Skimmer size

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HUNTER01975

redneck reefer
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
325
Location
Albany OR
So I have been reading and getting lost in all the skimmer info out there.. I read something last night that I was wondering if it is true.

It stated that a skimmer can be to big for a tank and that if it is to big it will not make enough bubbles to do a good job?

Now I could be off but what most other people have said that the bigger the better?

So I have a 70 gallon tall tank that I plan on putting lots of pretty things into.

I am looking at swc 150 bmk but now I am worried it would be to big? or should I got with the 120 cone?

I have a 25to30 gallon sump that I plan on putting the skimmer in and there is a spot that I plan making the refugium. It will be feed by a cpr 90 over flow and returned with a little giant 3-mdqx-sc external pump.

so any input would be great..
 
i can tell u i feed heavy, stock heavy, and rockscape heavy. Ive got a 75g peninsula with a 20-30g sump and i run the 150bmk. Its a great skimmer for the buck!I also own a 120cone that i have yet to use but im putting it on a 100g tank lol. Imo u can over skim but it would take a lot. Usually if a skimmer is to big it wont skim consistently and instead will pull out stuff every now and again...HTHs
 
Well being that I will be adding pieces slowly( not rich and want to do it right) do you think it would be bad? I was just trying to avoid changing skimmers as I went.

does the skimmer over flow when it does work then like it is going crazy? And then settle down and do nothing to help?
 
I have the swc 160 on my 60 and i would possibly go bigger. there are some great skimmers out there
sc skimmers are the cheap option for around $120 that will perform simmilar to the swc skimmer.
Reef octopus makes some great skimmers.

I just think with a heavy bio load down the road the 120 would be a little bit small.
 
My skimmer is sensitive to changes in the tank but the only time it overflows for me soo far is when I turn off the return and the water level rises. I just take the collection cup off while I do this.

overall I am happy with the production of this skimmer though.
 
So I have been reading and getting lost in all the skimmer info out there.. I read something last night that I was wondering if it is true.

It stated that a skimmer can be to big for a tank and that if it is to big it will not make enough bubbles to do a good job?

I don't see how this can be true. wouldn't worry and most adivise to buy as big a skimmer as you can afford.

over skimming is another topic as we skimm both good and bad things out of our water....things we can not measure.

I wouldn't worry though unless you are talking a skiimer that rated for like 4 times your water volume. buy the 150 at least...or even a 200g is my opinion.
 
thanks guys...

i was just making sure.. cause I have read a lot of times to buy as big as you can afford..

So another question i have is about the water depth thing that i have read about.. my question is how high is to high? below collection up and your good? I have read that some need to be under 6-8 inches of water but what if it is under 12 inches of water?

I might be overly worried about this stuff to much cause I have never had a sump or a in sump skimmer.. So sorry if these are lame questions and I have done some searching and have not found clear answers to these questions.

I did buy my sump used.. I did test it and it holds water and no leaks..and it all flows well even with me hold the hose in there full blast it never got above the inlet. should I fill it again and mark the skimmer chamber water line? I was not sure about this cause a skimmer is going to displace a lot of the water. I have cpr 90 over flow to feed the system and a little giant 3-mdqx for the return.
 
the sump water height depends on the skimmer you put in sump. to shallow will be hard to fix but too deep is easy. you can build a cheap stand to put the skimmer on. I build my cheap sump so the skimmer chamber would stay at a certain height.

do you have a picture of your sump.
 
ok i dont now what to do to get pics up her but this is crazy i hit the button and even resized 3 different times and they still wont work....never had this issue with other forums so i would not think it is me at this point maybe i am on lock down and am not allowed to post pics
so here is the info

30 inches long
16 inches deep for the water
12 inches wide
 
You should make a dissension on what skimmer your going to use in your sump before you place your baffle height.
IMO you should use a Counter Current Air Driven skimmer. They are much efficient, and easier to control air and water mix. JMO
 
I bought the sump second hand so I did not have any say in where the walls and baffles where placed.

I did take it out side the other day and fill it with the hose and with the hose on wide open it seemed to flow well. ad did not have any leaks.

i am thinking i want to get a swc 150 skimmer..I am not sure if it falls into your recommendation. But I am new around here and have never heard those terms to describe a skimmer but I have only read 15 or 20 threads of the 1 million skimmer threads on here. so i still got a lot to learn about skimmers.
 
sump 3.JPGsump 3.JPG wow it finally worked i only had to make them supper little...lol

The return pipe is just flipped straight up to avoid damage. is all..
 
relax bro,
you are not going to overskim your 70g with a swc bmk150,
thats a great skimmer for your size.
also, that skimmer likes to sit in 8"-9" of water.
if your sump is deeper than that, then just stack up
some pieces of egg crate to make a simple stand.
 
Thanks skimmy...

I will keep that info noted..

It is cool to have you old reefers around to ask all my dumb over concerned questions to.
 
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