CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Hey guys I am looking for a good protein skimmer for a 70 gallon (I ordered a eshopps 2nd gen. sump/refugium r-100) Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmaytagg Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Reef octopus 110 is what I ran and lived it. Popular so they are pretty easy to to find used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 What size tank do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 I dont mean to change the subject but what kind of reactors do yall use if any? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 http://www.aquacave.com/eshopps-psk-150-in-sump-protein-skimmer-100-150-gal-tank.html Does this seem like a decent protein skimmer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstarwiggle Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Look into a SCA 302 protein skimmer. I have been very happy with mine thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 It's a little cheaper to (Since im on a budget of course) I will look into it and try to get back with yain a few minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 So how do you "dial in" a skimmer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Don't feel like you have to have a skimmer to grow corals. Here's some research articles on skimmer performance : Protein Skimmer Performancehttp://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature Protein Skimate Analysishttp://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature Bacterial Counts in Aquaria vs Reefshttp://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature Here's some of my skimmerless systems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvrEnuf Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 +1 on no skimmer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstarwiggle Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Dialing in a skimmer varies from one to another. But in short what your trying to achieve is the proper bubble head to allow some skim to be pushed out but not too much to where too much is coming out next thing you know your skim cup is full fast. It is a process where the skimmer has to be broken in and other variables are at play! Skim or no skim that is a lot to think about!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I've been very happy with my bubble magus curve 5. It's under sized for my 90 disp + 40 sump, but would work well for a 70 gallon. Super quiet pump and fairly affordable on the skimmer cost spectrum. You can certainly go skimmerless as well but you have to do a lot of self evaluation. What kind of livestock do you hope to keep, how patient are you at working through algae blooms, how many fish do you want to keep ect. Skimmerless can definitely be done. Most new hobbyists use such poor skimmers that they're serving as nothing more than an airstone anyway. I set my skimmer to run very very dry. Only fills the cup about 1/4 the way in a week before the neck gets so thick with sludge that the skimmer stops skimming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I've had an SCA-302 for over a year and I like it. I tried the no skimmer thing and ended up with a cyano mess, which went away two weeks after introducing a skimmer. I've only gone without a skimmer once since 2001 and I never plan to do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I've got a 302 as well and haven't had any problems. The atman pumps aren't an especially good pump but they're used in several other brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 SCA302 user here also. Excellent value and definitely gets the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Stick w/ Eshopps and go w/ a PSK 150. They have been on sale at Drs. Foster and Smith ~ $170 w/ free shipping. I have two PSK's and with the Sicce motors they run well and are pretty easy to dial in. The PSK 150 on a 75 G would be great for SPS reef or mixed reef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I'm in the skimmer camp. Those that run skimmerless either have an alternate route to nutrient removal (turf scrubber, refugium), run a more natural system and keep corals that are fine with higher nutrients, or keep a lower bioload. To me it's like driving without power steering. Can you drive the car without power steering? Yes. Do you want to? Me, preferably not. Why not take the extra assistance with nutrient removal if it's right there and you can afford it? I'm not saying keeping a thriving, gorgeous tank full of high end corals and tons of fish isn't possible without a skimmer, but the odds are less in your favor without one in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJohnson Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 Yeah im going to order a skimmer I just got my new sump and im getting ready to set it up! So i might as well get a protein skimmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstarwiggle Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Make sure the sump area for your protein skimmer will allow it to fit!! Otherwise you gotta whole 'nother set of problems!! "Measure twice before you cut" as the saying goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeetPopper Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I'm thinking about getting the sca-302, as long as I don't hear anything bad about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I'm running an SWC 120 model I think. I ordered the next size up that's rated for my 72g. I think the rule of thumb is that it's better to oversize a skimmer than get one that's just sized for your tank or undersized. Haven't had any issues with it to date (about 2 years). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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