Best Skimmer for Large System (for the price)?

mokujin22

mokujin22

New member
hey all,

setting up a ~300 gallon SPS system (150W main + 60 frag + 90 sump) this summer and am looking at picking up components now. as for a skimmer, i've been surfing threads and came to the conclusion that 4 skimmers are generally referred to as "the best": Deltec, AquaC, Euroreef and ASM. the AquaC and Euroreef are expensive; while the Deltec is very expensive. the ASMs didn't seem all that pricy though.

while I need a great skimmer for keeping and raising SPS, with the $5K+ setup cost, I'd like to not waste large sums of money on equipment that is only marginally better than something much cheaper.

suggestions? diy to start?

thanks kindly,
tony.
 
If you're capable of DIY then by all means do it. No matter what anyone say, you CAN DIY a skimmer cheaper that will work just as well as the commercial ones.

Also I would not put Aqua C on the same list of skimmers as those above. They're expensive yet are not efficient and do not perform as well as the needle wheel skimmers.

Deltec is expensive no doubt but do make good skimmers. Euoreef skimmers are also good but IMO way over priced as are the Deltecs. ASM skimmers are decent and a bit cheaper.

You might want to look into a Geo skimmer as well.

What's your budget on the skimmer really?



D.
 
For a large SPS system I would seriously consider a Beckett skimmer. Other than higher power consuption I really don't see any cons, and the up from cost will be less.
 
For the price the ASM G6 is very hard to beat. It just requires a huge footprint and is very tall.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6918155#post6918155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
Also I would not put Aqua C on the same list of skimmers as those above. They're expensive yet are not efficient and do not perform as well as the needle wheel skimmers.
Click to expand...
I'd have to disagree, I used an AquaC EV400 with great results on my sps tank. I recently updraded to a custom made EV1000. Aqua C has excellent build quality and if run with a slightly larger pump than the manufacturer recommends, can perform as well as any of the higher end skimmers on the market. An EV400 will work just fine on your system.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6918155#post6918155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
If you're capable of DIY then by all means do it. No matter what anyone say, you CAN DIY a skimmer cheaper that will work just as well as the commercial ones.

Also I would not put Aqua C on the same list of skimmers as those above. They're expensive yet are not efficient and do not perform as well as the needle wheel skimmers.

Deltec is expensive no doubt but do make good skimmers. Euoreef skimmers are also good but IMO way over priced as are the Deltecs. ASM skimmers are decent and a bit cheaper.

You might want to look into a Geo skimmer as well.

What's your budget on the skimmer really?

D.
Click to expand...

thanks for the info. i may try to diy. right now, i'm figuring $500 on the skimmer, but would rather spend less if possible while not encountering issues down the road with my SPS. ie: i'd rather spend the extra $100-$200 than have my corals suffer and then end up spending more to replace the original unit anyway...

then again, i'm relatively sure that everyone with a successful SPS tank doesn't own a $1000 skimmer.

tony.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6918253#post6918253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEF-DADDY
For a large SPS system I would seriously consider a Beckett skimmer. Other than higher power consuption I really don't see any cons, and the up from cost will be less.
Click to expand...

Agree.

THe main issue with becketts on small tanks is energy efficiency. On big tanks light that, you have to worry about using multiple NW pumps, which stops being efficient.


Theres a thread in DIY somewhere with someone running this 6ft tall quad beckett monster off a sequence dart.
 
I have owned every skimmer imaginable and the 2 that stand out to me are the deltec and the euro reef rc line, I have had aqua c and it was ok but very inconsistent. I liked the mrc beckett but I did not have that much room under the tank to run a riser. I also tried a second injector. I just could not get the performance out of the second injector without going to the bigger pump (pw200). Problem is that you cannot run a mr-2 with 2 injectors and the 200 pump without the riser tube. With the gate all the way open it overflowed the cup within seconds of turning it on. I know if I had the room for the taller beckett it would be great. I continue to go back to the needlewheel skimmers every time. I am running a RC500 euroreef on a 240 with about 300 gallons total. It is unbelievable how much cleaner the tank is than with the beckett.
Don't get me wrong like I said, becketts have there place, just not on my tanks. That being said, the rc500 is 12X30 with 2 pumps and it still draws only half the power of a pump needed to run 1 beckett, let alone 2.
To each his own.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6918968#post6918968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mokujin22
i'm figuring $500 on the skimmer, but would rather spend less if possible while not encountering issues down the road with my SPS.
Click to expand...
you better be looking at the ASM or consider Geo and MRC because as far as new goes:

Aqua C EV400 w/mag 24 $595
Euroreef CS400 $998
Euroreef RC500 $1528
Deltec - I won't even waste my time looking up the price becasue even used you won't find one rated for 300 gallons in this price range

Speding under $500 for a skimmer on a 300 Gallon SPS tank is hard to do unless you are looking at used skimmers or a diy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6920945#post6920945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kawasaki00
I have owned every skimmer imaginable and the 2 that stand out to me are the deltec and the euro reef rc line, I have had aqua c and it was ok but very inconsistent. I liked the mrc beckett but I did not have that much room under the tank to run a riser. I also tried a second injector. I just could not get the performance out of the second injector without going to the bigger pump (pw200). Problem is that you cannot run a mr-2 with 2 injectors and the 200 pump without the riser tube. With the gate all the way open it overflowed the cup within seconds of turning it on. I know if I had the room for the taller beckett it would be great. I continue to go back to the needlewheel skimmers every time. I am running a RC500 euroreef on a 240 with about 300 gallons total. It is unbelievable how much cleaner the tank is than with the beckett.
Don't get me wrong like I said, becketts have there place, just not on my tanks. That being said, the rc500 is 12X30 with 2 pumps and it still draws only half the power of a pump needed to run 1 beckett, let alone 2.
To each his own.
Click to expand...

Did you ever hook up the panworld 200 pump?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6919096#post6919096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimbo045
SeaClone 150, less than 200 i say. JD
Click to expand...
I think that is overkill. The SeaClone 100 would be fine.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6918396#post6918396 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DocG
For the price the ASM G6 is very hard to beat. It just requires a huge footprint and is very tall.
Click to expand...

It also uses 270 watts(Well into Beckett territory) and is not made half as well as some of the other skimmers mentioned. The thin acrylic is not an issue for the smaller skimmers, but when you get to a 4' tall 8" wide skimmer it becomes and issue. A drain is a must on these as is a gate valve. By the time I was done mine cost about $800 to my door.
As far as performance, its great at skimming dry, but forget about skimming wet, it just aint going to happen. It will overflow at the drop of a hat. You also have 3 submersible pumps to clean(and you will have to clean with a high ca SPS reef). Don't get me wrong I really like the smaller ASM's and often wonder why people spend so much more on the higher end skimmers, but for a large tank they just don't get it done.
 
If power consumption is an issue, keep in mind that a mag24 used with a aqua c ev400 will only consume approx 130 watts. That's not bad and in some cases better when compared to some of the multiple pump needle wheel skimmers
 
I would look for something used! I found my ER 12-2 here on RC & it was several hundred less then new & my 12-2 never saw water :) I then converted it to a RC500 with the new SP4 pump & it takes out a TON of crap from my 260g FO.

I would not skimp on a skimmer :)
 
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