not mean without water in this instance
Dry refers to the foam created
you can have dry foam, which means you get a higher waste to water ratio
or you can have wet foam, which as you now worked out means you have a higher water ratio

the benefits of dry skimming are, less waste and more efficient protien removal
but the disadvantage is, the cup and riser are more difficult to clean

wet skimming as there is more water going into the cup with the foam means the cup and riser stay moist and thus easy to wipe clean

Steve

 

I'm starting to form an opinion on the $30 skimmer. The last few days during the break in it was of course total crap. It would either skim really wet or not at all. I let it do it'
s thing and kept dumping what it skimmer back in for the Coralife skimmer to pick up. Today it seems it may be getting past the break in point. I'm getting nice light wispy dry bubbles now. I won't say for sure until I see the skimmate but at this point it looks like it's going to run great dry.

I also adjusted the Coralife to run wet and it is doing an amazing job. I'm getting that "is there water in the tank?" clear look now. A few more days and I should have it right where I want it.

This double skimmer thing looks like it's going to turn out awesome.

 

Here's a picture of the two running together.

 

I still haven't got any skimmate out of the Odyssea skimmer so today I decided to try turning off the Coralife skimmer. Within minutes the Odyssea is pulling some nasty stuff out of the water. It actually appears to be a decent skimmer for the money. The Coralife just kicks it's butt. Now I'm considering running the Odyssea moderately wet and the Coralife dry, so they will still both pick some up.

Any thoughts?