Question regarding AquaC Remora & CPR Bak-Pak 2R+

[ryddo]

I am considering removing my emperor filter from my 40 gallon aquarium. My question is, which protein skimmer will better suit my tank, AquaC Remora or the CPR Bak-Pak 2R+? I am interested in keeping a variety of corals.

Right now my tank setup is as follows:

250w HQI with 2x65w PC
H.O.T. Magnum
Emporer 280
Seaclone Skimmer
85 pound LR
3" Sand bed

I would like to keep the H.O.T. becasue it keeps the tank nice and clean. I am also interested in adding ozone to this tank next month so I will need a protein skimmer that is capable of adding this to it or determine a way of adding it directly to the tank.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Steven Pro]

First of all, I am unsure if you can add ozone to either choice. The Remora does not have any airline to speak of, so I don't know where you could inject it. And, the Bak-Pak uses an aspirating pump (the air is drawn into either a Rio or Maxi-Jet pump), so the ozone might end up destroying the pump.

That said, I believe the Remora with Maxi-Jet pump to be a better skimmer than the Bak-Pak in my experience.

[ANGRY JOHN]

both of the skimmers you chose would do a great job on your tank. i have herd tons of good reviews on this site as well as reefs.org about the remora so it must be great although i cannot say from experence. what i can say is ozone destroys everything it comes into contact with and works well when used on a venturi or becket type skimmer because it does not get into the pump or pass threw an airstone which it kills in a hurry. good luck

[ryddo]

Is there a better HOT skimmer in the market that would allow me to add ozone? If not, is there another way of dosing the tank besides adding it to the protein skimmer? Can it be added directly to the tank? Please help, I am new to the whole "ozone" idea!!
Thanks,
Ryan

[ANGRY JOHN]

i think the idea of using a skimmer is a great idea. this is a logical progression and will undoubtedly improve your water quality and the health of all animals in your care but i wonder why there is so much intrest with ozone. in many cases it ends up being more trouble than its worth and may kill things in your tank if not done correctly. then comes the controler to dose it accuaratly and at the correct times and that seems to me like going from a step in the right direction to a leep into the unkown. things like ozone used to be part of an advanced aquarists toolbox to try and fix somthing or sterilize the water. if you want to try it i would not discurage anything as i use my tank to learn and enjoy anyway. best of luck

[zhenya]

Hi Ryan,

Do you use sump or planning on adding one? If you do have a sump, there is a skimmer made by AquaC( model EV-120 ) that could be used in the sump and I know that you can inject ozone via air intake with a fitting that you can get from Premiumaquatics. I used it for my 75g tank for a while and it worked really well, however, I am not sure about long term effects ozone may have on the acrylic body of the skimmer. I had no issues, personally, becouse I know that I injected very little of the ozone and O3 is usually highly unstable and breaks up very quickly. Do your research on the ozone before you decide to do anything and see if it;s something that you really need.
I agree with John that you will need to dose it properly, ie. have a controller and perhaps carbon at the effluent point, to have real benefits.
Here's a good thread about ozone that helped me when I was choosing my equipment and trying to make a decission if I want to use it or not.

HTH.

[BubbaWPB]

I've got a Red Sea Berlin Turbo hang on skimmer that is made so you can hook up ozone. (I've got an ozonizer hooked up.) It's not the best rated skimmer, but it does just fine for my 75 gallon tank.