Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer.

TH3C1SC0K1D

TH3C1SC0K1D

New member
Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer.

So I have been very happy with my Bubble Magus NAC-5E Protein Skimmer since I bought it a few months back but as with everything in this aquarium build I have decided that I need to make some slight upgrades and adjustments in order to suite the overall goal of this aquarium. So I have noticed that my Nitrates have been slowly creeping up over the past few weeks (they are currently 20ppm as of this post). I have a tendency to over feed and my display is stocked quite heavily with various types of fish. So with those two factors in hand, I decided to do some research and investigation as to why my Nitrates are going up.

  1. I have taken the time to reduce the amount of food I feed on a daily basis. I have moved from introducing 4 to 5 cubes of various frozen foods to 1 cube per day.
  2. I have increased the aquarium water turnover by opening the ball valve controlling the amount of water return to the aquarium from the feed pump.
  3. I am conducting a 2 gallon water change weekly.

I also have a BioPellet Reactor that has been running for about 1 week now and still has on average about 3 to 4 weeks left in order to culture enough bacteria to start seeing a difference. Also my Fluidized Sand Bed Filter doesn't seem to be assisting in the reduction of Nitrates but in its defense it is also only 1 week old. So my next obvious choice would be to upgrade my current Protein Skimmer in order to address the issue. In the interim I stumbled across and article regarding the output of a BioPellet Reactor and that they recommended that it be placed as near to the Protein Skimmer water intake as possible or plumbed to feed it. So I figured this would be a better time then ever to upgrade.

I contacted Justin at Avast Marine Works and after a brief Q/A decided to order a recent addition to their equipment lineup, the Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer. It is currently in route and should be delivered by tomorrow. All I can say it that I am excited to see recieve it. I have been very pleased with all the products I have purchased from Avast Marine Works. I was only saddened that I did not have enough available cash at the time to purchase the Swabbie and the Davey Jones Skimmate Locker (they are next on my list). I am hoping that bad boy assist with my high Nitrate issues. Below is a photograph that Justin sent me of the unit and I can say this is definitely looks beautiful!


cs1-blackpearl_lg.png



View My Aquarium Journal
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19389168#post19389168
 
sweet - I wish they had that black cone option when I got mine

did you get the recirc mod? I think I'm going to add it to mine for more control

its a great skimmer at an unbeatable price :)
 
Reply to Psteeleb

Reply to Psteeleb

psteeleb said:
sweet - I wish they had that black cone option when I got mine

did you get the recirc mod? I think I'm going to add it to mine for more control

its a great skimmer at an unbeatable price :)
Click to expand...

Yes, I got the recirculating model and I am going to ad the Swabbie and Davy Jones Skimmate Locker shortly.
 
It looks like an awsome skimmer but why the black. Can you still see into the chamber? I like to see whats going on in inside.
 
Reply to Acronic.

Reply to Acronic.

Acronic said:
It looks like an awsome skimmer but why the black. Can you still see into the chamber? I like to see whats going on in inside.
Click to expand...

I agree it does look awesome! The smoked color cone is to assist in minimizing algae growth within the cone. You are able to still see into the skimmer so that you can see the bubble production and adjust the water level and foam height.
 
GREAT skimmer, but I don't see why anyone with opposable thumbs and concerned about money wouldn't just buy the CS1 you build kit for $270 (with pump) and glue it together.

I personally don't think the cool smoked black plus already assembled is worth the extra $430 or a whopping 62% more.
 
jamesdawson said:
GREAT skimmer, but I don't see why anyone with opposable thumbs and concerned about money wouldn't just buy the CS1 you build kit for $270 (with pump) and glue it together.

I personally don't think the cool smoked black plus already assembled is worth the extra $430 or a whopping 62% more.
Click to expand...

I think you are confusing the black cone $14.99 option on the CSI to the CS2 "Black Pearl" pre built. The CS2 is a larger skimmer
 
Replty to JamesDawson.

Replty to JamesDawson.

jamesdawson said:
GREAT skimmer, but I don't see why anyone with opposable thumbs and concerned about money wouldn't just buy the CS1 you build kit for $270 (with pump) and glue it together.

I personally don't think the cool smoked black plus already assembled is worth the extra $430 or a whopping 62% more.
Click to expand...

Honestly I think what it comes down to is when purchasing the skimmer fully assembled or building it yourself is your own personal preference. Yes, it is easy to build but it does take time and some people may think that they are not handy or just do not have time. My co-worker is interested in getting one but he just doesn't have the free time between a full-time career, two kids and a wife to justify getting the you build. For me it has nothing to do with money, I just enjoy building it myself. If I did not have time I would most likely purchase the fully assembled unit myself. But to each his own.
 
psteeleb said:
I think you are confusing the black cone $14.99 option on the CSI to the CS2 "Black Pearl" pre built. The CS2 is a larger skimmer
Click to expand...

Wow, your right it is slightly bigger.

I was just going off the thread's title CS 1 Black Pearl.

In any case, the You-Build CS 1 has to be by far the best deal out there for a high quality cone skimmer with a great pump at only $270:bounce2:
I remember when the Skilter cost that much!

Its such a good deal that it really makes everything else look over-priced, but it is a personal preference for people to build it themselves and some people would choose to by it pre-built for various reasons.
 
i'm very interested in the recirculating portion of it.. i currently have the normal version.. when you get it can you take pics of how the recirculating portion is..
 
Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer.

Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer.

Well I am finally done building the Avast Marine Works "You Build" CS-1 Black Pearl Recirculating Protein Skimmer. First let me say that this is not a difficult build but it is rather time consuming. So if anyone wonders why the you build version is about 63% percent more expense well the simple answer is: time is money! It took me about 1 hour just to unpack all the pieces and get everything sorted out and at various stages in the process you have to allow adequate time for the solvent to dry so pieces don't come apart. It's just a simple fact of engineering that if you attempt to rush this build project you are going to run into issues with the seems holding. With that being said it freaking looks awesome! Mine came with the standard oval Avast Marine Works decals and no the cool looking circular ones which just looks better from a aesthetic stand point in my opinion but maybe I can get Justin to send me on. Other then that there is no much that I can really complain about. I am running on 4 hours of sleep from building this but it was worth all the time! I'm hoping to have it setup in the aquarium sump after work this evening! I have included some photographs of the recirculating feature for those that asked. Also because of the smoked cone you cannot see the bubble plate inside but it is removable for cleaning. Also my apologies if some on the photographs are a bit blurry. I was putting this together until 2:00am last night.


AvastMarineWorks-1.jpg

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Looks great and I'm jealous I didn't get a cup :furious:

Did the black cone come glued together?

I had to glue a full length seam on the clear one.
 
psteeleb said:
Looks great and I'm jealous I didn't get a cup :furious:

Did the black cone come glued together?

I had to glue a full length seam on the clear one.
Click to expand...

I must be special LOL. No the cone needed to be glued just like yours. I think the dark color do assist in making it not so noticable.
 
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