Aqua Medic Shorty 5000 Compact Protein Skimmer

johnnymac · 04/29/2007, 11:56 AM

Has anyone got a AQUA MEDIC SHORTY 5000 COMPACT PROTEIN SKIMMER
are they any good? I'm thinking of getting one but I would like to here from someone with one or had one.
Cheers
Johnny

Gools · 04/29/2007, 12:22 PM

I've had mine on my 180 for the last 4yrs. I got a second one for when I upgrade, so I can use the 2 on one system. My favorite skimmer by far. It seems not to many people use them, tried searching in the past and didn't find much. But I love them.

johnnymac · 04/29/2007, 12:38 PM

That's good to here because I just got one on eBay 5 min ago lol Â£160 and I had a look on the net and seen them new from Â£370 so I think I got a good deal

Thanks again Gools

Gools · 04/29/2007, 12:54 PM

The one thing I find with them that work the best, is to have the tank gravity feed into the skimmer, instead of pumping water into it. When I changed it to gravity feed it skimmed a lot better. Just Remember to put a screen guard over the line in your overflow, lost my favorite fish to a horrible death.

luke33 · 04/29/2007, 03:36 PM

Could you post some pics of the shortly in action, no one has done that here yet. I think it looks like a great short skimmer, what diameter is it anyhow?

fancyfish · 04/29/2007, 06:03 PM

I run this skimmer as well. I am thinking of running it with direct gravity feed. Here are a couple of old pictures. I skim fairly wet. They are not as popular as other skimmers but works for me on my 180
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/pjand1/skimmer2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/pjand1/skimmer.jpg

luke33 · 04/29/2007, 06:53 PM

Thanks Fancy, thats the first time i've seen one running. Looks good, what a long riser tube.

Gools · 04/29/2007, 07:19 PM

Here's an old shot, the plumbing is alot different now, but the pic is gravity feed at the time to.

luke33 · 04/29/2007, 07:57 PM

Looks like some sick skimmate in the pic....how long does it take to pull that much gunk?

johnnymac · 04/30/2007, 03:42 PM

Nice pics. I should get my Skimmer on wed and I hope it fits lol...well it should fit but how much room do you need to take the cup off? do you have to lift it up, or can you slide it off? I will be setting it up with gravity feed to a 2ftx12"x15" sump..that if the lfs get the tank in! here is some pics of my new home made cabinet. Its lights out time for the tank but let me know what you think. I will get some pics when I get the sump and skimmer up and running.

Gools · 04/30/2007, 05:44 PM

use to take me a week to get 2 cups when I first hooked up the skimmer. Now after 4yrs it takes me about 6 weeks, to get 2 cups. Has really cleaned up my system.

As far as removing the cup, it twists off and you lift it ouy about 1/2"-1" so you don't need much clearence.

04/29/2007, 11:56 AM	#1
johnnymac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 84	Aqua Medic Shorty 5000 Compact Protein Skimmer Has anyone got a AQUA MEDIC SHORTY 5000 COMPACT PROTEIN SKIMMER are they any good? I'm thinking of getting one but I would like to here from someone with one or had one. Cheers Johnny

04/29/2007, 06:03 PM	#6
fancyfish Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,418	I run this skimmer as well. I am thinking of running it with direct gravity feed. Here are a couple of old pictures. I skim fairly wet. They are not as popular as other skimmers but works for me on my 180 http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/pjand1/skimmer2.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/pjand1/skimmer.jpg __________________ The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. Albert Einstein I hate micro-bubbles!! Current Tank Info: 215 gallon oceanic Ultimate with starfire front, 3-250 watt metal halide, 4-36 inch 39 watt T-5 actinic and daylight bulbs, aquamedic turboflotor shorty with mesh mod 3-Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 with controller, 40 gallon sump

04/29/2007, 12:22 PM	#2
Gools Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vernon, BC Posts: 795	I've had mine on my 180 for the last 4yrs. I got a second one for when I upgrade, so I can use the 2 on one system. My favorite skimmer by far. It seems not to many people use them, tried searching in the past and didn't find much. But I love them.

04/29/2007, 12:38 PM	#3
johnnymac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 84	That's good to here because I just got one on eBay 5 min ago lol Â£160 and I had a look on the net and seen them new from Â£370 so I think I got a good deal Thanks again Gools

04/29/2007, 12:54 PM	#4
Gools Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vernon, BC Posts: 795	The one thing I find with them that work the best, is to have the tank gravity feed into the skimmer, instead of pumping water into it. When I changed it to gravity feed it skimmed a lot better. Just Remember to put a screen guard over the line in your overflow, lost my favorite fish to a horrible death.

04/29/2007, 03:36 PM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Could you post some pics of the shortly in action, no one has done that here yet. I think it looks like a great short skimmer, what diameter is it anyhow?

04/29/2007, 06:53 PM	#7
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Thanks Fancy, thats the first time i've seen one running. Looks good, what a long riser tube.

04/29/2007, 07:19 PM	#8
Gools Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vernon, BC Posts: 795	Here's an old shot, the plumbing is alot different now, but the pic is gravity feed at the time to.

04/29/2007, 07:57 PM	#9
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Looks like some sick skimmate in the pic....how long does it take to pull that much gunk?

04/30/2007, 03:42 PM	#10
johnnymac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 84	Nice pics. I should get my Skimmer on wed and I hope it fits lol...well it should fit but how much room do you need to take the cup off? do you have to lift it up, or can you slide it off? I will be setting it up with gravity feed to a 2ftx12"x15" sump..that if the lfs get the tank in! here is some pics of my new home made cabinet. Its lights out time for the tank but let me know what you think. I will get some pics when I get the sump and skimmer up and running.

04/30/2007, 05:44 PM	#11
Gools Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vernon, BC Posts: 795	use to take me a week to get 2 cups when I first hooked up the skimmer. Now after 4yrs it takes me about 6 weeks, to get 2 cups. Has really cleaned up my system. As far as removing the cup, it twists off and you lift it ouy about 1/2"-1" so you don't need much clearence.