Skimming in a Barebottom tank.

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by REEF-DADDY

Now schawaggy, how could a Bullet 3 work for both of us when your tank is only a little bitty 120? I wish the XL series had the box!

Pump size...

Iwaki 40 for a little tank.

Iwaki 55 for a medium size tank.

Iwaki 70 for a big tank.

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

Yeah wiskey mine is a mr2 with a 1" straight into the becket, the becket raised up about 6 inches, and a carbon air filter. I run it on a pcx-55 on it.

The bullet 3 is the becket skimmer with the least amount of reduction between the bottom and the top riser and I hear thats key along with reaction chamber box size. My next skimmer will most likely be a bullet 3.

The top of the riser in my turbofloater is 3/4 or 1/2, the bottom is 6 or 8 inches. What do you think about that reduction?

I think that is the reason I can't run this skimmer wet properly.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

Yeah wiskey mine is a mr2 with a 1" straight into the becket, the becket raised up about 6 inches, and a carbon air filter. I run it on a pcx-55 on it.

The bullet 3 is the becket skimmer with the least amount of reduction between the bottom and the top riser and I hear thats key along with reaction chamber box size. My next skimmer will most likely be a bullet 3.

Do you plan on upgrading your skimmer in your current tank? Or are you talking about when you get a bigger tank?

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

Whiskey before you make your final decision you should call the manufactures of the mr2 and bullet2 and find out the dimensions of both.. reaction box size, first riser height/width, second riser height/width and total height.

What am I looking for? Would you say larger box, taller skimmer is better?

Thanks,
Whiskey

[REEF-DADDY]

Originally Posted by Weatherman

Pump size...

Iwaki 40 for a little tank.

Iwaki 55 for a medium size tank.

Iwaki 70 for a big tank.

What would you consider max size for a B3 and and Iwaki 70?

[NoSchwag]

Mr. Reef-Daddy I honestly think my skimmer set up right now like it is would be good for your tank. You want a really big boy skimmer tho so thats why I would say go with the bullet 3 with the iwaki70. Plus I want to see the best in action.

Wiskey If I upgraded tanks or if someone offered me a good deal for my skimmer I would get the bullet 3. I really dont "need" it, but I wouldn't mind having one.

From my understanding you want as big of a reaction chamber box as possible and as little of a reduction from the first riser to the second riser as possible. The bigger that reaction box the more water you can force thru the skimmer = the quicker your tank is particle free and clean.

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by REEF-DADDY

What would you consider max size for a B3 and and Iwaki 70?

I think Spanky has a Bullet 3/Iwaki 70 combo on his tank (300g main display and 150g sump).

[NoSchwag]

What I'm wondering is if up to a point would a bullet3 running wet with a iwaki70 be good enough for any tank (within reason)?

If your sump is set up right, you have enough flow to get crap to the skimmer, and your skimmer is running peak and removing all of the particles, what more would you need out of a skimmer? I know there is a question of dwell time, but running wet there isn't any real dwell time at all.

The particles in any tank can only be so big and if your skimmer is able to remove them, what's the point of a monster skimmer?

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

What I'm wondering is if up to a point would a bullet3 running wet with a iwaki70 be good enough for any tank (within reason)?

For smaller tanks (say, less than 250 gallons), power requirements may be an important consideration.

Take a look at the power requirements for these pumps:

Iwaki 40 - 150 watts
Iwaki 55 - 184 watts
Iwaki 70 - 322 watts
Iwaki 100 - 391 watts


If I had an 80-120 gallon tank, I'd probably chose an Iwaki 40 or Iwaki 55 over an Iwaki 70. The skimmer will, probably, work better with an Iwaki 70, but at 322 watts, it's a pretty expensive pump to run 24/7.

[NoSchwag]

But what about when you get into the big big tanks, lets say 600g. Would you think an optimally running b3 with iwaki 70 would be good enough? I mean as long as your flow gets the particles to the skimmer..

[Wiskey]

I thought Spanky had a Iwaki 100, with duel becketts on his skimmer?

Whiskey

[NoSchwag]

I think he played with a 100 for awhile.

Definitely didn't have 2 beckets.

[REEF-DADDY]

I'd run the PCX -70. Very close to the Iwaki 100 but only draws 180 watts.

Swaggy I'll get the skimmer if you promise not to, and how the hell did you change your atavar title

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

I thought Spanky had a Iwaki 100, with duel becketts on his skimmer?

Whiskey

Here's a quote from one of his posts on that other site (April 8, 2005):

"I have a Iwaki70 running my skimmer and I don't hear it much at all."


Schwaggy is correct... Bullet 3s only have one injector.

[NoSchwag]

usercp > edit profile

You should get it, you have all the room in the world to set it up right.. Plus you have a lot of money in that tank, i'd be a smart investment.

Is it cool if I swing thru at about 7:30 tonight? I wont forget your tds this time.