AquaC, ASM, or Euroreef for a 120G mixed tank?
- Thread starter tonggao
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D-Nak
Active member
Is the 6-2+ a bit under-rated for 160 gallons of water volume? Looks like it's rated for a 125 by Euro-Reef. I know that manufacturer ratings can be all over the map, so I was curious.
Have you considered any other skimmers? Recirculating models perhaps? Brands such as Deltec, H & S, Schuran, Grotech or Bubble King?
I've got a 120 gallon tank myself and was planning to use a new but older model Euro-Reef 8-3 but now I find myself in the market for a skimmer that will fit in my 30" tall stand.
D-Nak
Have you considered any other skimmers? Recirculating models perhaps? Brands such as Deltec, H & S, Schuran, Grotech or Bubble King?
I've got a 120 gallon tank myself and was planning to use a new but older model Euro-Reef 8-3 but now I find myself in the market for a skimmer that will fit in my 30" tall stand.
D-Nak
Vincerama2
Active member
I have the AquaC EV-120, works great for me. At first it was mediocre until I spoke to a customer service rep who told me how to tune it.
The original instructions say to leave the air valve wide open, and adjust the water line to the "platform" in the box.
The customer service guy told me to close the air valve completely and adjust the water level to the top of the skimmer box, then slowly open the airvalve til I got the foam I wanted.
It has worked amazingly from that point on!
ie; the AquaC skimmers work great!
What I noticed is;
EuroReef is cheaper than AquaC AND come with a pump! The equivalent AquaC still requires buying a pump (add on $45 or so to the price).
AquaC uses regular Mag5 (or equivalent) pump...no need to replace the pump with a special needle wheel pump.
Oh, and the EV series can be run OUT of the sump. Which was the main reason I bout it. The "standard pump" being the other reason, because I had heard that the replacement impellors/pumps for the Euroreef were expensive, but that might not be the case anymore.
Incidentally, the Coralife Super Skimmer works great too!
(And is WAY cheaper)
V
The original instructions say to leave the air valve wide open, and adjust the water line to the "platform" in the box.
The customer service guy told me to close the air valve completely and adjust the water level to the top of the skimmer box, then slowly open the airvalve til I got the foam I wanted.
It has worked amazingly from that point on!
ie; the AquaC skimmers work great!
What I noticed is;
EuroReef is cheaper than AquaC AND come with a pump! The equivalent AquaC still requires buying a pump (add on $45 or so to the price).
AquaC uses regular Mag5 (or equivalent) pump...no need to replace the pump with a special needle wheel pump.
Oh, and the EV series can be run OUT of the sump. Which was the main reason I bout it. The "standard pump" being the other reason, because I had heard that the replacement impellors/pumps for the Euroreef were expensive, but that might not be the case anymore.
Incidentally, the Coralife Super Skimmer works great too!
(And is WAY cheaper)
V
dannieboiz
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7924527#post7924527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elite
I hate the AquaC EV.. It's a PITA to setup/adjust to get good/ok performance or maybe it's the user's error.
Go with the ASM or ER if you have money. Drop it in and watch it does what it suppose to do
Have fun with the new tank..
I think this is mostly user's error.
I have an EV-180 on mine, upgraded the pump to an OR3500 dumping 900gph into it. Everything wide open, never have to worry about it.
U can't use the ER external unless u pay extra for the external one.
bangs for the bucks: Here's my math.
Marine Depot price:
EV-180 with JG fitting no pump (because mag 7 or the RIO is a joke)
$344.95 + 69.95 = $415
Comparable ER ... RC180
$838.00
hmm, which one makes more sense.
Of course u can get the insump version which should be cheaper but features and performance. it's a no brainer for me.
agreed with Dannieboiz , I have an EV-120 slightly smaller than the EV-180, dumping 900+ gph into it.
don't really need to throttle the pump back everything fully open... this can only be accomplish once the tank has nothing more to skim, at that point both water/air valve should be fully open & no further adjustments needed.
works great.
don't really need to throttle the pump back everything fully open... this can only be accomplish once the tank has nothing more to skim, at that point both water/air valve should be fully open & no further adjustments needed.
works great.
When first installed, dumping the collection cup every 2 days... twice on good days =) lol no offense to the "ASM g2"
you can skim out your whole tank water by adding some water conditioner.. hah
back on track, as for now it varies depending on feeding and what is being dosed into the tank. i'd say average a cup per week.
you can skim out your whole tank water by adding some water conditioner.. hah
back on track, as for now it varies depending on feeding and what is being dosed into the tank. i'd say average a cup per week.
dannieboiz
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7941737#post7941737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elite
Yeah how much skimmate do you get a week?? I have to empty my ASM G2 cup every 3-4 day. ASM skimmer is cheaper too...
I still hate it. (AquaC)
Well as of now, I'm not pulling out anything because it isn't running. When it is running though, i fill up my autowaste collector in a week, sometime it takes a week and a half. THen after a few months of skimming it collects half the autowaste collector everywhere.
The autowaste collector is 3 or 4 times the size of the collection cup. U do the math. U hate it because u don't have one. BLAH! :lol:
Vincerama2
Active member
Well, let's just say they all work and it's a matter of choice whether you want a needle wheel skimmer or the flexibility of an in/out sump model. Skimmate production probably has so many other factors that the skimmer itself can't be held "accountable" for skimmate production. (what skimmate? light coloured, dark colours? light compared to what? etc etc).
Two guys at the office run $75 Coralife Super Skimmers and they produce LOTS of skimmate, but the tradeoff is the large footprint pumps in the tank...
A better question is probably "Which skimmer is a waste of money and doesn't work?"
V
Two guys at the office run $75 Coralife Super Skimmers and they produce LOTS of skimmate, but the tradeoff is the large footprint pumps in the tank...
A better question is probably "Which skimmer is a waste of money and doesn't work?"
V
Thanks everyone for your advices. It sounds like all three skimmers works well for different people. I actually have more space in sump than ouside sump, and am a little concerned about extra electricity and heat that AquaC requires, so I bought Jason's euroreef 6-2+. Since it is used, it does not break my bank all the way (even though it is still a little too expensive for me). It is rated for 125G tank, which does not give me much margin for my 120G tank and 160G water volumn. But I heard that Euroreef usually is conservative in their ratings, and hopefully it will be able to handle my setup well. Worst come worst, I will stick my other Euroreef 6-1 in the sump also, but it is going to be a messy setup that way.
dannieboiz
Active member
I hear that it's not good to have 2 skimmer in one system. I don't know why, but if I can find the link I'll let u know.
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