New Skimmer – Price is no Object!

[pjf]

I am looking for a new skimmer that can replace both my Tunze 9010 skimmer ($327) and MRC FMC-415 media reactor ($125). My current filtration system keeps the water column of my 75-gallon aquarium crystal clear. It is relatively free of:

• Particulate organic matter (POM),
• Dissolved organic compounds (DOC), and
• Yellowing compounds (Gelbstoff).

What skimmer can skim the above without additional media or algal filtration?

In other words, the new skimmer must duplicate the crystal clear water quality produced by my current system. I am particularly interested in skimming Gelbstoff which is now filtered by my carbon media.

It would be nice if we can keep the price of the new skimmer to no more than the combined price ($452) of my current skimmer and media reactor but really – price is no object if it can do what my current cheap system does! Thanks for your help!

[GSMguy]

what do you mean a bubble king is no object?

[pjf]

Price of skimmer is no object.

[GSMguy]

check out the bubble king mini 160 it has a small footprint and looks like it will be great. there are some pics of it in the premium aquatics bubble king thread.

if you are worried about getting the yellowing materials the bk might be something to look at.

it is double your stated budget but thats cheap for a bubble king.

[pjf]

Originally posted by GSMguy
if you are worried about getting the yellowing materials the bk might be something to look at.

Is there a link that states that the BK will skim yellowing materials? Thanks.

[kodyboy]

yellowing materials are hard to remove with a skimmer, maybe adding a small ozonizer and a DAS ex-2 ($400). That combo should work and be not far from what you want price wise. Actually keeping the tunze 9010 and adding a ozonizer would work just as well.

[USC-fan]

yeah i second the das ex-2 and red sea mg50 ozonizer. Its a big skimmer so make sure you have room for it.

[DeltecRules]

Look at the bubble king mini 160. It is ozone safe. I would add a 25 mg Sander ozone generator to the skimmer's venturi. It works great. My deltec removed so much stuff I didn't need the ozone unit anymore.
They even have a movie of the mini 160 in action
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...Code=bubbleking

[HDAlien]

Another vote for Bubbleking!

[hahnmeister]

Price no object, eh? Import an ATB Kegelpfannen skimmer...

http://www.aquariumtechnik.at/kegelabschaeumer.html

I am pretty convinced that the cone shape has several advantages over a pipe /w reducer design of traditional designs. I am pretty sure this is the reason for KZ's revolution skimmer's success in their design, and just look at the test reports of the ATB as well.... pretty amazing.

Otherwise... yeah... DAS EX-2 with Ozone would kill just about anything else... its the 'o'-factor which trumps alot of others.

[Paulairduck]

I have to rate a KZ S model (CONE) high on the list for a tank that size !

done wonders for my tank, but not my pocketbook!!

[Jar*Head]

I vote for BK and Ozone if you want your water crystal clear....

[ReefRockerLive]

Get the BK w/ozone.

[pjf]

Originally posted by hahnmeister
Price no object, eh? Import an ATB Kegelpfannen skimmer...

http://www.aquariumtechnik.at/kegelabschaeumer.html

I am pretty convinced that the cone shape has several advantages over a pipe /w reducer design of traditional designs. I am pretty sure this is the reason for KZ's revolution skimmer's success in their design, and just look at the test reports of the ATB as well.... pretty amazing.

Otherwise... yeah... DAS EX-2 with Ozone would kill just about anything else... its the 'o'-factor which trumps alot of others.

Will this skimmer skim yellowing compounds (Gelbstoff) without ozone? I am interested in a skimmer that can skim dissolved organic compounds that have greater solubility than most DOC's. Gelbstoff is more soluble than most DOC's which is why it is tough for most skimmers to remove it. Perhaps skimmers with longer dwell times may be able to skim Gelbstoff. Nevertheless, I want a skimmer with a proven track record of removing Gelfstoff without ozone, not theories. Thanks!

[Jar*Head]

I run my BK400 without ozone before and i don't have any yellow water....

[pjf]

Originally posted by REEFER714
I run my BK400 without ozone before and i don't have any yellow water....

Have you tried placing a BK on a tank with Gelbstoff and actually see it remove the yellow compounds without ozone?

[pjf]

Originally posted by kodyboy
yellowing materials are hard to remove with a skimmer, maybe adding a small ozonizer and a DAS ex-2 ($400). That combo should work and be not far from what you want price wise. Actually keeping the tunze 9010 and adding a ozonizer would work just as well.

If I keep the Tunze 9010 and MRC FMC-415 reactor, I would not need ozone. The carbon media removes Gelfstoff just fine.

[USC-fan]

why not just use ozone?

[brianbigoats]

How about Bubble King and the dreaded Z.....

[reef / aholic]

Originally posted by pjf
If I keep the Tunze 9010 and MRC FMC-415 reactor, I would not need ozone. The carbon media removes Gelfstoff just fine.

Why change!!!

[JOSE CASAS]

Sounds like your current sys is dong just fine, but if you want something new i vote BK AND OZONE

[pjf]

Originally posted by Kb-smoker
why not just use ozone?

Why use carcinogenic ozone when a cheap carbon filter will remove Gelbstoff and DOC's just fine?

I want to replace the clutter (ozone, algae, carbon) in my sump with just a skimmer. Why pay $1000+ for a skimmer if it can't remove Gelbstoff?

[pjf]

Originally posted by RoBolton
Why change!!!

I want to replace the clutter (ozone, carbon, algae) in my system with just a skimmer. It must be able to do the same thing, such as remove yellowing compounds.

Any skimmer can skim organic particulates and compounds that are insoluble or float on the surface. When you spend more for a skimmer, you want it to skim DOC's that are more soluble. DOC's that are more soluble are harder to skim. But if a skimmer costs $1000 or more, then it is expected to skim more soluble DOC's, such as Gelbstoff. There is no use in paying more for a skimmer unless it skims "deeper."

Skimmers are like washing machines. You rate a washing machine by how it cleans your clothes. You rate a skimmer by how it cleans your water column. You don't want yellow clothes coming out of your washing machine and you don't want your aquarium water to be yellow.

[reef / aholic]

Do you mean Gelbstoff???

[pjf]

Yes, read my first post.