Replacing my skimmer in a 70 gallon setup

tsinpoo · 01/10/2019, 06:00 PM

I've gone through a few skimmers trying to find one that's 'set it and forget it' in nature. My latest Simplicity skimmer just can't seem to produce any waste consistently after about 6 months of use and I'm ready to try another option.

I've narrowed it down to the following and wanted to get some feedback from people who have experience with them:

AquaMaxx FC-80
Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite
Eshopps S-Series Protein Skimmer S-120
IceCap K2-120

Also open to other suggestions.

Cheers

mcgyvr · 01/10/2019, 07:44 PM

I really like the bubble magus and have a curve 5 myself...
However...simplicity are decent too and if you cant get if to work then either your expectations need to change or you have something wrong going on..

tsinpoo · 01/10/2019, 08:36 PM

Interesting. My big issue with the Simplicity skimmer is anytime I do any sort of work in my tank it basically stops skimming for days sometimes weeks.

LQT · 01/10/2019, 10:55 PM

What size Simplicity skimmer do you own? Often, I see people grossly over sizing their skimmer, the result being inconsistent skimming. It will work fine, and when their aren’t any available organics to skim, it will idle for a good bit of time.

mcgyvr · 01/11/2019, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsinpoo

Interesting. My big issue with the Simplicity skimmer is anytime I do any sort of work in my tank it basically stops skimming for days sometimes weeks.

Changes to the surface tension of the water will cause skimmers to perform differently.. Use/exposure to certain chemicals can cause the foam column to either collapse or be overactive..
Maybe you have something on your skin.. soaps/hand lotions,etc...
What constitutes doing work in your tank?

tsinpoo · 01/11/2019, 04:50 PM

LQT I believe I'm using the Simplicity 240 which is rated for 120 gallons with a heavy bio load. My impression is that a lot of skimmer companies over rate their skimmers capacity but maybe Simplicity is better than other? I have a couple large Perculas, a dwarf angel, couple Chromis, a blenny, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 pistol shrimp, a melanus wrasse and a large derasa clam. The tank is about a year old so no big corals, just a few small zoa colonies and a couple mushrooms.

Mcgyvr I'd say mostly changing carbon/gfo, maybe flipping a snail back over...I tend to leave the tank alone as much as possible. I'm pretty good about keeping my hands clean going in, I don't use soap but will give them a good rinse with RO water to prevent oils etc.

LQT · 01/12/2019, 11:16 PM

I had a sneaky suspicion that you had the 240 as opposed to the 120. I am not a fan of grossly over sizing skimmers exactly for what you are experiencing... inconsistent skimming. I think any of the smaller skimmers on your list would serve you well for your given volume of water.

Fishbulb2 · 01/14/2019, 08:52 PM

I have a Nyos 160 in a 75g reef. It's perfectly sized performance wise if it will fit in your sump.

Daddi0 · 01/14/2019, 09:56 PM

I run an old ASM G2 skimmer. I love it!! It just chugs along with no adjustments, no maint. NO ISSUES! I just rinse the top and cup once a month.
Cheers! Mark

homer1475 · 01/16/2019, 04:01 AM

Just got the BM curve 5 elite. Great little skimmer and I think it would do great on your setup. I was eyeing the NYOS, but with my current skimmer dying, and x-mas just getting over, I couldn't fork over the 400$ for the NYOS, so I went with the cheaper BM.

One the biggest complaints I read about with BM was the elcheapo Chinese pumps they use. The elite series(just came out this year) use a sicce needle wheel pump. You can't get much better then a sicce motor block.

It took about a full week to break in, but at 9 inches of water, its a skimming beast!

01/10/2019, 06:00 PM	#1
tsinpoo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	Replacing my skimmer in a 70 gallon setup I've gone through a few skimmers trying to find one that's 'set it and forget it' in nature. My latest Simplicity skimmer just can't seem to produce any waste consistently after about 6 months of use and I'm ready to try another option. I've narrowed it down to the following and wanted to get some feedback from people who have experience with them: AquaMaxx FC-80 Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite Eshopps S-Series Protein Skimmer S-120 IceCap K2-120 Also open to other suggestions. Cheers

01/10/2019, 07:44 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I really like the bubble magus and have a curve 5 myself... However...simplicity are decent too and if you cant get if to work then either your expectations need to change or you have something wrong going on.. __________________ Who me?

01/10/2019, 10:55 PM	#4
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	What size Simplicity skimmer do you own? Often, I see people grossly over sizing their skimmer, the result being inconsistent skimming. It will work fine, and when their aren’t any available organics to skim, it will idle for a good bit of time. __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge

01/12/2019, 11:16 PM	#7
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	I had a sneaky suspicion that you had the 240 as opposed to the 120. I am not a fan of grossly over sizing skimmers exactly for what you are experiencing... inconsistent skimming. I think any of the smaller skimmers on your list would serve you well for your given volume of water. __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge

01/14/2019, 08:52 PM	#8
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	I have a Nyos 160 in a 75g reef. It's perfectly sized performance wise if it will fit in your sump. __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/10/2019, 08:36 PM	#3
tsinpoo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	Interesting. My big issue with the Simplicity skimmer is anytime I do any sort of work in my tank it basically stops skimming for days sometimes weeks.

01/11/2019, 04:50 PM	#6
tsinpoo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	LQT I believe I'm using the Simplicity 240 which is rated for 120 gallons with a heavy bio load. My impression is that a lot of skimmer companies over rate their skimmers capacity but maybe Simplicity is better than other? I have a couple large Perculas, a dwarf angel, couple Chromis, a blenny, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 pistol shrimp, a melanus wrasse and a large derasa clam. The tank is about a year old so no big corals, just a few small zoa colonies and a couple mushrooms. Mcgyvr I'd say mostly changing carbon/gfo, maybe flipping a snail back over...I tend to leave the tank alone as much as possible. I'm pretty good about keeping my hands clean going in, I don't use soap but will give them a good rinse with RO water to prevent oils etc.

01/14/2019, 09:56 PM	#9
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I run an old ASM G2 skimmer. I love it!! It just chugs along with no adjustments, no maint. NO ISSUES! I just rinse the top and cup once a month. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/16/2019, 04:01 AM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Just got the BM curve 5 elite. Great little skimmer and I think it would do great on your setup. I was eyeing the NYOS, but with my current skimmer dying, and x-mas just getting over, I couldn't fork over the 400$ for the NYOS, so I went with the cheaper BM. One the biggest complaints I read about with BM was the elcheapo Chinese pumps they use. The elite series(just came out this year) use a sicce needle wheel pump. You can't get much better then a sicce motor block. It took about a full week to break in, but at 9 inches of water, its a skimming beast! __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"