Aquamedic Blue T1000 skimmer review

[mseepman]

Last year I purchased a new Tunze9015 for my main display tank. The skimmer was rated for up to 350g and my display is only a 70G with 20G sump but I was planning for future tank upgrades. Unfortunately, the Tunze has just never performed like I wanted it to. So a few weeks back I ordered a new Aquamedic Blue T1000 skimmer for the tank. I figure I can work on the Tunze once I don't "need" it for my tank.

For those of you that don't know it, here is a link to the skimmer: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~AQ1115~idCategor y~FIPSHONW~category~Venturi_With_Needle_Wheel-Hang_On-Protein_Skimmers-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html

Although this can be either an HOB or internal skimmer, my reasoning for getting it was that by description it would fit in the area that I have available in my sump. Now after getting it...I'm not so sure that it will fit but we will see.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr220/mseepman/skimmerbox.jpg?t=1228431855

Unfortunately, when the skimmer arrived the collection cup was smashed inside the box. Obviously travelling up from the US was a little hard on it.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr220/mseepman/Damagedskimmercup.jpg?t=1228431874

Other than the damage, which is already being taken care of by the vendor, the unit seems to be fairly well built. The OR1200 mesh wheel pump that comes with it only uses 12W so it certainly seems like it will be efficient.

Tonight I will put it in a bucket of vinegar water and give it a thorough cleaning. I don't believe that the chip missing from the collection cup will reduce it's workability since the cup lid has holes in it already.

[trilinearmipmap]

I will be interested to hear about how quiet it is.

[mseepman]

Continuing with my look at this skimmer...here are some shots from it while it's getting a Vinegar/water bath.

As you can see, the bubbles are really pretty fine. I'm impressed since these are 1/4 the size of the bubbles from my big Tunze.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr220/mseepman/AM1000bubbles.jpg?t=1228514247

After 3 hours in Vinegar/water mix....here's a shot of the skimmer neck.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr220/mseepman/3hoursinVinegar.jpg?t=1228514315

And a shot down from above:
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr220/mseepman/downwardskimmer.jpg?t=1228514336

I've been working with it despite the ruined cup. A replacement cup is on it's way but I wanted to get to play with this in the mean-time.

As for noise...it's not bad if you submerge the output pipe. There is a defined noise from the air input, but I'm hoping to get a silencer that Aquamedic sells to solve that problem. This will be in my living room so a lot of noise won't go down well with my better half.

[lorenz0]

keep us updated. i just bought a deltec mc-500 and this was my second choice due to the same issue you have, area for your skimmer in the sump.

[mseepman]

I don't doubt that the MC-500 is going to be a great skimmer for you. I'm not going to be using this as an HOB...it's just too big for my stand. I will be using it in sump.

I guess that I should mention that this skimmer cost me about $215 after shipping and currency conversion.

[lorenz0]

lol ya thats why i am so interested. ussually AM stuff is great and was less than half the price of mine.

[Pescador]

Looks pretty good, you could probably DIY the silencer, it's basically a pill bottle with two airline fittings in the lid.

[mseepman]

Hey Brian,

Thanks for the advice. Kevin from Red Coral suggested the same thing when I spoke to him. I might just try that.

[mseepman]

Well the skimmer has been doing really well, despite the broken cup. It's been in my sump for a week now and I've emptied the cup twice. I will try to get pictures up later.

I don't think it's performing as well as it could because it's not sitting in the right compartment on my sump. In order to fit it, I ended up putting it in the old fuge area...but this area only gets new water to it from a low flow pump coming out of my phosban reactor. Otherwise most of the water circulates back into the display before the skimmer touches it. I am working on a fix...but that requires a new sump.