Hey Chad Farmer, can I put too big of a skimmer on my tank?

reefslugs · 09/20/2008, 09:12 PM

If I put a skimmer that is too big for my tank, will it not work as good as a smaller? I have a 200g tank with a 65g sump. I've been running a ASM G3 skimmer and it does well. I've just been offered a great deal on a Deltec AP702, which is good for a normal stock 530g, or a heavily stocked 400g. If I buy this, will it be too big and not take out enough crap because of 10'' barrel?

Schplitter · 09/20/2008, 09:19 PM

Your new skimmer will pull out a lot in the beginning and then slowly slow down to normal...

capncapo · 09/20/2008, 09:20 PM

The size of the barrel makes no difference in the skimmers ability to remove stuff from the water.

I doubt that the skimmer is too big. That's seldom the case.

chadfarmer · 09/21/2008, 02:39 PM

it might only produce a lot of stuff of skimmate at first than moderate after that

a under sized skimmer will produce heavy amounts of skimmate all the time

chadfarmer · 09/21/2008, 02:41 PM

I have never used the AP702

I only know one person local that has one and isn't happy with it

just like all skimmers you have to set it up correctly when it is recirculating design

reefslugs · 09/21/2008, 09:52 PM

I bet that one person you know that has the ap702 and is not happy, is the one I'm going to buy.

chadfarmer · 09/21/2008, 09:57 PM

how much is he asking?

if you talk to him tell him i said HI

StupidsReef · 09/22/2008, 12:05 PM

This is a topic that has long been a debate. For the reason you are asking..... the answer would be no.

Can you over skim a system?? Well that's an question that really has no solid answer. IMHO I don't think that you can, in fact I'd tell you that an ASM G3 is way to small. That's the skimmer I used on my old 90 gallon. And I thought it just kept up. I currently have a 225g tank with a 100g sump. I've got an Octopus DDNW 300 skimming this tank. As was mention above, sometimes it goes like crazy, other day's it does not. For example, I dropped a weeks worth of frozen food by accident in the tank once, the skimmer took off. Within and hour it was back to the norm. I don't think there is such an issue where a skimmer is to big, But that's JMHO.

If Farmer could he'd run a skimmer the size of his house on his old 58g. If he could, he run a powerhead that had the force of an F15 fighter jet's turbines in his old 58g. And as for the skimmer, If I could..... I'd do the same thing

. That's JMHO's.

09/20/2008, 09:12 PM	#1
reefslugs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: St.Charles, Mo. Posts: 1,647	Hey Chad Farmer, can I put too big of a skimmer on my tank? If I put a skimmer that is too big for my tank, will it not work as good as a smaller? I have a 200g tank with a 65g sump. I've been running a ASM G3 skimmer and it does well. I've just been offered a great deal on a Deltec AP702, which is good for a normal stock 530g, or a heavily stocked 400g. If I buy this, will it be too big and not take out enough crap because of 10'' barrel?

09/20/2008, 09:19 PM	#2
Schplitter Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oakville, MO Posts: 3,767	Your new skimmer will pull out a lot in the beginning and then slowly slow down to normal... __________________ "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 110 Gal Display, 125 Gal Custom Sump in basement fish room, 2- G3 XR30 Radion's + 2 48' Retrofit T5"s, Super Reef Octopus XP 2000 SSS Skimmer, 2 - Vortech MP-40, Panworld NH-200PS Return, 8x2' Frag tank, DIY refugium lighting, DIY frag tank lighting.

09/20/2008, 09:20 PM	#3
capncapo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 4,664	The size of the barrel makes no difference in the skimmers ability to remove stuff from the water. I doubt that the skimmer is too big. That's seldom the case. __________________ S.L.A.S.H. ............ Often imitated, never duplicated! Venture forth and enjoy life .... the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Current Tank Info: Which one?

09/21/2008, 02:39 PM	#4
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	it might only produce a lot of stuff of skimmate at first than moderate after that a under sized skimmer will produce heavy amounts of skimmate all the time __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

09/21/2008, 02:41 PM	#5
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	I have never used the AP702 I only know one person local that has one and isn't happy with it just like all skimmers you have to set it up correctly when it is recirculating design __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

09/21/2008, 09:52 PM	#6
reefslugs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: St.Charles, Mo. Posts: 1,647	Chad I bet that one person you know that has the ap702 and is not happy, is the one I'm going to buy.

09/21/2008, 09:57 PM	#7
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	how much is he asking? if you talk to him tell him i said HI __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

09/22/2008, 12:05 PM	#8
StupidsReef Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Somewhere near the ST. Louis area. Posts: 3,013	This is a topic that has long been a debate. For the reason you are asking..... the answer would be no. Can you over skim a system?? Well that's an question that really has no solid answer. IMHO I don't think that you can, in fact I'd tell you that an ASM G3 is way to small. That's the skimmer I used on my old 90 gallon. And I thought it just kept up. I currently have a 225g tank with a 100g sump. I've got an Octopus DDNW 300 skimming this tank. As was mention above, sometimes it goes like crazy, other day's it does not. For example, I dropped a weeks worth of frozen food by accident in the tank once, the skimmer took off. Within and hour it was back to the norm. I don't think there is such an issue where a skimmer is to big, But that's JMHO. If Farmer could he'd run a skimmer the size of his house on his old 58g. If he could, he run a powerhead that had the force of an F15 fighter jet's turbines in his old 58g. And as for the skimmer, If I could..... I'd do the same thing . That's JMHO's. __________________ "We may define faith as a firm belief in something for which there is not evidence. We only speak of faith when we wish to substitute emotion for evidence." Current Tank Info: 225g RR 100g sump T5 lighting Octopus DDNw300 GEO Calcium Reactor Dual GFO reactor, now I just need some frags