RedSea Max/ Euroreef Skimmer Page

[Reefmack]

Before my water change today I pulled the skimmer. Production of skimmate had decreased so I figured I'd give it a cleaning and check the wheels. The pores of the mesh wheels were fairly plugged up with gunk, but I couldn't see a problem with wear or disintegration. Here's what I found:



I cleaned them up well with a toothbrush - gently poking the bristles into the mesh, under hot water. I kept at it till they looked clean and I could see through the mesh. Also cleaned the pumps thoroughly of any dirt or slime. I then cleaned out the inside of the cylinder with a brush, hooked it back up and it ran like new. This was about 20 minutes of skimming. I guess it's catching up now!



I had to raise it about 2 inches to keep the skimmate drier, as it looked like the cup would fill up with water.

[Nowellsy SNR]

Nice Terry

[nanoskim]

Originally Posted by Reefmack;

Before my water change today I pulled the skimmer. Production of skimmate had decreased so I figured I'd give it a cleaning and check the wheels. The pores of the mesh wheels were fairly plugged up with gunk, but I couldn't see a problem with wear or disintegration. Here's what I found:



I cleaned them up well with a toothbrush - gently poking the bristles into the mesh, under hot water. I kept at it till they looked clean and I could see through the mesh. Also cleaned the pumps thoroughly of any dirt or slime. I then cleaned out the inside of the cylinder with a brush, hooked it back up and it ran like new. This was about 20 minutes of skimming. I guess it's catching up now!

Terry,

What is your pH just out of curiosity?
Do you dose calcium?

Thanks,
Robbert



I had to raise it about 2 inches to keep the skimmate drier, as it looked like the cup would fill up with water.

[Reefmack]

Robbert - I'm always fighting low pH. It typically runs at 8.0 +/1 0.1 (tested with a pH meter). I do dose a 2-part for Ca & Alkalinity - added in my media basket - prior to the skimmer. Calcium runs about 420-440, and Alk 9-10. I also add a Seachem pH buffer in my ATO reservoir water - for pH and also adds some alkalinity.

[Reefmack]

I took this earlier - 24 hours after cleaning the wheels & the cyclinder:



The thorough cleaning did result in microbubbles again, but they're just about gone now.

[manojkoushik]

Hey Robbert, my pH is usually between 8.05 and 8.15 (pinpoint pH monitor). I use kalk to maintain ca at around 480, alk at around 12 dkh. Mg stays around 1400 (Kent Tech M Magnesium). I also ocassionally dose Kent Strontium and Molybdenum. No other inorganic supplements.

[mandarin man]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and I am very interested in the ER nano skimmer. I currently have the tunze 9002 in my RSM and not too happy about it because it is water level dependent. I have few questions to ask before I want to purchase this ER skimmer.

1. I understand before breaking, the ER skimmer will produce lots of bubble. Would the bubble completely go away when it breaks in? Do you really need the black sponge to trap the bubbles?

2. is it water dependent like the tunze?

Thanks

[manojkoushik]

1) Most skimmers produce a lot of bubbles before breaking in. isn't it? Anyways, I never felt the micro bubbles produced by ER skimmer was intolerable. And I was not even running any sponges. At this point (Exactly a month since I started running the ER) there is no bubbles from the skimmer with or without sponges. I do have the stock sponges (albeit modified a bit) in there now (because there was too much debris from chaeto, feeding etc. that needed to be removed)

2. I have not observed this to be the case. But it might be. My water level is constant because of my ATO setup.

[mandarin man]

Sorry for many questions.

1. Would the ER skimmer fit with the Steve's T media bracket?

2. Sorry for asking again. Is ER Skimmer water dependent if I do not have ATO? The water level in the back chamber vary an inch in one day because the filter sponge in the media rack (depend how much dirt it traps).

3. How often I should replace the mesh wheels?

4. Please provide comparison between the ER and the tunze if you have experienced with both?

Thank you

[Reefmack]

I run the E-R skimmer with the media rack, and also have my ATO sensors in that back. It's a tight fit, but works, with no room left. If you don't have an ATO it should be no problem. I'm not sure if a chiller hookup would fit, since I don't need a chiller.

If the E-R is water dependent it's much less so than the Tunze in my opinion. I think any skimmer that you put in the back (unless it's a hang on type) will be affected by water level to some degree. If you're running the fine filter pad, you might want to only have that in periodically to clean up the water, since they do plug up easily. I don't run a filter pad of any kind other than when cleaning the tank, or if the water has a lot of particles in it, and I only run it then for a day.

When the newer mesh wheels are available I doubt they'll ever need replacing. Mine are still fine after a couple months and just need cleaning. Based on what Robbert said the current ones can be affected by low or high pH, but at my pH 8.0 +/- 0.1 I've seen no wear on my wheels.

Compared to the Tunze, the E-R is extremely more efficient at skimming than the Tunze. In my opinion there's no comparison in consistency of skimming or the amount & "quality" of skimmate. The E-R is the winner by a mile. The only other skimmer I've run (other than my near useless RSM skimmer) has been a hang on Remora - it did a great job too, but the E-R even beats the Remora.

[rhogeo]

Originally Posted by nanoskim

The differences are longer acrylic body and special PVC plate to hold the skimmer...the plate is made by hand = labor = cost.

Robbert

Thanks Robbert. Great customer service you have!

- geoff

[Reefmack]

Got my sump skimmer from Robbert this week. Unfortunately, I have too many other priorities, so I won't get the sump going till next Saturday. I did get all of my electrical cords & timers (10 cords!) situated outside the tank, and that took a good bit of time yesterday. No room for the shelf with this new sump - it's a good bit higher than my previous DIY sump. And I got the extra SW made up that I'll need to have the full 10 gallons for the sump.

The new cyclinder - I'll use the same pumps that are in the Euro-Reef I have now:



Adjustable water inlets on the bottom:



Hanger for adjusting skimmer height - it raises or lowers on the acrylic tube on the side:



Looks like another winner!

By the way, I added fresh carbon, Phosguard, and Purigen to the media rack, and the skimmer went into overdrive! It threatened to pop the top off with the increased foam output.

[Reefmack]

I just realized why the skimmer went crazy. I noticed later that the water was strangely cloudy. I forgot to rinse the bag of carbon/phos-guard mix! But the Euro-Reef ran like a champ, filled up half the cup with the greenish stuff, and the water is back to clear. I'm still amazed at this skimmer!

[nanoreefing4fun]

re: I forgot to rinse the bag of carbon/phos-guard mix, nice to know I am not the only one has forget to rinse their carbon

[Clownfish518]

Originally Posted by Reefmack

I just realized why the skimmer went crazy. I noticed later that the water was strangely cloudy. I forgot to rinse the bag of carbon/phos-guard mix! But the Euro-Reef ran like a champ, filled up half the cup with the greenish stuff, and the water is back to clear. I'm still amazed at this skimmer!

LOL

Yeah, like I've never done that

Like the looks of the new skimmer body. Can't wait to see it in action