OMG! Thinking of Getting Remora Skimmers, Need Advice Please

Chaloupa · #1 03-31-2006, 05:14 AM

I'm with Scott...they are GREAT skimmers...just go for it!

.... you can thank us later!

marie · #2 03-31-2006, 05:31 AM

I would like to ask why you want a skimmer. My zoo/ricordea tank hasn't had a skimmer on it since it has been set up and with what I would consider a good bio-load, yellow tang, 3 chromis, and a potters angel. The sponges and feather dusters are doing way better in that tank then the other "skimmed" ones and with less algae problems.

Funky_Fish14 · #3 03-31-2006, 06:26 AM

If the actual return pipe were to get clogged by something, then yes, the skimmer may overflow, but the likelyhood of that happening is very low.

Chris

Samw · #4 03-31-2006, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funky_Fish14

If the actual return pipe were to get clogged by something, then yes, the skimmer may overflow, but the likelyhood of that happening is very low.

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funky_Fish14

If the drain/overflow from the skimmer were to clog somehow with something, then yes, it will overflow. A snail did this on my bak-pak skimmer(with about the same diameter overflow pipe) and the skimmer started to flow over a bit. I dont think this is a very common occurence however.

Chris

The Bakpak has a return pipe but the Remora doesn't have a return pipe. The Remora just has a big opening for return so there's almost no chance of a snail clogging up the return on Remora.

Funky_Fish14 · #5 03-31-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samw

The Bakpak has a return pipe but the Remora doesn't have a return pipe. The Remora just has a big opening for return so there's almost no chance of a snail clogging up the return on Remora.

DOH! Well, that'll teach me!

Thanks for pointing it out

fkshiu · #6 04-01-2006, 11:06 PM

I found the pre-filter box took up too much room and had trouble adjusting to changing water levels.

My setup is a Hagen surface skimmer intake hooked up to a Mag5 up to the Remora through a ball valve to control flow. The Mag is sitting behind live rock on top of my PVC rock rack so all you see is the tubing going up to the intake. The Hagen surface skimmer has a floating intake so changing water levels and water surface movement does not affect it.

As mentioned, I also muffled the sound with a wet paper towel stuffed on top of the injector.

I elminated micro-bubbles by cutting a slit down an AC filter sponge and slipping it over the Remora's return outlet lip. I change the sponge once a week to prevent nitrate build-up.

Quagmire · #7 04-01-2006, 11:53 PM

Ive been planning on replacing the skimmer on one of my tanks with a Remora,Pro and 99% of what Ive read was good.But I have to ask.Bev your doing well without skimmers,why fix it if it aint broke?

Beverly · #8 04-02-2006, 12:12 AM

Quote:

My setup is a Hagen surface skimmer intake hooked up to a Mag5 up to the Remora through a ball valve to control flow.

fkshiu,

Interesting adaptation. Is this the surface skimmer you're talking about? How well does the skimmer work if there is quite a bit of surface scum? I wouldn't use Remora Pros on my 37g and 67g, only Remoras. Do you think the suface skimmer would fit the Maxi Jet 1200 that comes with these skimmers?

Quote:

Bev your doing well without skimmers,why fix it if it aint broke?

Quagmire,

I'm not sure if my tanks are running up to snuff. I mean, they could very well be, but I'm wondering if skimmers might not improve them. Honestly, I've got a lot of thinking to do on this issue.

Do you run skimmers on your tanks?

seashells · #9 03-31-2006, 06:28 AM

Don't get me wrong...It's a good skimmer for the price. Just make sure you have good clamps or double up on them. The upper portion of the hose that attaches to the skimmer is where it slipped off. It came with the mag 3 pump. With mag 3 it leaked twice on me. It leaked once with the mag 5. I then changed to the heavier nylon clamps a few weeks a go and all has been fine. If you get the preskimmer then watching your water level is critical. It can easily start sucking.

Doug

Beverly · #10 03-31-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marie

I would like to ask why you want a skimmer. My zoo/ricordea tank hasn't had a skimmer on it since it has been set up and with what I would consider a good bio-load, yellow tang, 3 chromis, and a potters angel. The sponges and feather dusters are doing way better in that tank then the other "skimmed" ones and with less algae problems.

Good question, Marie. Right off the top of my head, I would answer that so many people talk about how useful skimming is and they have the skimmate to prove it. However, I'd have to think about your question more to provide a more rounded answer.

I have a few questions about the tanks you skim and the one you don't....

- Why do you think you have more algae problems in your skimmed tanks than in the one you don't skim? Larger bioloads that the skimmers are unable to keep up with, maybe? Or other factors? I would have thought skimming would reduce algae problems, if all your tanks were similar in feeding and bioloads.

- Why do you think you have more sponges and feather dusters in the non-skimmed tank than in the skimmed ones? Could there be predators in the skimmed tanks that eat dusters that do not reside in your non-skimmed tank?

On another note, I just realized that the 120g and the 67g have Euro-bracing under the trim around the perimeter of each tank, which means I may not be able to use HOB skimmers on them. Can anyone tell me the maximum size of trim the Remoras will fit on?

TIA