Skimmer Choice

aqujoe247 · 02-13-2006, 08:38 PM

Which skimmer would you prefer to have on a moderate budget?

What are the determining factors of choosing a skimmer?

Witfull · 02-13-2006, 10:24 PM

save up for a good one,,,cheap and skimmer should never be used in the same sentence~

john · 02-13-2006, 10:30 PM

i would recomend the asm g series skimmer.great skimmer-every bit as good as the euroreef at a third of the cost!!

cheeks69 · 02-13-2006, 10:35 PM

aqujoe247 do you have a sump ? If not then your limited to Hang On Tank skimmers and one of the best HOT skimmers is the AQUA-C Remora.

ScottT1980 · 02-13-2006, 10:38 PM

If I were to setup another tank, I would not settle for anything less than an ASM (in sump) or Aqua-C Remora (Hang-on). I have learned from my mistakes. I spent $150+ modifying a $100 skimmer so that it could handle about half the waste of the above skimmers. Should have saved and bought the real McCoy up front...

Take er easy
Scott T.

aqujoe247 · 02-14-2006, 06:15 AM

Cheeks,

I have a refugium and I have a wet/dry filter that I wanted to take the bioballs out of and cram with LR, whats the chances of this working?

The open area is 7 3/4w x 7 1/4L x 15 1/2 h. I'm not sure this is enough room for a nice skimmer to fit into so I would have the get a HOT model and just make do with it.

Is it better to just that a 10g tank and use it as a sump?

The situation is the stand that the 55g sits on is too short to fit anything other than the refugium under. So I am in the process of building a pedstal for the refugium and the sump to sit on, I want it tall enough so the Head on my return pumps are at a minimum and low enough that the collection cup on the skimmer can not be seen.

I am also thinking of running the refugium it's own return pump if I can somehow get the skimmer to pump from the sump and flow into the refugium, is this possible?

cheeks69 · 02-14-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

I have a refugium and I have a wet/dry filter that I wanted to take the bioballs out of and cram with LR, whats the chances of this working?

That will work well, that's what I did.

Quote:

The open area is 7 3/4w x 7 1/4L x 15 1/2 h. I'm not sure this is enough room for a nice skimmer to fit into so I would have the get a HOT model and just make do with it.

I have an aquamedic HOT skimmer and use it on my sump but it's about 21" tall but the aqua-c Remora is only 17.5" tall so it may work if not then building a pedestal is a good ideia.

mps9506 · 02-15-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqujoe247

I am also thinking of running the refugium it's own return pump if I can somehow get the skimmer to pump from the sump and flow into the refugium, is this possible?

I would avoid this at all costs. You want the skimmer pump to power only the skimmer. You can put a T on your return lie and split the flow from your return, or split the flow from your tank drain into the refugium.

BTW, I pikced up a used Euro Reef for $210, way happier with this skimmer than any DIY skimmer I could make or modified berlin, excalibur, pro clear aquatics skimmer I ever used. Spend the money on a good skimmer (ASM, ER, beckett etc.) and you will be very happy with the money spent.

Icebox · 02-15-2006, 09:56 AM

I have both an ASM, and an Euro Reef. For the money I would go with the ASM. For better quality pieces and a cup that comes off easier, go with the ER. They are esentially the same design but the ASM is plastic where the ER is acrylic. Both have the same pump, supposedly a slightly different impeller on the ASM. Both work very well and are very easy to adjust though they hardly ever need it.

Anyway, I had a berlin from Red Sea and it did not come close to keeping up with either of these. I will get another ER or ASm if I ever get another.

roadrunner1659 · 02-15-2006, 11:12 AM

i use the Aqua C Remora and i consider myself to be on a budget...i love this skimmer and when i had problems i contacted them and they sent me out a bunch of stuff to help! GREAT SKIMMER and GREAT COMPANY!

BoomerD · 02-15-2006, 11:44 AM

You can find the Remora/Remora Pro for sale used pretty often on the RC used equipment forums. The ASM and ER's too. Just be careful, as there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who won't hesitate to rip you off, and either send you nothing, or send you broken junk for your $$$.

Kensn · 02-15-2006, 11:46 AM

I used a Berlin Classic for a long time before getting my EuroReef skimmer, no comparision on ease of use and skim mate produced. If an Eureef is out of reach get a ASM if you have room for it. I did get my EuroReef used, nut it had only been used for a month (just broke in). I could not tell it was used, and saved some money, just keep your eyes open for deals.....

Witfull · 02-15-2006, 03:17 PM

i used a berlin and it worked pretty darn good, they say to use a mag3 or 5 on it,,i threw a mag7 on it,,,it skiimmed!

gussy · 02-15-2006, 11:37 PM

I use AquaC on all my tanks but I'm going to try out a Deltec sometime this year.

mps9506 · 02-15-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gussy

I use AquaC on all my tanks but I'm going to try out a Deltec sometime this year.

mmmmm....
My buddy has one of these. I can fit my head inside it

(and I don't have a little head

) The multiple recirc eheim pumps on it are schweet.
Definitaly out of my price range though.
And you really can't beat the customer support he received with that skimmer.

02-13-2006, 08:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
aqujoe247 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Posts: 193 View Gallery Karma Komment	Skimmer Choice Which skimmer would you prefer to have on a moderate budget? What are the determining factors of choosing a skimmer? __________________ JOE

02-13-2006, 10:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
john Ricordea Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ohio Posts: 188 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice i would recomend the asm g series skimmer.great skimmer-every bit as good as the euroreef at a third of the cost!!

02-13-2006, 10:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice aqujoe247 do you have a sump ? If not then your limited to Hang On Tank skimmers and one of the best HOT skimmers is the AQUA-C Remora. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

02-13-2006, 10:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice If I were to setup another tank, I would not settle for anything less than an ASM (in sump) or Aqua-C Remora (Hang-on). I have learned from my mistakes. I spent $150+ modifying a $100 skimmer so that it could handle about half the waste of the above skimmers. Should have saved and bought the real McCoy up front... Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

02-14-2006, 06:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
aqujoe247 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Posts: 193 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice Cheeks, I have a refugium and I have a wet/dry filter that I wanted to take the bioballs out of and cram with LR, whats the chances of this working? The open area is 7 3/4w x 7 1/4L x 15 1/2 h. I'm not sure this is enough room for a nice skimmer to fit into so I would have the get a HOT model and just make do with it. Is it better to just that a 10g tank and use it as a sump? The situation is the stand that the 55g sits on is too short to fit anything other than the refugium under. So I am in the process of building a pedstal for the refugium and the sump to sit on, I want it tall enough so the Head on my return pumps are at a minimum and low enough that the collection cup on the skimmer can not be seen. I am also thinking of running the refugium it's own return pump if I can somehow get the skimmer to pump from the sump and flow into the refugium, is this possible? __________________ JOE

02-15-2006, 09:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice I have both an ASM, and an Euro Reef. For the money I would go with the ASM. For better quality pieces and a cup that comes off easier, go with the ER. They are esentially the same design but the ASM is plastic where the ER is acrylic. Both have the same pump, supposedly a slightly different impeller on the ASM. Both work very well and are very easy to adjust though they hardly ever need it. Anyway, I had a berlin from Red Sea and it did not come close to keeping up with either of these. I will get another ER or ASm if I ever get another. __________________ Mike

02-15-2006, 11:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
roadrunner1659 Plate Coral Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Medford, NJ Posts: 734 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice i use the Aqua C Remora and i consider myself to be on a budget...i love this skimmer and when i had problems i contacted them and they sent me out a bunch of stuff to help! GREAT SKIMMER and GREAT COMPANY!

02-15-2006, 11:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice You can find the Remora/Remora Pro for sale used pretty often on the RC used equipment forums. The ASM and ER's too. Just be careful, as there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who won't hesitate to rip you off, and either send you nothing, or send you broken junk for your $$$. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

02-15-2006, 11:46 AM	#12 (permalink)
Kensn Reef Lobster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Auburn Wa. Posts: 1,252 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice I used a Berlin Classic for a long time before getting my EuroReef skimmer, no comparision on ease of use and skim mate produced. If an Eureef is out of reach get a ASM if you have room for it. I did get my EuroReef used, nut it had only been used for a month (just broke in). I could not tell it was used, and saved some money, just keep your eyes open for deals..... __________________ Ken When the ebbing tide retreats Along the rocky shoreline It leaves a trail of tidal pools In a short-lived galaxy Rush

02-15-2006, 11:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
gussy Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 579 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer Choice I use AquaC on all my tanks but I'm going to try out a Deltec sometime this year.

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