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03/14/2013, 06:32 PM | #1 |
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Can you over Skim a tank?
Hello,
I am setting up a 60 gallon cube after not having been really deep in the hobby the last few years. I am running a 30 gallon sump underneath and I am looking to get a new protein skimmer. I am planning on upgrading to a much larger tank and would like to "Buy Once Cry Once" and get a skimmer that will continue on to the next tank... I currently own a Bullet 2 Precision Marine Skimmer but dont want to use it because of the Huge footprint and I would need to buy a new pump... I was wondering if a AquaMaxx EcoMaxx EM200 would "Over Skim" and cause any issues? The reviews seem really good on it and I like the small footprint and overall build quality. Thanks, Mike G |
03/14/2013, 06:35 PM | #2 |
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If "over skimming" is an issue I am looking at the Reef Octopus 4 instead... but I would really like the AquaMaxx if its ok...
Thanks Again Mike G |
03/14/2013, 06:55 PM | #3 |
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Or should I just use the Bullet 2 and grab a Mag 18 for it? Any advice will be helpful thanks.
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03/14/2013, 07:23 PM | #4 |
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Good luck finding the Aquamax. I can't find one in stock anywhere.
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DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant |
03/14/2013, 07:29 PM | #5 |
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If you remove a cup full of green water everyday then yes. If you are removing dark skimmate then it does not matter how large the cup is. Tracking?
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Freedom is not free, support the troops! If you can read this thank a Teacher, because its in English thank a Veteran. Current Tank Info: 120g FOWLR, 25 Gal Sump 10 Gal Refugium. |
03/14/2013, 10:01 PM | #6 |
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the cup of green water is over skimming?
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03/14/2013, 10:05 PM | #7 |
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Well it is WET skim... maybe try to thicken it up some by dialing it back a 1/4 turn. Depending on what type you have that is.
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Stock:LPS/SPS|1 hippo|4 OC Clown|4 Pepp shrimp|2 Brittle Star|3000+ Copepods|10+ MiniBrittle|8+ Bristle Worm|2 Anemone|100+ mini-feather|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR|4" LS|5x MP40W|75g fuge|5x RadionPRO|RO DB250 skimmer|Apex |
03/15/2013, 06:46 AM | #8 |
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Hey Shortfuse, I have a Reef Octopus 4 (NWB110) used for sale. Was too small for my tank. $120 plus shipping.
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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, |
03/15/2013, 07:52 AM | #9 |
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You can't over skim but you can get a skimmer that is too large to function properly with your bioload, which would be under skimming.
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03/15/2013, 10:40 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
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03/15/2013, 10:53 AM | #11 |
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Just curious, since some are saying you can over skim, what is the detrimental effect on a tank if it is over skimmed?
Don't we want to remove all dissolved organics from the tank? I have always thought, wrongly I guess, that when there is nothing to skim, the skimmer just stops producing?
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
03/15/2013, 11:15 AM | #12 |
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But just like people... Living off of 100% oxygen causes problems.
A slightly dirty tank can handle fluctuation better compared to a clean room.
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Stock:LPS/SPS|1 hippo|4 OC Clown|4 Pepp shrimp|2 Brittle Star|3000+ Copepods|10+ MiniBrittle|8+ Bristle Worm|2 Anemone|100+ mini-feather|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR|4" LS|5x MP40W|75g fuge|5x RadionPRO|RO DB250 skimmer|Apex |
03/15/2013, 11:26 AM | #13 |
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Let's talk beyond water removal---if you are growing lps or softie corals, too good a skimmer is going to take nutrients from them: remember that they are living filters, and if underfed, they will not do as well. Likewise fish like mandarins rely on copepods, which in turn rely on algaes. Your snails and crabs and other inverts make their living from waste. So yes, if you are doing sps corals, that require crystal-clear water, strong skimming is a good idea. If not, survey your inhabitants and figure what you will lose if you do that. Same goes for hyper-removal of phosphate through a gfo. A lot is bad for corals; too little is bad, too.
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Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. |
03/15/2013, 11:35 AM | #14 | |
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Merry Skerry |
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03/15/2013, 11:45 AM | #15 | |
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Not trying to be sarcastic, just logical
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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03/15/2013, 12:36 PM | #16 | |
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Less extreme example, my Deltec HoB that is a beast on my 90g and rated from 120 to 185 produces no skimmate at all on a 20g. More accurately, it made a ton of skimmmate but the bubbles would just not make it into the cup before breaking. Too big can very well mean under skimming or not skimming at all. |
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03/15/2013, 01:05 PM | #17 |
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That's why we say if you want to do well with sps corals, concentrate on those. If you want to do well with lps, do them. Softies have their own constraints and often conduct chemical warfare, necessitating carbon run nearly constantly.
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Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. |
03/15/2013, 01:33 PM | #18 |
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I assume that snails and crabs that feed on detrius could do OK in an SPS tank if there is some food waste?
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
03/15/2013, 01:52 PM | #19 |
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03/15/2013, 02:19 PM | #20 |
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I want to do mostly SPS but I want zoos and mushrooms as well since I enjoy the way they look... also some stuff life pulsating xenia and star polyps... Would any of that cause issues with "over skimming" if so what skimmer would be best for me? Any recommendations of Octopus vs Aquamaxx skimmers? I also have a Coralife Super Skimmer for a 65 gallon tank... but that thing seems to suck.
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03/15/2013, 02:58 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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03/18/2013, 11:59 AM | #22 | |
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So I wouldn't wary about over-skimming there are so many other more important things to wary about . Yes it is possible but you can always shut the noisy thing down for good! |
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