buying a new skimmer,
- Thread starter rapture
- Start date
zibba
New member
Opening caveat: I've never owned either.
With that, I'd first look at the amount of space you'll have in your sump. If either will fit, look at the optimal water height. If they're the same, look at which one uses the least amount of power. I'd be willing to bet dollars to cents that actual performance, post-break-in, between these two will be indistinguishable. I've heard Coralvue's warranty and customer service were pretty good, however, I haven't had to use either for the Coralvue products I own.
I personally consider noise as a huge factor, but these smaller pump skimmers don't usually create too much noise.
What size tank?
With that, I'd first look at the amount of space you'll have in your sump. If either will fit, look at the optimal water height. If they're the same, look at which one uses the least amount of power. I'd be willing to bet dollars to cents that actual performance, post-break-in, between these two will be indistinguishable. I've heard Coralvue's warranty and customer service were pretty good, however, I haven't had to use either for the Coralvue products I own.
I personally consider noise as a huge factor, but these smaller pump skimmers don't usually create too much noise.
What size tank?
tatuaje08
New member
Oh by the way,I couldn't get the seller of the bm to budge on the price, but that was over a week ago. You might have better luck with the ro, since the seller is a friend of 'ours.' But as zibba mentioned, check out the specs off each to make sure it would be a good fit with your sump.
rapture
New member
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im more than likely going to go with the ro.
rapture
New member
zibba
New member
Not claiming to be an expert, but I think you'll get more contact time with the external pump so, if you're making a new sump anyway, I'd go with the RO.
And, if I can make another recommendation, design the sump so your drain line feeds into the same chamber as your skimmer --> over-under-over weir --> return chamber ---> single baffle --> refugium. Feed the refugium from your main drain via a t-fitting + small gate valve or a little maxi-mini pump from the same chamber your return pump is in. That configuration will minimize the amount of microbubbles you'll have to deal with.
Just a suggestion based on my experience with not doing it that way. I have my return pump in the same chamber as my skimmer and had to make some modifications to minimize the bubbles even after break-in.
rapture
New member
I was going to do water splashing over lr baffle then skimmer section then fuge then bubble trap to return
zibba
New member
IMO, the live rock just makes it a little harder to clean the sump out when detritus gets trapped under it.
Sounds like you have your mind made up on these two skimmers, but if there's a chance you could go a little larger, I think it would be beneficial down the road. Of course, you can always upgrade. But would be nice to get the one you want for the long haul. If that's the RO 150 or the Curve5, skin your cat!
