skimmer bioload ?

should ur skimmer really skim twice the tank volume even if u dont have much fish??

for example, my tank volume is 150g, i have 150lbs live rock, and 3 clownfish, it wouldnt be too much stuff to skim out would there?

i know every system is different, just wondering, thanks!!

 

your logic seems sound to me boostindo

some skimmer manufacturers rate their skimmers in terms of bioload
so for example they may advertise skimmer A as

50 gallon heavy bioload
75 gallon medium bioload
100 gallon light bioload

so they are basically saying that if you have a low stocked 100 this skimmer is Ok and that its also OK to use on a heavy stocked 50

so bioload is important, but when selecting a skimmer its always smart to err on the side of caution and consider the future your 150 gallon may have only 3 clowns in at present
but in time I imagine the fish stocks will increase , as might the amount of other inhabitants such as inverts and corals

Steve

 

To steve we listen

 

I agree with Steve, I don't think there's a set ratio of tank volume to skimmer capacity. It really depends on your bioload and what corals you have or want to have. Larger fish such as tangs, angels, lion fish, triggers etc. contribute much to the bioload then several smaller fish. So if you have a tank filled with tangs, angels and the like, then you will want to get a larger rated skimmer then if you have more smaller fish. You also want to consider how frequently you feed the tank. Some fish such as anthias and chromis have very high metabolisms and should be fed more frequently, even if smaller meals. This ultimately results in more nutrients and proteins entering the water, so keep that in mind too.

 

Some manufacturers will rate fro light medium and heavy bio loads.... I don't pay much attention to it. About 90% of all of us end up with heavy stocking levels. I mean I would double my fish load if I could, but I have to stay at reasonable due to high altitude.

Right now, any skimmer you get probably won't produce squat. 3 clowns in a 150g is very little. I'm sure you will not be staying there. Plan for heavy and get a skimmer properly sized.

What I feel is properly sized is 1.25-1.5 times your tank. Most companies ratings are reasonable. With your tank, if you got a skimmer rated up to 180g... plenty of them.... you would still have plenty of head room. Now some folks say 2 times your tank, but there is no need for that IF you know you will not be going any bigger any time soon. If you are staying with the 150g for a while, there is no reason to strap a skimmer on it rated for 300g. Going twice as big is about as big of a size increase a skimmer can span.

 

ok, got it!! thanks everyone!! u go with the tank size and stock. i think i will go with an esshopp. i saw somewhere they were selling the psk-150 first gen for $100!! i was thinking about getting that and upgrading to the psk-200 later for $229. i figure i could always sell the 150 and get most of my money back since that is such a good deal.

 

I got a sealife 60 on a 55g reef. it works fine for me since 1998 same rio pump too.. thats pretty unbelievable.. 12 year old pump still working..

 

I would suggest you buy once and save money. You only get about half of your money back at best. Just get something you will stay with. Most folks in this hobby go cheap in the begining only to upgrade a couple of times. Doing that cost more than just buying a good one in the first place.

Buy the 100 for $100, loose $50 bucks from use, and tack on $30 for shiping either buying or selling. You are at $300. Honestly, you can get a better skimmer than a 200 for $300. Honestly, I don't think a 200 can handle a 200g based on numbers. Look at a Vertex IN-180, or a SWC Extreme 160-200. A SWC Extreme 200 goes for $289 and will do much better than the Eshopps 200. Seriously.

 

im liking the swc....

 

I'm not trying to say the Eshopps 200 sucks.... but the Extreme 200 can pull 900-1100 lph of air compared to the 420 for the Eshopps 200. Much better construction, much better features, much better performance and pump... all for $50 more. I realize we can all only afford what can afford, but the Extreme 200 is much better long term.