Your videos are AMAZING! Thanks so much for posting this very helpful series of reef tank videos - the best marine tank video series I've seen. I'm a fan!
awesome video Mark! Thanks for educating us. not too many of us really want to read manuals and i never thought that the level of the water in the sump makes a difference on the bubble.
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Interesting...I've never heard of the skimmer neck being too big such that it didn't function properly. Was the SRO 2000 in the same depth of water and have similar issues?
@IPWINSTAIR Hmm...that's probably a little shallow for it so you'll have to close down the output valve to get the bubble to rise higher in the skimmer neck. Is your skimmate dry looking vs. overly wet such that it looks like tea?
Thanks for the video! One thing, I think the light diffuser under the skimmer might collect detritus. Also plastic/acrylic shops have scrap pieces of plastic that they either sell for cheap or often give away for free. These could be easily stacked to form the stand. One skill I happily learned from this hobby was making acrylic items for my tank and eventually for other uses as well. Thanks again for the videos!
I bought a CoralLife 65 g protein skimmer. I was able to get it to not overflow finally by cutting the out line above the water level. However it still makes a huge cloud of microbubbles in the tank, even though the microbubble basket/sponge box is setup around the out line as instructed. Any suggestions?
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy adding in another 115G to the already 120G certainly changes the equation. It puts you near the 250G that I was going to recommend for that many fish. Given the new information with total system volume, I'd actually rate the SWC 160 or the SRO 2000 as too small a skimmer for the volume - I'd stick to the SWC 200 or SRO 3000. What exact issue did you have with the SRO 3000?
Thanks for putting all the knowledge out there in video-form (no better way of showing someone how to do things really!). I am setting up my small reef tank atm and bought myself a Dymax LS10, which is meant to hang at the back of the tank, but as soon as I switched it on, it filled up completely, and started overflowing!! any tips on how to tune a hang-on-top skimmer s it doesn't overflow please? Much thnx
I am looking into getting a saltwater tank and don't know much about it seeing as I have a freshwater tank. Do you have to have a protein skimmer? and is it something that is on all the time, and lastly is the protein skimmer submerged in saltwater? sorry for all the questions lol
@IPWINSTAIR Even though the skimmer could be in deeper water, if your skimmate looks like tea, then it's fine, especially if your tank is looking good. I prefer to skim wet (skimmate that looks like tea like yours) so don't worry about getting black or super dark skimmate.
Mark, I know this is off the subject but, what online retailer would you recommend for buying an aquarium. I'm looking at going up to 150 to 200 from my current 75 gallon setup. Thanks in advanced
is it typical to see micro bubbles coming from the return pipe into the tanks during "break in" period? i have a coralife 65g n i have everything connected secure and on the lowest settings any help appreciated
i have a cheap, simple nano skimmer and its plugged into a tiny air pump. The wood that is used as the airstone has only a few bubbles on it and the are only a few clear bubbles on the inner part of the tube in the cup. There has never been any liquid in the cup. The skimmer is about halfway into the water. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT TO WORK??? Thanks!
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy I'm using BRS 1.1mL doser (2 roller) and I'm only dosing Ca and Mg. Alk is taken care of with the kalk I'm running in my ATO. I actually don't really need to dose Ca as I only dose about 20 mL/day.
Hi, I have a 50gl fish only tank. I have been running it for about 3 months now. I do 15 gl water changes weekly. I'm trying to get the nitrates down and Im wondering if its my skimmer. I have a CPR bak pak w/the bio stuff on the side. I have 5 fish and a small cleaner wrass. I have a bottom sand eater ( forgot the name) all fish are about 1 inch not to big. I only feed one cube of brine shrimp morning and night. My puffer eats jumbo krill. He eats the whole thing. Do I need a bigger skimmer?
I have the same skimmer swc 180 cone on my 90 gl reef I love it ,but every time I feed corals and fish ..the skimmer drops the water Pressure and I have to Purge it all over same thing if I but my hand in the tank for cleaning ..does your skimmer do the same ..?
will 1 radion be ok for a 60 gallon 36in reef tank because I want to have LED's and I dont know which LED fixture is the best. can you tell me what other LED"S are good for my tank?
Just got the same skimmer but I cant get the smaller bubbles to the neck. However I am getting some really "dirty water" looking skimmate. Any ideas on how to fix it. It might not be in deep enough water though.
@drewhart85 The tube runs outdoors to pull oxygen rich air into to my tank to try to raise my pH (see my low pH video to learn more). I saw a small increase in pH with it and if your tank is near an exterior wall, I recommend it.
I have a 30gal tank, just set up, am about to add fish, but I am having trouble understanding how to maintain my skimmer. should bubbles be up to the top so junk can bubble into the chamber, or is it ok for the bubbles to be low, and when the water is yucky enough the bubbles will automatically bubble over into the chamber? hopefully this is clearly typed. Thank you and any help is much appreciated Cheers!
mark, i have the 120 swc. and it either keep the dark brown stuff inside the neck OR it is watery inside the cup. could it be that i don't have enough junk produced inside my tank or am i missing something. i can't have the nice foamy bubble (did have some when i started it but it's gone)
I have an swc180 and I find sometimes it works well and other times it doesn't, Have played with it several times and have had nothing but trouble. Have talked to supplier and will be dropping it off and he is going to test it in shop. My sump water level is controlled with an ato and maintains itself very acurately. Did you have any issues dialing your skimmer in after the break in period?
Can a protein skimmer be used in a fresh water tank to keep the ammonia content low? I am a new aquarium owner with a 90 gallon with a c503 Marineland with a HOB with a home made bio filter running off a power head. My ammonia seems to be a little high. Just wondering.
@PapoBoom That is a very hard question. There are only some few skimmers which should pass a 10 gallon tank. You have to change the water every week so you should be good with a Boyu-308 or 310 skimmer.
Mark, I have the same SWC 160 protein skimmer that I just set up for my new tank. I noticed that you have a hose attached to your air adjustment valve. What is that attached to on the other end and is that something I should be doing as well?
I recently got a Eshopps Hang-On Protein Skimmer with my 65 gallon tank the problem is when i turn it on the skimmer overflows and the cup completely files up and the water ends up flooding my room i can not adjust the flow any more any recommendations?
Hi there: Thanks for a great video I have a Nano 28 gl i buy a Sea Clone skimmer i hanger in my tank a friend said is to big for my tank . what is you opinion?
Hi Mark, I've had an SWC 180 for about a year now and love it. Only problem is a few days ago I took it out and gave it a good cleaning which I do every 6 months and since putting it back, the water level just won't come up to where it should be. For instance, with the water level valve fully open, the water is still a good 3" below the neck where the collection cup connects to the main body and when fully closed )turned clockwise, the water level only rises to about the bottom of the collection cup neck. I should add though that I gave it a major cleaning with vinegar and I guess in doing so got rid of all the slime so in essence I guess it's like a brand new skimmer again. Also, am I correct in thinking that when the white and red dots are aligned then this should be the fully open position meaning lowest water level?
Hi mark my tank has been running for 4 months now but I still seem to be getting alot of diatoms but just on my sand bed all my levels are in check. Do u know what else might be causing this? I stir my shallow sand bed once a day to get rid of it but within an hour or 2 it reappears!! Help please
Waiting for reef octopus 1000 bh hob skimmer to come in i hope its a good hang on the back for my 45 gallon no sump saltwater tank. What do you think mr saltwater
Dark skim is good if you have your nitrates under control - do you? If not, then a wet skim is better. Your protein skimmer will suck out a little more water when you wet skim but it will maximize its efficiency and actually remove more organics from your tank (slightly wet - not so wet that all you get is water). So, the color you say you have is good if you are wet skimming. Wet skimming is the color this guy has in his video. Once your nitrates are undetectable you can lower your water level in the neck of the skimmer (or adjust your air intake if you have that capability) and do a dry skim - which is when you will be skimming dark green extract. I personally never dry skim.
Mark, what kind of skimmer is that? I have a section in my sump for a protein skimmer footprint (12X15) -shared with a drawstring sock. I am dead lock with 2 skimmers based on their performance and size. Diablo xs 225 vs a Skimz (not sure the brand). The Skim is rated a lot higher as far as tank capacity goes. Not really a selling point as I am sure diablo is rated more honestly. You skimmer looks a lot like the Skim so just wondering your opinon on this. my tank is mainly sps.
The water level inside your skimmer will be the same as the water level inside your sump. If it's too high it will constantly be overflowing unless you turn down the pump so much it becomes inefficient
Mark, I raised my skimmer to 7 inches of water in depth and now the skimmer chamber does not fill up. The instructions say 6 to 8 inches of water should sit in. Now I have it in 11 inches of water and skimming but very sensitive and hard to adjust.
My skimmer fills with bubbles for 2 srconds then turn into water i tried closing the valves ajusting air even puting an air pump to it. Its a precision marine bullet 3. Can anyone help
Why is there water in that container where the Skimmer is? Is it stagnant water?why do you not remove the water rather than lift your skimmer higher?why do you need to place the skimmer in a container filled with water?thanks for your tips!
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Well, first that's way too many fish for that sized tank. I'm surprised it hasn't ended in disaster and if you aren't already, keep up your water changes and heavy skimming. As answered on my other video, go with the Super Reef Octopus 2000, or the SWC Xtreme Cone 200 (Its always out of stock so the SRO 2000 would be a safer bet)
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Yep..I do video marketing for a living. I've work on national TV shows and I just finished working on a large feature film set where we blew things up, made our own rain and even built our own town. Its a great way to make a living
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy I've been real happy with my SWC skimmer. Sure it doesn't have a brand name pump, but it works well and its very quiet (My #1 pet peeve of skimmers). Another skimmer to consider would be a Tunze. I just taped a show today on a guy's tank who has a similar setup to you and he has a dual pump Tunze that is overrated for his tank, but he swears by it. They aren't cheap, but they work well. I'll dig out the model # tomorrow when I edit the show.
I contacted the company Rio to ask about a silencer and why it's so loud. The test kit I'm using is API ( aquarium pharmaceutials ) my test shows high, well it's never 0...I never vacuumed the sand, so I did yesterday. It could be hiding there. I only did half the tank because it sucked up 5gl. and that's all I had on hand. Thank you for this help BTW...
I'm relatively new to reef tanks, and you've helped me so much! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and work.
Your videos are AMAZING! Thanks so much for posting this very helpful series of reef tank videos - the best marine tank video series I've seen. I'm a fan!
awesome video Mark! Thanks for educating us. not too many of us really want to read manuals and i never thought that the level of the water in the sump makes a difference on the bubble.
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Interesting...I've never heard of the skimmer neck being too big such that it didn't function properly. Was the SRO 2000 in the same depth of water and have similar issues?
@IPWINSTAIR Hmm...that's probably a little shallow for it so you'll have to close down the output valve to get the bubble to rise higher in the skimmer neck.
Is your skimmate dry looking vs. overly wet such that it looks like tea?
Thanks for the video! One thing, I think the light diffuser under the skimmer might collect detritus. Also plastic/acrylic shops have scrap pieces of plastic that they either sell for cheap or often give away for free. These could be easily stacked to form the stand. One skill I happily learned from this hobby was making acrylic items for my tank and eventually for other uses as well. Thanks again for the videos!
@finger11yo absolutely! There are plenty of hang on back (HOB) skimmers. Reef Octopus makes really good ones.
Very helpful! Good video!
I bought a CoralLife 65 g protein skimmer. I was able to get it to not overflow finally by cutting the out line above the water level. However it still makes a huge cloud of microbubbles in the tank, even though the microbubble basket/sponge box is setup around the out line as instructed. Any suggestions?
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy adding in another 115G to the already 120G certainly changes the equation. It puts you near the 250G that I was going to recommend for that many fish.
Given the new information with total system volume, I'd actually rate the SWC 160 or the SRO 2000 as too small a skimmer for the volume - I'd stick to the SWC 200 or SRO 3000.
What exact issue did you have with the SRO 3000?
Look at this guy 11 years ago! Wow. Congratulations Mark
Thanks for putting all the knowledge out there in video-form (no better way of showing someone how to do things really!). I am setting up my small reef tank atm and bought myself a Dymax LS10, which is meant to hang at the back of the tank, but as soon as I switched it on, it filled up completely, and started overflowing!! any tips on how to tune a hang-on-top skimmer s it doesn't overflow please? Much thnx
Great Videos!! I have the same skimmer, LOVE IT!
@machaud1 what do you need help with specifically?
@mcrexx you are welcome! Glad I could help
I am looking into getting a saltwater tank and don't know much about it seeing as I have a freshwater tank. Do you have to have a protein skimmer? and is it something that is on all the time, and lastly is the protein skimmer submerged in saltwater? sorry for all the questions lol
@IPWINSTAIR Even though the skimmer could be in deeper water, if your skimmate looks like tea, then it's fine, especially if your tank is looking good. I prefer to skim wet (skimmate that looks like tea like yours) so don't worry about getting black or super dark skimmate.
hi my i have just got a boyu skimer any idwa how deep it hast to be as dont say in the manual
the foam head will naturally drop when you feed, however, it should build back on its own very quickly
Hey mark where/what is the tube the tube doing on the air valve? I have a swc skimmer and don't have this hooked up this way.
Great video. Also thanks for your apex videos.
Esse cara é muito lindo.. Obrigado pelas dicas de skimmer
@IPWINSTAIR in how much water is the skimmer in? (how deep?)
hey quick question what you think about etss devil protein skimmer.
Mark, I know this is off the subject but, what online retailer would you recommend for buying an aquarium. I'm looking at going up to 150 to 200 from my current 75 gallon setup. Thanks in advanced
Please let me know when your Bubble Algae episode is online. I'm anxious to learn more.
Hey Mark ! About that skimmer, could you tell me if the air was open all the way ? i have the SWC120 cone and would like to try your tuning.
is it typical to see micro bubbles coming from the return pipe into the tanks during "break in" period? i have a coralife 65g n i have everything connected secure and on the lowest settings any help appreciated
i have a cheap, simple nano skimmer and its plugged into a tiny air pump. The wood that is used as the airstone has only a few bubbles on it and the are only a few clear bubbles on the inner part of the tube in the cup. There has never been any liquid in the cup. The skimmer is about halfway into the water. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT TO WORK??? Thanks!
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy I'm using BRS 1.1mL doser (2 roller) and I'm only dosing Ca and Mg. Alk is taken care of with the kalk I'm running in my ATO. I actually don't really need to dose Ca as I only dose about 20 mL/day.
Hi, I have a 50gl fish only tank. I have been running it for about 3 months now. I do 15 gl water changes weekly. I'm trying to get the nitrates down and Im wondering if its my skimmer. I have a CPR bak pak w/the bio stuff on the side. I have 5 fish and a small cleaner wrass. I have a bottom sand eater ( forgot the name) all fish are about 1 inch not to big. I only feed one cube of brine shrimp morning and night. My puffer eats jumbo krill. He eats the whole thing. Do I need a bigger skimmer?
I have the same skimmer swc 180 cone on my 90 gl reef I love it ,but every time I feed corals and fish ..the skimmer drops the water Pressure and I have to Purge it all over same thing if I but my hand in the tank for cleaning ..does your skimmer do the same ..?
Hi Mark,
Is this the best skimmer to buy for a 120 gal reef tank , mostly sps some softies.
Thanks, Scott
Hi I'm confused about running the skimmer my question is how long should we run the skimmer 24/7 or 12 hours?????
will 1 radion be ok for a 60 gallon 36in reef tank because I want to have LED's and I dont know which LED fixture is the best. can you tell me what other LED"S are good for my tank?
Hey what will be the best protein skimmer for 10 gallon tank...
Just got the same skimmer but I cant get the smaller bubbles to the neck. However I am getting some really "dirty water" looking skimmate. Any ideas on how to fix it. It might not be in deep enough water though.
sounds like the pump might be running backwards. have you tried unplugging the skimmer and then plugging it back in?
@drewhart85 The tube runs outdoors to pull oxygen rich air into to my tank to try to raise my pH (see my low pH video to learn more).
I saw a small increase in pH with it and if your tank is near an exterior wall, I recommend it.
I have a 30gal tank, just set up, am about to add fish, but I am having trouble understanding how to maintain my skimmer. should bubbles be up to the top so junk can bubble into the chamber, or is it ok for the bubbles to be low, and when the water is yucky enough the bubbles will automatically bubble over into the chamber? hopefully this is clearly typed. Thank you and any help is much appreciated
Cheers!
mark, i have the 120 swc. and it either keep the dark brown stuff inside the neck OR it is watery inside the cup.
could it be that i don't have enough junk produced inside my tank or am i missing something.
i can't have the nice foamy bubble (did have some when i started it but it's gone)
some air line and an airline ball valve will do the same thing right?
I have an swc180 and I find sometimes it works well and other times it doesn't, Have played with it several times and have had nothing but trouble. Have talked to supplier and will be dropping it off and he is going to test it in shop. My sump water level is controlled with an ato and maintains itself very acurately. Did you have any issues dialing your skimmer in after the break in period?
I have foam coming out of the top of the cup vents, is this normal?
What are your thoughts on an Eshopps150 for my 85 gal. reef tank ?
Can a protein skimmer be used in a fresh water tank to keep the ammonia content low? I am a new aquarium owner with a 90 gallon with a c503 Marineland with a HOB with a home made bio filter running off a power head. My ammonia seems to be a little high. Just wondering.
my protein skimmer is producing more foam than ever before. Is more foam good?
@PapoBoom
That is a very hard question. There are only some few skimmers which should pass a 10 gallon tank. You have to change the water every week so you should be good with a Boyu-308 or 310 skimmer.
The skimmer is once place I'd suspect Lori. Also, what test kit are you using to measure nitrates?
@MendocinoCoastFilms2 Ah! I'm battling a little bit of bubble algae in my tank so that will make for a good topic. Thanks for the suggestion.
Mark, I have the same SWC 160 protein skimmer that I just set up for my new tank. I noticed that you have a hose attached to your air adjustment valve. What is that attached to on the other end and is that something I should be doing as well?
I recently got a Eshopps Hang-On Protein Skimmer with my 65 gallon tank the problem is when i turn it on the skimmer overflows and the cup completely files up and the water ends up flooding my room i can not adjust the flow any more any recommendations?
Hi there: Thanks for a great video
I have a Nano 28 gl i buy a Sea Clone skimmer i hanger in my tank a friend said is to big for my tank . what is you opinion?
Hi Mark,
I've had an SWC 180 for about a year now and love it. Only problem is a few days ago I took it out and gave it a good cleaning which I do every 6 months and since putting it back, the water level just won't come up to where it should be. For instance, with the water level valve fully open, the water is still a good 3" below the neck where the collection cup connects to the main body and when fully closed )turned clockwise, the water level only rises to about the bottom of the collection cup neck. I should add though that I gave it a major cleaning with vinegar and I guess in doing so got rid of all the slime so in essence I guess it's like a brand new skimmer again. Also, am I correct in thinking that when the white and red dots are aligned then this should be the fully open position meaning lowest water level?
+John McGahern with a deep clean the skimmer will need to break in again. Give it a couple of days and you should be good to go
Hi mark my tank has been running for 4 months now but I still seem to be getting alot of diatoms but just on my sand bed all my levels are in check. Do u know what else might be causing this? I stir my shallow sand bed once a day to get rid of it but within an hour or 2 it reappears!! Help please
Whats your opinion on a bubble magus nec series ?
Doesn't sound like diatoms to me Aggy. What color is the algae?
I believe I ran it in about 8-9" of water. That skimmer is a SWC 160 cone on a 90g tank
Have same skimmer brand have the 180 cone on a 90 gl reef .. Works grate , but when I feed fish I have to Purge it again.. Does your ?
Waiting for reef octopus 1000 bh hob skimmer to come in i hope its a good hang on the back for my 45 gallon no sump saltwater tank. What do you think mr saltwater
You keep yours at 9" of water ..? .. What size swc do you have running .. And what size tank ..?
Hey thanks for the videos. I am having a problem with my bak pak skimmer, it is not making bubbles, have you ever heard of this?
What's the trick to get dark skimmate? I'm always getting tea color out of my reef octopus elite 150int
Dark skim is good if you have your nitrates under control - do you? If not, then a wet skim is better. Your protein skimmer will suck out a little more water when you wet skim but it will maximize its efficiency and actually remove more organics from your tank (slightly wet - not so wet that all you get is water). So, the color you say you have is good if you are wet skimming. Wet skimming is the color this guy has in his video. Once your nitrates are undetectable you can lower your water level in the neck of the skimmer (or adjust your air intake if you have that capability) and do a dry skim - which is when you will be skimming dark green extract. I personally never dry skim.
That is what I thought, but wasnt sure. Thanks
Mark, what kind of skimmer is that? I have a section in my sump for a protein skimmer footprint (12X15) -shared with a drawstring sock. I am dead lock with 2 skimmers based on their performance and size. Diablo xs 225 vs a Skimz (not sure the brand). The Skim is rated a lot higher as far as tank capacity goes. Not really a selling point as I am sure diablo is rated more honestly. You skimmer looks a lot like the Skim so just wondering your opinon on this. my tank is mainly sps.
Mark, I see you have a airline tube connected to the air intake. What is the reason and where is it going? Cant see in the video.
im having a problem with too much water coming into my cup please help ASAP!!
Do external skimmers work Well? Thinking about using skimmers compartment of my sump as refugium
+yoursisterspanties a good skimmer can work very well. I don't run any of mine or my client's saltwater tanks without them
Great thanks! Looking forward to your episode on "Getting Rid of Bubble Algae"!!!
good video.
Daniel Bettermann...try using egg crate aka light diffuser. Works well, easy to find and it won't harm your tank
how do u tune a hang on proetin skimmer
Is a Marine Sources MS-150 skimmer any good??
lego makes a good stand to raise it as well
What is the reason for there being specific water depth needs for the skimmer to be sitting in?
The water level inside your skimmer will be the same as the water level inside your sump. If it's too high it will constantly be overflowing unless you turn down the pump so much it becomes inefficient
Mark,
I raised my skimmer to 7 inches of water in depth and now the skimmer chamber does not fill up. The instructions say 6 to 8 inches of water should sit in. Now I have it in 11 inches of water and skimming but very sensitive and hard to adjust.
?? Is there anything I can do to get rid of it? Thanks
Is it ok if my skimmer is making ALOT of bubbles in the tank. Would that be bad for the fish?
the air was open all the way. I rarely close the air supply down
You rock Mr. Saltwater
My skimmer fills with bubbles for 2 srconds then turn into water i tried closing the valves ajusting air even puting an air pump to it. Its a precision marine bullet 3. Can anyone help
Why is there water in that container where the Skimmer is? Is it stagnant water?why do you not remove the water rather than lift your skimmer higher?why do you need to place the skimmer in a container filled with water?thanks for your tips!
How long does it take for a protein skimmer
To start working when I have only one fish?
How can i take out red algae and prevent to have it
is there such thing as hang on skimmers
If you use a sump, You use a Protien skimmer...So how do you use carbon for the water?
So for 90 gallon get one rested up to 120 gallon??
Jesse Maksymetz more is better ^^
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Well, first that's way too many fish for that sized tank. I'm surprised it hasn't ended in disaster and if you aren't already, keep up your water changes and heavy skimming.
As answered on my other video, go with the Super Reef Octopus 2000, or the SWC Xtreme Cone 200 (Its always out of stock so the SRO 2000 would be a safer bet)
@MendocinoCoastFilms2 Thanks for the feedback!
Any topics that I haven't covered yet that you'd like to see?
It's going outside to bring in fresh air. This move resulted in a slight bump in pH
"its a little light for my taste " ? so... how did it taste?
potentially. I also prefer wetter skimmate (brown stuff in the cup vs. junk on the neck)
@UnholyStyx It was custom made.
and thanks for the nod about the vids.
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy Yep..I do video marketing for a living. I've work on national TV shows and I just finished working on a large feature film set where we blew things up, made our own rain and even built our own town. Its a great way to make a living
I have to purge mine every time I feed my fish , my 180 cone water drops soon as I feed .. Do you have any trouble with that ..
@MendocinoCoastFilms2 Can do. I'll get it done in a week.
@mrsaltwatertank right now its in 7 inches which is the max I can do in my sump
@TheOneAndOnlyProdigy I've been real happy with my SWC skimmer. Sure it doesn't have a brand name pump, but it works well and its very quiet (My #1 pet peeve of skimmers).
Another skimmer to consider would be a Tunze. I just taped a show today on a guy's tank who has a similar setup to you and he has a dual pump Tunze that is overrated for his tank, but he swears by it. They aren't cheap, but they work well. I'll dig out the model # tomorrow when I edit the show.
I contacted the company Rio to ask about a silencer and why it's so loud. The test kit I'm using is API ( aquarium pharmaceutials ) my test shows high, well it's never 0...I never vacuumed the sand, so I did yesterday. It could be hiding there. I only did half the tank because it sucked up 5gl. and that's all I had on hand. Thank you for this help BTW...
I did this with a square piece of granite, different thicknesses are always available at the granite shop