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BDerron 
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 Topic: Skimmer Sizing
Posted: August 04 2010 at 2:09pm |
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Ok so i am looking at adding a skimmer to my tank and wondered is it possible to go too big? I fully intend on upping my tank size in the near future and wondered if i would be dumb to size my skimmer for the newer tank? I really dont want to have to purchase the skimmer twice if i can avoid it.
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bugzme
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Posted: August 04 2010 at 2:22pm |
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I over skim my tanks! Bigger won't be a problem
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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BDerron
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Posted: August 04 2010 at 2:23pm |
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Good to know, thanks for the input.
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CapnMorgan
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Posted: August 04 2010 at 4:02pm |
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I'm with Jeff on this one, get a skimmer that is rated for 2x your total water volume, that way in the event something dies your oversized skimmer can pull it out quickly preventing an even bigger disaster.
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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sterling18
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Posted: August 04 2010 at 4:14pm |
I found out that skimmer ratings are for FOWLR. For reef tanks, it's 50% less than recommend ratings from skimmer manufactures.
Skimmers are the insurance policies in this hobby.
Once your tank is in balance with your fish, coral, and your feedings you skimmer will be pulling less but will give you very thick skimmate.
But if your bioload changes for whatever reason, it will be there to pull out more.
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bugzme
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Posted: August 04 2010 at 6:16pm |
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Interesting! I did not know that but I still like oversized skimmers and I run them a little wet
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Jeff
125 tank
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T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 10:56am |
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The truth is that you can go TOO big with skimmers. If you get a skimmer that is so oversized too much, it won't create the foam head because there won't be enough to pull out.
Getting something that is rated 2-3x your system will be just fine. My skimmer is rated for a 120 gallon tank and I have it on a 40 gallon breeder that has 3 fish. I have to run it a little wet but I love it. I dose vodka and therefore must have an oversized skimmer.
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BDerron
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 12:50pm |
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in truth though it would be more like 5 times my system if i was sizing it for the new tank. will that pose a huge problem? i really dont want to buy it twice lol
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SGH360
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 1:27pm |
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what does it mean by running the skim wet?
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BDerron
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 2:36pm |
Im sure i will be corrected  but i believe its running the water level a little high so you have a more dense wet foam instead of a light dry foam.
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bugzme
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 4:14pm |
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Basically that's it. Just raising the foam column higher will give you wet, Lowering it will be dry. I have to empty my cup on my asm g-3 every 4 days
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Jeff
125 tank
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T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 5:57pm |
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Well I had a 500 gallon rated skimmer on a 160 gallon tank that only had one overflow and only a 1200 gph flow rate through it and the skimmer dropped the nitrates from 100+ to 25 in less than 24 hours and it pulled every last protien out of the water. So bigger is always better, well almost every time.
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BobC63
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Posted: August 05 2010 at 9:47pm |
The main thing you have to worry about when "oversizing" a skimmer is neck size.
If your skimmer has a large diameter neck - and you have a small bioload - then it is hard to maintain a stable foam head across that neck (due to insufficient available organic matter) and the foam column constantly collapses upon itself; you end up with crud buildup inside the neck - and almost nothing in the collection cup.
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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