What do you guys think of refugium vs. skimmer?

zchauvin

zchauvin

Active Member
I have a very small sump under my 60p and I have a 9inch section thats the refugium right now. I added an aquaticlife nano skimmer 115 and I hate it. I'll finally get it working half decent, 5 minutes later it doesnt work at all. The adjustment knob is absolute garbage... Anyways, I was thinking of ripping the refugium out and adding a reef octopus nbw 110/ largest skimmer possible that I can fit. I have a 2 inch sand bed and a total of 20lbs live rock. 18 in tank and 2 in the inflow section of sump. I figured that if nothing else, I could add a phosban reactor and run np reducing biopellets. I know someone will mention just doing more waterchanges since its a small tank, but with working 9-9 and college theres no time. The last thing I want to do is change water 1-2 times a week.
 
BLADEYAMAHA

BLADEYAMAHA

Well-Known Member
The skimmer I use is a My Reef Creations MR-1

MR-2.jpg
 
zchauvin

zchauvin

Active Member
BLADEYAMAHA said:
The skimmer I use is a My Reef Creations MR-1

MR-2.jpg
Click to expand...

that thing looks big lol. I have very limited space which is why I cant use both... well I could like I am right now but the skimmer would have to be located in the refugium area and honestly... this skimmer is garbage in my opinion. I mean the case of it doesnt even close tight and lets water pour out of the top. its ridiculous so i was thinking of doing away with the refugium and just using a large skimmer. my tank is only 17g and the sump like 2 gallons so if I use a skimmer rated at like 100 gallons or whatever thats 4 times the total volume. I think that would pay off better than having a minute refugium area and a small skimmer.
 
zchauvin

zchauvin

Active Member
And I see now it would fit by how small it is and the amount of water it can handle but phew. 375$!!! haha. I guess its worth the money though.
 
BLADEYAMAHA

BLADEYAMAHA

Well-Known Member
Yeah, you gotta figure in about a 1100 gph pump in too which runs anywhere from $150-$300 depends on the brand of pump you use. But you do need 1100 GPH for the MR-1.
 
BLADEYAMAHA

BLADEYAMAHA

Well-Known Member
They say a Mag 12 will work with the MR-1 but it does have enough pressure behind it, you have to have a pressure pump that flows 1100 gph.
 
zchauvin

zchauvin

Active Member
phew. I could use a mag 12. I work for a lfs so it would only run me 67$. Wouldnt that large of a pump cause lots of mb in my sump?
 
BLADEYAMAHA

BLADEYAMAHA

Well-Known Member
zchauvin said:
phew. I could use a mag 12. I work for a lfs so it would only run me 67$. Wouldnt that large of a pump cause lots of mb in my sump?
Click to expand...

Like I stated, the Mag 12 doesn't have enough pressure, I already tried one with no luck, didn't run the skimmer properly.
 
StirCrayzy

StirCrayzy

Well-Known Member
RedSea Prizm is a decent little hang on (sump) skimmer that wouldnt take up any fuge space.
Can be had for under $100, or buy mine.:D
 
zchauvin

zchauvin

Active Member
Sorry bladeyahama, your post about the mag12 wasnt up before my reply, and its a 17g tank with 2g sump. I dont have room for a hang on. My stand is the exact same as tank minus the 3/4 back and 3/4 door. My sump is 16L x 16H x 9w. I have no room for a hang on so it would have to be in sump which is why i thought of the aquaticlife mini internal. It would have to be something like the 110 or the one you showed me.
 
BLADEYAMAHA

BLADEYAMAHA

Well-Known Member
Ah, there are other skimmers that are in sump and are cheaper,but ones like the MRC MR-1 or the Aqua C EV-120 or EV-180 and such are better than cone skimmers for sure. The MR-1 is made for a 150 gallon system and I run it on about a 80 gallon system and it works real well with a heavy load. I also use a Gen X pressure pump flowing 1090 gph. Its always a better idea to run a pressure pump on a beckett skimmer than a Mag pump because of better pressure.
 
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