such a thing as too big?

PAnanoguy · 08/28/2012, 07:08 AM

Im looking at buying a skimmer rated for "up to 180 gallons" to use on my 80 tank with 20 gal. sump. So my total volume is probably about 80-90 gal. Will this skimmer be really good or will it not be able to maintain a foam head due to being too oversized?

kc350twin · 08/28/2012, 07:12 AM

Depends on your bio-load. I tend to run a skimmer rated for double what I have.

Kc3

PAnanoguy · 08/28/2012, 07:18 AM

I have one Yellow tang, two Clownfish, a blue spot goby, a diamond goby, yellow tail damsel, three stripe damsel and a flame angel. so i guess I have a med. bioload. but I would like a couple more fish as well.

sirreal63 · 08/28/2012, 07:34 AM

Which skimmer is it? Ratings are not always realistic, a seaclone is rated for up to a 150 gallon tank, but that is rubbish. Some skimmers are rated much more realistic than others.

PAnanoguy · 08/28/2012, 07:40 AM

"SCA-302 Protein Skimmer for salt water fish tanks up to 180 gallons" Ebay skimmer. Its basically a Bubble Magus Clone. Im hearing really good things about this one.

PAnanoguy · 08/28/2012, 07:43 AM

Im basically looking to save some space in my sump. thats why I would like to get this one.

Chris Lakies · 08/28/2012, 07:45 AM

Sro 1000 int!

PAnanoguy · 08/28/2012, 07:49 AM

Chris, thats basically what I have now and it takes up too moch room in the sump.

CliftonArbogast · 08/28/2012, 08:06 AM

stick with Reef Octopus, and size does matter.

! If a skimmer stops skimming it may ahve taken care of the bioload, just waiting for more. Or may need cleaning. For the buck RO is the way I went and glad i did.

Craig Borowski · 08/28/2012, 08:19 AM

The way we explain our skimmers is that the stated rating would be ideal for a Fish Only system. We then suggest users reduce that number by 20% for a soft coral or Dutch system, reduce it 40% for a mixed reef, and reduce it 50-60% for a full SPS tank. I think this formula works pretty well across the board.

Chris Lakies · 08/28/2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAnanoguy

Chris, thats basically what I have now and it takes up too moch room in the sump.

I was running a NAC 7. I think it sucks compared to my sro 1000. The more space u try to save the worse off youll be on quality/power of skimmer. My sro fits nicely in my eshopps rs-100 sump, 12x11 skimmer area.

08/28/2012, 07:08 AM	#1
PAnanoguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lion, PA Posts: 441	such a thing as too big? Im looking at buying a skimmer rated for "up to 180 gallons" to use on my 80 tank with 20 gal. sump. So my total volume is probably about 80-90 gal. Will this skimmer be really good or will it not be able to maintain a foam head due to being too oversized? __________________ 120 Gallon Mixed Reef Apex Controller, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 1 with Gen 3 upgrade, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 3, MP10ESw, MP40ESw, Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer, Eheim 1260 retun pump, Eshopps 2 channel doser,

08/28/2012, 07:12 AM	#2
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	Depends on your bio-load. I tend to run a skimmer rated for double what I have. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/28/2012, 07:18 AM	#3
PAnanoguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lion, PA Posts: 441	I have one Yellow tang, two Clownfish, a blue spot goby, a diamond goby, yellow tail damsel, three stripe damsel and a flame angel. so i guess I have a med. bioload. but I would like a couple more fish as well. __________________ 120 Gallon Mixed Reef Apex Controller, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 1 with Gen 3 upgrade, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 3, MP10ESw, MP40ESw, Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer, Eheim 1260 retun pump, Eshopps 2 channel doser,

08/28/2012, 07:34 AM	#4
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Which skimmer is it? Ratings are not always realistic, a seaclone is rated for up to a 150 gallon tank, but that is rubbish. Some skimmers are rated much more realistic than others. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

08/28/2012, 07:40 AM	#5
PAnanoguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lion, PA Posts: 441	"SCA-302 Protein Skimmer for salt water fish tanks up to 180 gallons" Ebay skimmer. Its basically a Bubble Magus Clone. Im hearing really good things about this one. __________________ 120 Gallon Mixed Reef Apex Controller, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 1 with Gen 3 upgrade, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 3, MP10ESw, MP40ESw, Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer, Eheim 1260 retun pump, Eshopps 2 channel doser,

08/28/2012, 07:43 AM	#6
PAnanoguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lion, PA Posts: 441	Im basically looking to save some space in my sump. thats why I would like to get this one. __________________ 120 Gallon Mixed Reef Apex Controller, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 1 with Gen 3 upgrade, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 3, MP10ESw, MP40ESw, Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer, Eheim 1260 retun pump, Eshopps 2 channel doser,

08/28/2012, 07:45 AM	#7
Chris Lakies Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Blanc Michigan Posts: 1,446	Sro 1000 int! __________________ CL Current Tank Info: 50 breeder, 2 x XR15w pro (G4), 1 x MP40wQD, Apex JR, Ehiem-Jager 200 watt heater, Jabao DC6000 return, Reef Octo 150 elite SSS skimmer

08/28/2012, 07:49 AM	#8
PAnanoguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lion, PA Posts: 441	Chris, thats basically what I have now and it takes up too moch room in the sump. __________________ 120 Gallon Mixed Reef Apex Controller, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 1 with Gen 3 upgrade, (1) Radion XR30w Gen 3, MP10ESw, MP40ESw, Bubble Magus NAC7 skimmer, Eheim 1260 retun pump, Eshopps 2 channel doser,

08/28/2012, 08:06 AM	#9
CliftonArbogast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston TX (south side) Posts: 165	stick with Reef Octopus, and size does matter. ! If a skimmer stops skimming it may ahve taken care of the bioload, just waiting for more. Or may need cleaning. For the buck RO is the way I went and glad i did.

08/28/2012, 08:19 AM	#10
Craig Borowski RC Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 492	The way we explain our skimmers is that the stated rating would be ideal for a Fish Only system. We then suggest users reduce that number by 20% for a soft coral or Dutch system, reduce it 40% for a mixed reef, and reduce it 50-60% for a full SPS tank. I think this formula works pretty well across the board.