Precision Marine skimmer

[shark32]

Morning all,

Anybody ever use or are currently using a Precision Marine Bullet 1 skimmer? I am looking to upgrade my skimmer from an AquaC Remora Pro to a PM Bullet... I am having a nitrate problem in my 75 gallon and water changes aren't helping to eliminate them...I am ordering mangroves today to put in my sump also...any opinions/advice is appreciated...Thanks:biggrin:

 

[thirty6]

I have had no experience w/ mangroves but read that they weren't easiest to maintain as they have some care requirements. Maybe try chaeto first. May be easier to work with And help w/trates. Good luck

I know there are several mangrove threads here. Take a look

 

[shark32]

Thanks thirty6 for the quick response...
My tank has been up and running for about 14 months...I have never had any water problems or any problems for that matter in there...then in July I started getting a little long brownish red algae growing on some of my rocks...after reseaching it, it said that could be from phosphates...I tested the water and sure enough I had some phosphates but everything else was in check...I purchased a phosphate reactor from Bulk Reef Supply and some Ferric Oxcide and sytarting using that...within 2 weeks, I had a green hair algae bloom and my snails started to act weird... I shut the reactor off and since then all eight of my snails have died (that I have had since day 1) and now my conch, who is usually very active, is moving very slowly...I still have the hair algae... I am guilty of feeding a little extra food becuase I want my two shrimp and starfish to eat as well...plus my wrasse does quite a good job of finding any food that's left around...I will definately read the mangrove thread... I do not want any additional problems

 

[lfsmarineguy]

PM skimmers are great and work just as well as some of the more expensive brands out there. I like the PM becketts, they're easy to clean and normal maintenance is usually making sure the beckett is clear and the air filter is clean besides cleaning the cup and neck. I would recommend getting an extra air filter so you can just swap them back and forth. Depending on where you have your filtration it might be a little loud for some people as the beckett sucks a lot of air and they do require larger pumps.

 

[eddie1272]

Im selling a aquac ev 180 brand new in box for extremely low price. 200.00, very similiar to precision marine

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

 

[shark32]

Thanks lfsmarineguy... doing all my research I liked the becketts too...I was hoping that it would not be that loud because the tank in is my dining room.. I was going to get the mag 12 pump for it...we'll just have to live with some noise because I want a better skimmer...I was talking to a LFS guy today who suggested I try purigen and a polyfilter..so i added the purigen in my phosphate reactor...hopfully that helps...
And thanks for the offer eddie1272....
thanks again

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Purigen works but for what you can get good carbon for now you're better off just doing carbon. I don't know anyone that regenerates their purigen maintenance company or otherwise. The only time I use a polyfilter is when there is a potential issue, if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing it shouldn't be necessary when you consider the equipment and media you are running.

 

[mbg75]

What are your nitrates? Do you use RO/Di for water changes? How often and what size water changes do u do?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[shark32]

Thanks again lfsmarineguy...I wouldn't reuse the same purigen...i did not not like the concept of putting bleach on it and then putting it back in my tank... i would just buy a new one...I haven't put the poly filter on yet...I wanted to see what the purigen did...
mbg75--my nitrates were over 50 on the seachem test kit...yes,I have a ro/di unit and that's the only water I use for my 2 tanks...and I do a ten gallon water change every two to three weeks...maybe once this summer it went four weeks without a change...
Thanks again for all your responses

 

[mbg75]

Water change should dilute the nitrate in relation to what % of the water you change..
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[shark32]

I am going to do ten gallon changes every week and in conjunction with the purigen I hope it brings my nitrates down and they stay down....in the meantime I will be getting my new skimmer...
Thanks again everyone