Skimmer...Just right or bigger

lt.smash · 06/27/2013, 09:11 PM

Hi

Im starting a 65 gallon reef tank and I have a 20gallon sump with a mag9 pump. Using 3/4 pvc piping

Looking to get a Skimmer at my LFS and they only sell Octopus.(fine by me) So my question, do I get the model rated for 75 gallon or the model rated for 120?

I know bigger is most of the time better, but I just want to dbl check

Thank you

hollister · 06/27/2013, 09:13 PM

The one rated.And then i would only use it 4 or 5 days a month.

tson · 06/27/2013, 09:15 PM

Bigger is better

igot2gats · 06/27/2013, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tson

Bigger is better

Yes, this. However, you don't want to have it rated for a crazy big tank. Otherwise, your water will be way too clean, and that's not a good thing.

I have a 75g tank, and my skimmer is rated for 70-100g I think.

Go "+1" on your skimmer, but don't go overboard.

drew2007 · 06/27/2013, 09:23 PM

Well how do you plan on stocking? Light? Heavy? Reef? Fish only? Which model Octopus are you looking at?

Lpoole · 06/27/2013, 09:44 PM

Get the diablo. Its a great skimmer. And run it 24 7. Any reef octo is going to be a great skimmer reguardless. But id get a skimmer that's rated for 120g or 2xs your tank vol

breiter3 · 06/27/2013, 10:24 PM

I go for a skimmer rated double my DT. That way if there's an accident, over feed, mortality, nem power head fiasco, the skimmer can work double time and limit the damage.

And run 24/7. Never heard 4-5 days out of the month, seems equivalent to not running a skimmer at all.

lt.smash · 06/27/2013, 10:28 PM

I have no idea what my stock will be, but I will be on the low side. Thats still a few months out. This will be a reef tank (fish, corals)

The model I was looking at is the Reef Octopus NWB110 4” Pinwheel
In Sump Protein Skimmer

Lord Treas · 06/27/2013, 10:54 PM

I've heard lots of good things about that moddle skimmer, some people say it's loud but that's usually an easy fix.

crsswift70 · 06/28/2013, 06:31 AM

Most people will suggest to over skim since more of a good thing can't be bad, right? I am building a 75 display and 40B display fuge which will have an assortment of macro algae. So, i am buying a skimmer to match the display size to run 24x7. Although i am not expecting the algae to take up the bacteria in the water, i do not want the skimmer taking out all of the dissolved organics either. On top of that, my tank will mostly be LPS, softies and a clam. So again, i don't want the water too clean. Skimmers only take up certain bacteria and organics that will attach to a bubble wall. The rest it has no chance of getting. Several studies out there talking about how skimming changes the normal ratio of organisms in the water column. Is that good or bad? Who knows, but it's another reason why i don't like to "over" skim.

lt.smash · 06/28/2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crsswift70

Most people will suggest to over skim since more of a good thing can't be bad, right? I am building a 75 display and 40B display fuge which will have an assortment of macro algae. So, i am buying a skimmer to match the display size to run 24x7. Although i am not expecting the algae to take up the bacteria in the water, i do not want the skimmer taking out all of the dissolved organics either. On top of that, my tank will mostly be LPS, softies and a clam. So again, i don't want the water too clean. Skimmers only take up certain bacteria and organics that will attach to a bubble wall. The rest it has no chance of getting. Several studies out there talking about how skimming changes the normal ratio of organisms in the water column. Is that good or bad? Who knows, but it's another reason why i don't like to "over" skim.

That makes sense, hence my initial question.

thx

biecacka · 06/28/2013, 01:59 PM

Skimmers only pull out about 30% of stuff anyway.
Buy a skimmer rated for your tank size but keep in mind most companies rate a skimmer at maximum gallons with a li to medium bio load. Depending on your bio load and feeding habits you might want to step it up a little bit but beware that a skimmer too large will NOT perform properly and in fact my underperform.

Corey

06/27/2013, 09:11 PM	#1
lt.smash Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 125	Skimmer...Just right or bigger Hi Im starting a 65 gallon reef tank and I have a 20gallon sump with a mag9 pump. Using 3/4 pvc piping Looking to get a Skimmer at my LFS and they only sell Octopus.(fine by me) So my question, do I get the model rated for 75 gallon or the model rated for 120? I know bigger is most of the time better, but I just want to dbl check Thank you

06/27/2013, 09:23 PM	#5
drew2007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 976	Well how do you plan on stocking? Light? Heavy? Reef? Fish only? Which model Octopus are you looking at? __________________ 110g rimless, Elite Aquatics sump, JNS ConeS Co2, ATI Sunpower, Vortech, Digital Aquatics RKE

06/27/2013, 09:13 PM	#2
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	The one rated.And then i would only use it 4 or 5 days a month.

06/27/2013, 09:15 PM	#3
tson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 39	Bigger is better

06/27/2013, 09:44 PM	#6
Lpoole Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: PA Posts: 52	Get the diablo. Its a great skimmer. And run it 24 7. Any reef octo is going to be a great skimmer reguardless. But id get a skimmer that's rated for 120g or 2xs your tank vol

06/27/2013, 10:24 PM	#7
breiter3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 98	I go for a skimmer rated double my DT. That way if there's an accident, over feed, mortality, nem power head fiasco, the skimmer can work double time and limit the damage. And run 24/7. Never heard 4-5 days out of the month, seems equivalent to not running a skimmer at all.

06/27/2013, 10:28 PM	#8
lt.smash Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 125	I have no idea what my stock will be, but I will be on the low side. Thats still a few months out. This will be a reef tank (fish, corals) The model I was looking at is the Reef Octopus NWB110 4” Pinwheel In Sump Protein Skimmer

06/27/2013, 10:54 PM	#9
Lord Treas Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Arkansas Posts: 82	I've heard lots of good things about that moddle skimmer, some people say it's loud but that's usually an easy fix.

06/28/2013, 06:31 AM	#10
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	Most people will suggest to over skim since more of a good thing can't be bad, right? I am building a 75 display and 40B display fuge which will have an assortment of macro algae. So, i am buying a skimmer to match the display size to run 24x7. Although i am not expecting the algae to take up the bacteria in the water, i do not want the skimmer taking out all of the dissolved organics either. On top of that, my tank will mostly be LPS, softies and a clam. So again, i don't want the water too clean. Skimmers only take up certain bacteria and organics that will attach to a bubble wall. The rest it has no chance of getting. Several studies out there talking about how skimming changes the normal ratio of organisms in the water column. Is that good or bad? Who knows, but it's another reason why i don't like to "over" skim.

06/28/2013, 01:59 PM	#12
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Skimmers only pull out about 30% of stuff anyway. Buy a skimmer rated for your tank size but keep in mind most companies rate a skimmer at maximum gallons with a li to medium bio load. Depending on your bio load and feeding habits you might want to step it up a little bit but beware that a skimmer too large will NOT perform properly and in fact my underperform. Corey