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Most manufacturers (probably with the exception of Reef Dynamics and Super Reef Octopus) tend to overstate their skimmers' capacities, however, it is important to get the right sized skimmer for your tank. The biggest skimmer possible is not always the right choice for a tank. You want a skimmer that produces a consistent amount of foam for your bioload, not one that will strip the tank of all available nutrients and then underperform.

You'll get no consensus on what is considered the "best" skimmer. Everyone thinks the skimmer they have now or have used in the past is the "best" skimmer.

I think if you pay for something, you have every right to do with it as you please, including re-selling it...even at a marked-up price.

But jumping ahead of others to get some free stuff just to cash-in? That's just wrong.

Now, how about complicating this a bit? What if you get a coral for free and then you sell it or trade-it in a year later? Still wrong?

Just curious does it really matter its a solid tank and not cheaply made.

I'm sure it is. I was just curious if it was an Oceanic tank.

Who is the tank manufacturer and how old is the tank?

What does it look like up-top, e.g., 3-section plastic bracing, center-glass bracing, euro-bracing?

Make sure the tubing is connected properly at the pump and the nut is tight. My tubing came loose somehow and I only noticed it because my pH dropped.

Is it your impression that the pump is malfunctioning or have you tested it?

Direct the effluent into a measuring cup/vial (instead of the tank/sump) and see if it's truly dosing incorrectly.

I'm a firm believer that the way a tank is established from the very beginning plays a huge role in what is required from a maintenance standpoint going forward.

My first reef tank was a 75g. Not bad, but I went through the whole gamut of problems: cyano, gha, bryopsis, RTN, yadda-yadda. Probably made every rookie mistake in terms of setting it up. Even with consistent water-changes, there were never-ending problems.

With my current 135g tank, I took all of my acquired knowledge and applied it from the beginning. Let me tell you, it's been a real pleasure the past 13+ months. I've only done about two or three 15g water changes in that time out of pure guilt, not necessity. On top of that, I've been skimming only part-time (12 hrs/day) for the past 3-4 months. My maintenance schedule now consists of replacing the topoff jug, re-filling the dosing containers and cleaning the skimmer neck/cup as needed, and changing the carbon every 3-4 months.

Boy, I thought hooking-up my VHO ballast/bulbs was intimidating and confusing.

Check-out the stores in these videos from LA Fishguys:

Episode 84, Kids in a Coral Candy Store, LA Fishguys, pt 1

http://youtu.be/QJtg2oMaezI

Episode 84, Kids in a Coral Candy Store, LA Fishguys, pt 2

http://youtu.be/60MduomGOHE

I think tanks are like people...each has their own expiration date that varies.

Some people have had the same tank for 15+ years and other tanks fail before they reach their first anniversary.

How tall is the steel stand?

My tank's been running 14K Plusrites for over a year....

How tall is the stand?

Amazing....

http://youtu.be/ubv1rsw2axM

I asked on RC if I could mix magnesium and calcium chloride, so as to use only one dosing pump.

Accoring to the CEO of Salifert, I could mix BRS' Magnesium Chloride (not Magnesium Sulfate) and Calcium Chloride.

Anybody currently doing this? If so, what's your mix recipe?

Might very well be Hemorrhagic Septicemia.

Oh my Lord, did we just invent frag condoms?

I really like that idea.

Why can't you reuse the tank as well?

Ideally, you want to overflow to drain as much surface water as possible and use circulation pumps to help bring detritus to the surface.

My Purple Tang (does it get more reef safe?) has eaten more corals than all the other fish I've ever had (combined). That's including my 4" Townsend Angel.

Pics?

The rental places next to all the Lowes have them.

Sorry, I forgot, I've purchased from Mr. Cob's as well...nice frags too. Plus, being in Buda, you live right near his drop-off/pick-up location.