Skimmer Overkill?

[Dr. Zoos]

This is my new beast. I couldn't resist the deal. Is there such a thing as to much skimmer? It's for my new 60gal cube and its a Hydor performer btw .....are they any good?
Thanks

 

[heath]

IMHO, I don't think that you can over skim, but there are some others that have issues with their water being too clean..not in my world, too many well fed fish

 

[milanz]

It's not just about over skimming IMO. I thought I would buy the biggest skimmer I could afford on my last tank and I regret it. I had a vertex alpha 200, which is an amazing skimmer. But my bio load wasn't that big in the tank. It worked great at first, until it cleaned up all the muck. Afterwards I suspect there wasn't enough to sustain a thick foam. No matter what adjustments I made, I could not get it to produce nice thick foam that would dissipate into the collection cup. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not over sizing on my next one. Only matching the total system volume to the skimmer. Tagging along to see what others think.

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[EricTMah]

It's not just about over skimming IMO. I thought I would buy the biggest skimmer I could afford on my last tank and I regret it. I had a vertex alpha 200, which is an amazing skimmer. But my bio load wasn't that big in the tank. It worked great at first, until it cleaned up all the muck. Afterwards I suspect there wasn't enough to sustain a thick foam. No matter what adjustments I made, I could not get it to produce nice thick foam that would dissipate into the collection cup. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not over sizing on my next one. Only matching the total system volume to the skimmer. Tagging along to see what others think.

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Probably the best advice to all who feel they need the largest skimmer possible

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Nighthawk26]

It's not just about over skimming IMO. I thought I would buy the biggest skimmer I could afford on my last tank and I regret it. I had a vertex alpha 200, which is an amazing skimmer. But my bio load wasn't that big in the tank. It worked great at first, until it cleaned up all the muck. Afterwards I suspect there wasn't enough to sustain a thick foam. No matter what adjustments I made, I could not get it to produce nice thick foam that would dissipate into the collection cup. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not over sizing on my next one. Only matching the total system volume to the skimmer. Tagging along to see what others think.

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I am sort of experiencing this at the moment. I have the right size skimmer for my system, but as of now I'm still building it up, I only have 7 fish and a handful of small corals and I'm not creating nearly enough bioload. I was running GFO and Carbon and literally my zoas started to not be as happy. I'm going to run the skimmer less as a result. I use a LifeReef though so really if I wanted to run a DC pump I could use it appropriately, but as of now have a MAG12. I suspect it's not the worst problem to have.

BTW, OP. Is there supposed to be a pic of this beast cause I don't see one.

 

[heath]

IMHO, I don't think that you can over skim, but there are some others that have issues with their water being too clean..not in my world, too many well fed fish

I tend to run a heavy bio load and over feed so that why I think you can't over skim...

 

[milanz]

I tend to run a heavy bio load and over feed so that why I think you can't over skim...

Completely agree. The real factor is bio load and less to do with water volume and skimmer size.

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[milanz]

Sorry to highjack this thread, but it seems like the appropriate time to ask for opinions.

I'm setting up a 93 gallon cube. Trying to avoid the mistake I made before in terms of over sizing my skimmer. I'm primarily focusing the tank on corals, mostly SPS and LPS. I would say that the fish load will be light to medium. I mostly intend to keep a handful of smaller fish - maybe 10 max. I don't see myself keeping any larger fish like tangs in a cube like this.

So the question being, would a Vertex Omega 150 be overkill? It is technically rated for 150 gallons. Would a Vertex Omega 130 do the trick? Opinions?

 

[EricTMah]

I think you'll be perfectly fine with either.
If you find that it's too much. Just increase feedings or reduce the frequency of water changes.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[BigReefer]

how the heck do you know if u got a big bioload or not ... I have a 150 gallon tank... some corals and about 13 fish ,.... crabs and shrimps not sure if those count and 2 conchs

5 anthais
1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 sixlane wrasse
1 damsel
1 sand sifter
1 mandrain
2 clowns

and i run a 5000sss love the skimmer but after reading this ,... now i am nervous .... I feed mysis and brime and seaweed...

 

[Cliff]

Milanz I would think u should b fine. I m running a bubble king mini 150 on my 40 zeroedge and it is a great match I love that skimmer

 

[reeferkeeper420]

how the heck do you know if u got a big bioload or not ... I have a 150 gallon tank... some corals and about 13 fish ,.... crabs and shrimps not sure if those count and 2 conchs

5 anthais
1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 sixlane wrasse
1 damsel
1 sand sifter
1 mandrain
2 clowns

and i run a 5000sss love the skimmer but after reading this ,... now i am nervous .... I feed mysis and brime and seaweed...

I would say thats in the area of big bioload. Not over the top or anything but its in between a medium and large bioload for sure, thats just my.opinion tho.