Top Fathom skimmers?

aquaph8 · 10/16/2009, 03:20 PM

What do you think, good skimmers or crap?

arredondojason · 10/16/2009, 03:24 PM

i had one like 3 years ago and it did pretty well. but i upgraded to an AquaC EV240 and the thing pulls alot more gunk out.

aquaph8 · 10/16/2009, 04:03 PM

I've had one for a along time and to me it seems to work ok, but its the only skimmer ive ever had. I have no other experience to compare to. I always wanted to buy a new one, but don't want to spend a bunch of money on a new skimmer to find out that its not much better. Please let me know if you think the top fathom is crap compared to others.
thanks

aquaph8 · 10/17/2009, 10:12 AM

Bump

aquaph8 · 10/17/2009, 02:10 PM

bump

ordy1 · 10/17/2009, 02:16 PM

i still own a Top Fathom 110?? hang on back venturi skimmer.

IMO you'd probably be better off with a skimmer that does not need a high wattage pump. These skimmers need tons of gph. My little hang on back Top Fathom needed about 800 gph to create a dry skimmate at the rim of the cup. I had it hooked up to a Little Giant 4MD-SC that burned about 185 watts. In contrast the Sedra pump on my Euro-Reef Cs6-3 runs at 65 watts and the needle wheel impeller produces a dry skimmate. I don't know if dryer skimmate is a function of the pump/skimmer interface but it seems to hold true in my situation. Maybe someone can chime in on this. BTW, It's sitting on a shelf to be used in an emergency.

My electric bill is a lot lighter now too.

Hope this helped.

coolfish5 · 10/17/2009, 02:19 PM

I will second what arredondojason said. I have run them and they work alright just as many of the older style venturi skimmers work. They are simply not very efficient, especially for a reef. I have used them on high bioload large fish only systems and they did remove a good deal of skimmate, but the water was never great.

arredondojason · 10/17/2009, 03:16 PM

look at the used equp. forum i seen a AquaC EV120 on there for pretty cheap and that would work good on your tank.

arredondojason · 10/17/2009, 03:18 PM

also that pump you where running was more then likely an old pump to use that many watts. my aquac ev240 i am running a mag 18 pump on it and the thing pulls like crazy and yes i am overdriving it.

aquaph8 · 10/17/2009, 07:15 PM

Thanks for all the info. All I saw was an ev150 for sale and I think I should go bigger than that. I want to start dosing vodka and Im leaning twords a reef octopus skimmer. Any thoughts at all would be greatly appreciated.

arredondojason · 10/17/2009, 09:07 PM

i have used a reef octopus as well on my 150 to bad i am not at home i am deployed to afganistan right now when i get home i am moving everything to my new 240 gal tank and selling all the stuff i have on the 150.
but they work well i only had a few minor problems with the on i have like the air line getting clogged your normal maintenece problems.
have you done your reading on vodka dosing i have been reading up on it for like 1 year now and i am going to start it when i get home as well looks to be interesting.

aquaph8 · 10/17/2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arredondojason

i have used a reef octopus as well on my 150 to bad i am not at home i am deployed to afganistan right now when i get home i am moving everything to my new 240 gal tank and selling all the stuff i have on the 150.
but they work well i only had a few minor problems with the on i have like the air line getting clogged your normal maintenece problems.
have you done your reading on vodka dosing i have been reading up on it for like 1 year now and i am going to start it when i get home as well looks to be interesting.

Yeah, Ive done a lot of reading about vodka dosing and I'm woried that my skimmer isnt powerful enough. Well look me up when you get back to the states and maybe you'll have something I need. Thanks for the replies and I hope you make it home soon. Be careful over there and get home safe.

10/16/2009, 03:20 PM	#1
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Top Fathom skimmers? What do you think, good skimmers or crap? __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

10/16/2009, 04:03 PM	#3
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	I've had one for a along time and to me it seems to work ok, but its the only skimmer ive ever had. I have no other experience to compare to. I always wanted to buy a new one, but don't want to spend a bunch of money on a new skimmer to find out that its not much better. Please let me know if you think the top fathom is crap compared to others. thanks __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

10/17/2009, 10:12 AM	#4
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Bump __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

10/17/2009, 02:10 PM	#5
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	bump __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

10/17/2009, 02:19 PM	#7
coolfish5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Christiansburg, VA Posts: 358	I will second what arredondojason said. I have run them and they work alright just as many of the older style venturi skimmers work. They are simply not very efficient, especially for a reef. I have used them on high bioload large fish only systems and they did remove a good deal of skimmate, but the water was never great. __________________ John Current Tank Info: Reef: 65RR (6x HOT5 Nova Pro). Fresh water: 55 tropical

10/16/2009, 03:24 PM	#2
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	i had one like 3 years ago and it did pretty well. but i upgraded to an AquaC EV240 and the thing pulls alot more gunk out.

10/17/2009, 02:16 PM	#6
ordy1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 425	i still own a Top Fathom 110?? hang on back venturi skimmer. IMO you'd probably be better off with a skimmer that does not need a high wattage pump. These skimmers need tons of gph. My little hang on back Top Fathom needed about 800 gph to create a dry skimmate at the rim of the cup. I had it hooked up to a Little Giant 4MD-SC that burned about 185 watts. In contrast the Sedra pump on my Euro-Reef Cs6-3 runs at 65 watts and the needle wheel impeller produces a dry skimmate. I don't know if dryer skimmate is a function of the pump/skimmer interface but it seems to hold true in my situation. Maybe someone can chime in on this. BTW, It's sitting on a shelf to be used in an emergency. My electric bill is a lot lighter now too. Hope this helped.

10/17/2009, 03:16 PM	#8
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	look at the used equp. forum i seen a AquaC EV120 on there for pretty cheap and that would work good on your tank.

10/17/2009, 03:18 PM	#9
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	also that pump you where running was more then likely an old pump to use that many watts. my aquac ev240 i am running a mag 18 pump on it and the thing pulls like crazy and yes i am overdriving it.

10/17/2009, 07:15 PM	#10
aquaph8 Love The Fish Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 5,652	Thanks for all the info. All I saw was an ev150 for sale and I think I should go bigger than that. I want to start dosing vodka and Im leaning twords a reef octopus skimmer. Any thoughts at all would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Brett Current Tank Info: Leemar 60x36x24, 8x80 T5/LED Sfiligoi GENESIS Alpha 300 skimmer

10/17/2009, 09:07 PM	#11
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	i have used a reef octopus as well on my 150 to bad i am not at home i am deployed to afganistan right now when i get home i am moving everything to my new 240 gal tank and selling all the stuff i have on the 150. but they work well i only had a few minor problems with the on i have like the air line getting clogged your normal maintenece problems. have you done your reading on vodka dosing i have been reading up on it for like 1 year now and i am going to start it when i get home as well looks to be interesting.