Upgrating Cone Skimmer with CoralVue Bubble Blaster pump

[phi delt reefer]

alright so i watched that movie about 7 times and would recommend the following.

if you want the 5000 pump i would do the sideways external mount like you said to increase the reaction area within the skimmer body. Also make note that the skimmers in the video look VERY wide - the vertex is a big skimmer and that diy one looks just as big (look at the size of the pump vs. the size of the skimmer base for reference) You may want to do some math to figure out the volume of the vertex skimmer chamber vs. yours vs. the reef octupus line that uses that pump. If your volume is significantly smaller you may want to reconsider.

I would contact Coralvue and ask what depth their stock skimmers (that use that pump) run at. Its important to know for the water pressure at different depths heavily affects skimmer performance.

I have considered a similar upgrade for my swc 150 bmk skimmer with uses the crappy atman 2500 pump. Right now my skimmer is doing quite well (seems to have found its sweet spot) but i was thinking about either using the new sicce psk 1000 pump or an eheim compact pump (built by Eden out of Italy - same pump that is used on the Skimz skimmers so i quickly crossed that one off the list)


keep us in the loop - i am very interested as to how this turns out.

[RuGlu6]

Thank you for your thoughts appreciate that.
Here is my cone skimmer (scroll down for pics). Its quite big and pump is also big 7"x6"x5". Look at one before last pic (click on link above, not pics below) where it shows bottom part. BB pumps sizes are total with large fittings the actual body is smaller.
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My skimmers chamber is 11" inch wide, looking from the top, at the bottom (this is my best bet for volume)
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Neck is only 4" (3.75 exact)
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The recommended level for Super Reef Octopus SRO-5000 is 6"-10" inch of water and is exactly the same for SRO-3000.
Mine is sitting at 7"-8".

I have not decided yet but leaning strongly toward BB 5000 pump. Especially because of the small price difference and huge air output difference (double)

Interestingly enough no one knows for sure how much water flow this pump produces ! I emailed CoralVue and the answer was "not sure" maybe 600Gph.
The other retailer who sells these pumps said: "there is no indication about water flow on the pump, based on other Bubble Blaster pumps it will be around 500GPH "
I actually installed and ran my existing pump with normal water impeller instead of needle wheel and level inside reaction chamber was same even with higher water flow comparing to the needle wheel.

You are right, i will need to measure and compare the chamber size and especially neck size next time when i i take it out of the sump. Bottom part of my skimmer is 1" wider then SRO5000.

I can't find the actual height of the SRO-5000 without the waste collection cup, and actual neck size.
Perhaps anyone on here who has SRO-5000 can help with these two measurements?
If not then i will email CoarlVue again.
Thank you all for participation.