SkIMMER SIZE

Here is another good one, but does not adress overskimming.

What is Skimming? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

An organic molecule does not just stick to a bubble and is removed. So many of them have to join together to make a foam. that foam head has to be pushed out of the neck. Skimmers do not remove 100% of organics ina tank, they can only remove to the point that foam fractioning does not work anymore. Most folks agree that 2 times is not a problem... it just can't be proven it is needed or "better". Anything over that though and it is pointless.

Now I have seen on my own system the effects of bigger skimmers. My K2 is an awesome skimmer, but too big for my 90g. Not that I don't want it, but it only produces foam half the time. Other with more experience than me have seen larger skimmer work worse than right size skimmer just because the body is too big and the foam can't be pushed out. So you have to run the skimmer with the water level much higher than usual just to get it to work.... well that causes other problems and the skimmer is not working as efficiently as it was designed to.

"Bigger" is fine, huge is pointless.

 

Then you and I are saying the same thing in the same circle.;D



luna

 

Understand to that capacity claims are quite exaggerated. So thinking you have a skimmer the size of a deck of cards that says it will handle a 600 gallon tank does not mean it will. My skimmer is rated to 180g. So twice my 90g. I'm not so sure it can do over 150g.. mine is bigger than a ATB 840, but according to some ATB fan boys, I'm good to 250. Yuo really need to see the size of the skimmer... the body, neck, and pump, and see what others are doing with it to get a good idea.

 

Maybe we can join together and remove some DOCs!

 

so point me in a direction. which skimmer would be optimal for a 55 gal. FOWLR. and needs to be HOB

 

I love my CPR Bak Pak. I have it on a 46bow.My whole system is about 55 gallons considering LR displacement and then adding the volume of my sump and my refugium. I like the compactness of it and it pulls nice skimmate.

 

One of the best right now are Warner Marine H1 and H2s. A H1 is rated to 50g and with your FO would probably work. A H2 is rated to 100g. they are $230 and $320 respectively. He has a H1 demo for sale right now for $180.

H1 Demo SPECIAL $180 - Page 2

Warner Marine has some very good skimmers.

I have not played with SWC HOBs. I want to. Of course Octo has their new HOBs coming out that do look pretty promising. Check out the guy here that just got a 1000.

 

what is DOC

 

Dissolved Organic Compounds

If I am remembering that right.

 

Do you have a sump? I like the Marineland skimmers and plan to get one if my Coralife goes on me. The Marineland are conpact with the motor built into the bottom, real space saver and the reviews I read were all good.

Marineland Marine Series Advanced Protein Skimmer - 100 Gallon