Is this skimmer too big for my sump?

[Zissou Intern]

Hi, Reefers.
I purchased an Ultra Reef UKS-180 skimmer because I wanted something beefier than my Reef Octopus 110sss, and because the Ultra Reef was such an incredibly good deal (60% off!).

I have a total volume of about 70G including sump, after subtracting for substrate, rock work, and equipment. So on paper, the UKS-180 seemed okay to me. But the skimmer looks massive when placed next to my sump. I think the cup is twice as wide as the one on my Reef Octopus!

What do you think? Does it look too big for my sump? Given my tank volume and the numbers/pics below, which model would you have picked?

My Sump

• Total length: 29”
• Skimmer section: 14.2” x 13.8”

Akula UKS-160

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 53 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 90 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 132 Gallons
• Footprint - 6.69" x 9.06"
• Intake - 264 GPH
• Power - 22 watts

Akula UKS-180

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 79 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 125 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 185 Gallons
• Footprint - 7.48" x 9.84"
• Intake - 370 GPH
• Power - 25 watts

 

[jmoneyyy703]

Probably would have went with uks-160. However if you have a heavy feed and high bioload tank it should still work. The other option is just run it for cycles (eg12hours) a day.

 

[BiggestE22]

You will just take to lower the air intake.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

As long as you can get it to fit into your sump, it’s not too big

 

[Zissou Intern]

Oh, it will fit for sure. Might not leave much room for other gear though. I forgot to mention that the uks-160 was full price, thus my decision to try the larger 180 model.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Hi, Reefers.
I purchased an Ultra Reef UKS-180 skimmer because I wanted something beefier than my Reef Octopus 110sss, and because the Ultra Reef was such an incredibly good deal (60% off!).

I have a total volume of about 70G including sump, after subtracting for substrate, rock work, and equipment. So on paper, the UKS-180 seemed okay to me. But the skimmer looks massive when placed next to my sump. I think the cup is twice as wide as the one on my Reef Octopus!

What do you think? Does it look too big for my sump? Given my tank volume and the numbers/pics below, which model would you have picked?

My Sump

• Total length: 29”
• Skimmer section: 14.2” x 13.8”

Akula UKS-160

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 53 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 90 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 132 Gallons
• Footprint - 6.69" x 9.06"
• Intake - 264 GPH
• Power - 22 watts

Akula UKS-180

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 79 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 125 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 185 Gallons
• Footprint - 7.48" x 9.84"
• Intake - 370 GPH
• Power - 25 watts

Nice looking skimmer

It's not going to fit with that old puny skimmer in the sump

Did you get it from BRS clearance sale? It's pretty pricey MRSP

 

[Zissou Intern]

Nice looking skimmer

It's not going to fit with that old puny skimmer in the sump

Did you get it from BRS clearance sale? It's pretty pricey MRSP

Yea, I did get it on sale from BRS. The quality is amazing. And it is so much easier to tune than my old skimmer. It works just fine in my sump, though it does make space a little tighter than I like. I think the smaller 160 model would have been better if there wasn’t such a huge price difference. But the sale (60% off?) was only good for the larger model. I thought about trying to trade someone here but ended up just using it.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Yea, I did get it on sale from BRS. The quality is amazing. And it is so much easier to tune than my old skimmer. It works just fine in my sump, though it does make space a little tighter than I like. I think the smaller 160 model would have been better if there wasn’t such a huge price difference. But the sale (60% off?) was only good for the larger model. I thought about trying to trade someone here but ended up just using it.

That's exactly what I deduced

Use it. Needs a pic with it in the sump tho

 

[Zissou Intern]

That's exactly what I deduced

Use it. Needs a pic with it in the sump tho

Yea, sorry. I was at work and didn’t have a pic. Here it is now.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Beautiful

Like it was designed and intended to go there

Not too big at all

 

[Zissou Intern]

Ha! Thanks. The huge cup is the best thing about it. And it is really easy to remove. Was a little louder at first than my previous skimmer. Seems to have quieted down now. Or maybe I just got used to it. Either way, it doesn’t bother me.