ASM skimmer capacity question

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 01:13 PM

I have a G1. It supports a 90G some SPS, soft corals, 7 fishes int eh tank. Currently it does skim good, but I feel there is too much oil in the water still. I ahve a surface skimmer, which if I turn off for a day I can see the film on top. Currently the ASm has no mod, but the bubbles come all the till the bottom of the skimmer, but not sure if the bubbles are fine enough.

Is this skimmer too little or should I do some mesh and recirc mod on my skimmer? Please advice.

nikon187 · 10/27/2009, 01:38 PM

it couldn't hurt to mesh it and do the gate valve mod if you think it will be worth it and it isn't keeping up as well as it could. I use to run a G2 on my 90 and it was "OK" at best, I have since switched to a SWC 250

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 01:58 PM

I have a small sump and budget and want to cramp up as much as I can from this.

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 02:00 PM

Also what does the gate valve do? How much efficiency can I crank from that? Would recirc help better than gate valve or they the same?

A sea K · 10/27/2009, 02:27 PM

Gate valve does nothing to enhance performance. It merely makes fine adjustments to the skimmer easier to make.

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 02:29 PM

So would a mesh and recirc help improving the efficiency?

A sea K · 10/27/2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredflinstone

So would a mesh and recirc help improving the efficiency?

Absolutely.
All in all, it will only cost a few bucks to do these mods but a g-1 was not one of ASM's better performing skimmers. I never had one but I believe the pumps were underpowered.

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 04:34 PM

I understand. Thanks.
For the recirc model, if I direct the return pipe directly to the skimmer, would it be an overkill, or thats the preferred way to feed the skimmer?

A sea K · 10/27/2009, 04:44 PM

Thats the preferred way to feed a recirc skimmer but you need to do a little homework to make sure it will all work in harmony. Tank size, skimmer size, sump flow, rate return pump, blah, blah.
Its simple enough to do and has quite a bit of leeway if your off a bit on one aspect or another. just make sure you can adjust the flow into the skimmer so you have control.
This stuff all sounds pretty easy but can be a pain to dial in. If your not real familiar with setting this up you might be better off to just get a skimmer a little better sized to your system.

fredflinstone · 10/27/2009, 06:01 PM

If I have to do a recirc mod, where exactly should I create the input for the return drain somwhere in the middle or the bottom near the pump intake?

A sea K · 10/28/2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredflinstone

If I have to do a recirc mod, where exactly should I create the input for the return drain somwhere in the middle or the bottom near the pump intake?

When I did mine I was told the "feed" location should be anywhere in the upper 2/3rds of the skimmer body. This info came from a tech @ Euro Reef but is several years old.

reefer31 · 10/29/2009, 12:57 AM

I had a g1 asm and I thought it was way overrated gallon wise. I have since upgraded to an octo extreme 250 and im very happy, its a bit overkill but it works nice.

Rather than try and upgrade the g1 why not look into some of the octo line of skimmers, they are all very nice skimmers and really inexpensive and you could look at the needlewheel 110 or 150 i think it is. They are very nice little skimmers, or an octo/msx extreme 160 is a nice size. Check those out.

10/27/2009, 01:13 PM	#1
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	ASM skimmer capacity question I have a G1. It supports a 90G some SPS, soft corals, 7 fishes int eh tank. Currently it does skim good, but I feel there is too much oil in the water still. I ahve a surface skimmer, which if I turn off for a day I can see the film on top. Currently the ASm has no mod, but the bubbles come all the till the bottom of the skimmer, but not sure if the bubbles are fine enough. Is this skimmer too little or should I do some mesh and recirc mod on my skimmer? Please advice.

10/27/2009, 02:27 PM	#5
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Gate valve does nothing to enhance performance. It merely makes fine adjustments to the skimmer easier to make. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/27/2009, 04:44 PM	#9
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Thats the preferred way to feed a recirc skimmer but you need to do a little homework to make sure it will all work in harmony. Tank size, skimmer size, sump flow, rate return pump, blah, blah. Its simple enough to do and has quite a bit of leeway if your off a bit on one aspect or another. just make sure you can adjust the flow into the skimmer so you have control. This stuff all sounds pretty easy but can be a pain to dial in. If your not real familiar with setting this up you might be better off to just get a skimmer a little better sized to your system. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/27/2009, 01:38 PM	#2
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	it couldn't hurt to mesh it and do the gate valve mod if you think it will be worth it and it isn't keeping up as well as it could. I use to run a G2 on my 90 and it was "OK" at best, I have since switched to a SWC 250

10/27/2009, 01:58 PM	#3
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	I have a small sump and budget and want to cramp up as much as I can from this.

10/27/2009, 02:00 PM	#4
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	Also what does the gate valve do? How much efficiency can I crank from that? Would recirc help better than gate valve or they the same?

10/27/2009, 02:29 PM	#6
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	So would a mesh and recirc help improving the efficiency?

10/27/2009, 04:34 PM	#8
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	I understand. Thanks. For the recirc model, if I direct the return pipe directly to the skimmer, would it be an overkill, or thats the preferred way to feed the skimmer?

10/27/2009, 06:01 PM	#10
fredflinstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 271	If I have to do a recirc mod, where exactly should I create the input for the return drain somwhere in the middle or the bottom near the pump intake?

10/29/2009, 12:57 AM	#12
reefer31 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 561	I had a g1 asm and I thought it was way overrated gallon wise. I have since upgraded to an octo extreme 250 and im very happy, its a bit overkill but it works nice. Rather than try and upgrade the g1 why not look into some of the octo line of skimmers, they are all very nice skimmers and really inexpensive and you could look at the needlewheel 110 or 150 i think it is. They are very nice little skimmers, or an octo/msx extreme 160 is a nice size. Check those out.