Good skimmer for heavy bioload

MimicTang · 09/03/2006, 10:37 PM

What's a good skimmer for a heavy bioload?

Was thinking

ASM G4, G5,G6

or perhaps a

Large Bullet

Also what sorta size UV do you use or do you use something else in favor?

David M · 09/04/2006, 06:31 AM

I have a G5 and it is awesome. I think it is pretty much agreed that ASM is the best value out there. More bang for your buck than any other brand I believe.

I'll defer on sizing a UV but I am leaning towards a 40 watt Aqua Ultraviolet for the 375 gallon GO placed on the return line (1500 gph less head, maybe 1200?)

I don't understand the 57 watt unit, is that PC or what?

Kathy55g · 09/04/2006, 09:05 AM

Seems a bit pricey to me...

David M · 09/04/2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Seems a bit pricey to me...

What does, the UV ??

What do you care anyway, ya' got $8000 in the bank, remember ?

MimicTang · 09/04/2006, 12:32 PM

So youhave the G5 in a home made sump or a wet/dry tickle?

David M · 09/04/2006, 01:09 PM

Sump, it's one of the large bins stores use for live rock. 175 gallons.

Kathy55g · 09/04/2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David M
What does, the UV ??

What do you care anyway, ya' got $8000 in the bank, remember ?

What UV? We are talking about protein skimmers here!

I DO NOT have 8K in the bank. I have 8K in the TANK! LOL!

I looked up one site: 600 bucks for a ASM skimmer!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew there was a reason I did not get one.

What do you think of the coralife super skimmers? I know nothing, but that they are way cheaper.

David M · 09/04/2006, 06:31 PM

I haven't paid retail for an aquarium related product in five years, the G5 was NOT $600.

Wholesale on a G-5 is about $450. G4x $375 and G4 $325. Online vendors should be able to get pretty close to those prices.

Kathy55g · 09/04/2006, 09:59 PM

Still a bucket of money, and you still have to do water changes. I skim the sump to the floor drain when I do my water changes, and skip the protein skimmer altogether. But then, I have a small, labor intensive system. Your results may vary.

David M · 09/04/2006, 10:29 PM

Whatever

I've gone through this too many times to argue. Just look at what a good skimmer pulls out and tell me you think you can accomplish that with water changes/ siphoning

Even WITH 2X daily siphoning and 10% daily water X the skimmate is an absolutely discusting, stinky, thick, rich black sludge that I'm sure must have some value as a fertilizer for something

I am a foam fractionator advocate, I don't believe there is any better form of filtration for any closed system. JMO but I'm serious about it

Kathy55g · 09/05/2006, 02:55 PM

You make many good points.

CaptiveMarine · 09/05/2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David M
I have a G5 and it is awesome. I think it is pretty much agreed that ASM is the best value out there. More bang for your buck than any other brand I believe.

I'll defer on sizing a UV but I am leaning towards a 40 watt Aqua Ultraviolet for the 375 gallon GO placed on the return line (1500 gph less head, maybe 1200?)

I don't understand the 57 watt unit, is that PC or what?

I have to agree with David on the ASM skimmers. I've got a G-6 on one system and a G-5 on another. Great skimmers.

David, the 40 watt and 57 watt Aqua Ultraviolet sterilizers are about the same price. The 57 watt is a PC. I'm replacing one of my 40 watt Rainbow UV's with one of the Aqua Ultraviolet 57 watt sterilizers.

David M · 09/05/2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

David, the 40 watt and 57 watt Aqua Ultraviolet sterilizers are about the same price. The 57 watt is a PC. I'm replacing one of my 40 watt Rainbow UV's with one of the Aqua Ultraviolet 57 watt sterilizers.

Can the PC lamp come even close to matching the performance of the T-5 and do they give it the same 14 month rating? ( not that I would burn one that long but the rating is good for comparison I suppose). You are right, price is comparable so I want to choose whichever is better

CaptiveMarine · 09/05/2006, 04:26 PM

Looking at the specs on the Aqua Ultraviolet website they look like they are very similar. For my application the 57 watt version with the wiper takes up a lot less room and will fit where I need it.

MimicTang · 09/05/2006, 07:42 PM

does a new ASM include the 3 pumps?

David M · 09/05/2006, 09:54 PM

Yes but I have not seen one that uses three, only one or two.

CaptiveMarine · 09/06/2006, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MimicTang
does a new ASM include the 3 pumps?

The G-6 is the only skimmer that uses three pumps.

David M · 09/06/2006, 05:21 AM

Third pump is recirc? I know a lot of people have modified the smaller ASM's to include a recirculation pump. Would I want to do this? Seems to work just fine the way the manufacturer designed it

CaptiveMarine · 09/06/2006, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David M
Third pump is recirc? I know a lot of people have modified the smaller ASM's to include a recirculation pump. Would I want to do this? Seems to work just fine the way the manufacturer designed it

The way it is set up the third pump is not a recirc. pump, but the mod is easy. One thing about the G-6, make sure you do the gate valve mod unless you like having water sprayed every where. The water comming out of the stock stand pipe really makes a mess otherwise.

David M · 09/06/2006, 07:57 AM

I put a "t" fitting on the stand pipe & a 45 & extension to return the water close the to tank surface, verly little splashing. You are right, without something like that it is a real mess

MimicTang · 09/06/2006, 11:05 AM

where is this mod?

09/03/2006, 10:37 PM	#1
MimicTang Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hartford CT Posts: 1,517	Good skimmer for heavy bioload What's a good skimmer for a heavy bioload? Was thinking ASM G4, G5,G6 or perhaps a Large Bullet Also what sorta size UV do you use or do you use something else in favor?

09/04/2006, 06:31 AM	#2
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	I have a G5 and it is awesome. I think it is pretty much agreed that ASM is the best value out there. More bang for your buck than any other brand I believe. I'll defer on sizing a UV but I am leaning towards a 40 watt Aqua Ultraviolet for the 375 gallon GO placed on the return line (1500 gph less head, maybe 1200?) I don't understand the 57 watt unit, is that PC or what? __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/04/2006, 01:09 PM	#6
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Sump, it's one of the large bins stores use for live rock. 175 gallons. __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/04/2006, 06:31 PM	#8
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	I haven't paid retail for an aquarium related product in five years, the G5 was NOT $600. Wholesale on a G-5 is about $450. G4x $375 and G4 $325. Online vendors should be able to get pretty close to those prices. __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/04/2006, 10:29 PM	#10
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Whatever I've gone through this too many times to argue. Just look at what a good skimmer pulls out and tell me you think you can accomplish that with water changes/ siphoning Even WITH 2X daily siphoning and 10% daily water X the skimmate is an absolutely discusting, stinky, thick, rich black sludge that I'm sure must have some value as a fertilizer for something I am a foam fractionator advocate, I don't believe there is any better form of filtration for any closed system. JMO but I'm serious about it __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/04/2006, 09:05 AM	#3
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,249	Seems a bit pricey to me...

09/04/2006, 12:32 PM	#5
MimicTang Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hartford CT Posts: 1,517	So youhave the G5 in a home made sump or a wet/dry tickle?

09/04/2006, 09:59 PM	#9
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,249	Still a bucket of money, and you still have to do water changes. I skim the sump to the floor drain when I do my water changes, and skip the protein skimmer altogether. But then, I have a small, labor intensive system. Your results may vary.

09/05/2006, 02:55 PM	#11
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,249	You make many good points.

09/05/2006, 04:26 PM	#14
CaptiveMarine Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 277	Looking at the specs on the Aqua Ultraviolet website they look like they are very similar. For my application the 57 watt version with the wiper takes up a lot less room and will fit where I need it. __________________ Jim Bald Guys never have a bad hair day. Current Tank Info: 18 gal. nano, 100 gal. reef tank, and lots of breeding tanks

09/05/2006, 07:42 PM	#15
MimicTang Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hartford CT Posts: 1,517	does a new ASM include the 3 pumps?

09/05/2006, 09:54 PM	#16
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Yes but I have not seen one that uses three, only one or two. __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/06/2006, 05:21 AM	#18
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Third pump is recirc? I know a lot of people have modified the smaller ASM's to include a recirculation pump. Would I want to do this? Seems to work just fine the way the manufacturer designed it __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/06/2006, 07:57 AM	#20
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	I put a "t" fitting on the stand pipe & a 45 & extension to return the water close the to tank surface, verly little splashing. You are right, without something like that it is a real mess __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

09/06/2006, 11:05 AM	#21
MimicTang Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hartford CT Posts: 1,517	where is this mod?