Eshopps VS Reef Octopus

[salsipuedes]

I am buying a skimmer for my 92 corner and have a footprint available of 10x6, due to buying a refugium that could fit under a 92 corner cabinet, instead of building my own (not making that mistake again). I have the option of plumbing in another chamber and fabricating it from acrylic with dimensions of about 12x14x18 to allow for a skimmer rated for a 150 gallon tank. This however would add another $100.00 + increased cost of skimmer. So here is my question to you all.... Eshopps PSK-100 or Reef Octopus NWB-110? They are both designed for the same size tank, and both should fit in my limited footprint. I would rather go with a larger skimmer but the extra cost and the increased footprint wont allow it unless i mod my current setup. From what I can tell, both these skimmers are great for the price, but I am really looking for the one that is better overall.

btw, i plan on keeping a modestly stocked reef... a few softies, 2 or 3 lps and maybe a montipora or 2. Nothing to difficult or demanding and a medium bioload... 2 percula clowns, 1 hippo tang, 2-3 anthias, 2 green chromis, and maybe a barnacle blenny and a clown goby... in a 92 corner with refugium and 100-125 lbs of liverock, and 50lbs of live sand.

Can it be done with the above listed skimmers or am I asking for trouble?
Which one of the two is better?

 

[salsipuedes]

or if anyone has some other suggestions for comparable skimmers that would fit, let me know!! I've done my research after being out of the hobby for about 2-3 years and noticed a few changes (nothing huge). I used the reefoctopus dnw-150 previously on my 92 but sold it along with the sump when I got out of the hobby. I loved that thing but felt sometimes like it was overkill... So I am familliar with reefoctopus design and build quality, but very curious as to Eshopps. I'll post pics in a bit when I get the chance of the cabinet space and the tank itself.

 

[salsipuedes]

As you can see, not a ton of space for a skimmer

Eshopps or reef octopus... I dont think I can go wrong with either... but which one is the MOST correct answer?

 

[dh350twin]

i am currently running the octo nw 150 and i really like it,i have never used the other one.I really like your aquascaping.Usually i lke the minimalist look but something about yours looks real natural.just my two cents......

 

[salsipuedes]

i am currently running the octo nw 150 and i really like it,i have never used the other one.I really like your aquascaping.Usually i lke the minimalist look but something about yours looks real natural.just my two cents......

THANKS!! I had a minimalist design before. Consisted of 3 towers of rock, one in the back by the overflow and one in each corner, interconnected by a few pieces of tonga branch and fiji branch. Maybe had 50-60 lbs max in it. Loved the look but decided to recreate a chunk of reef this time around instead of pillars.

I also just found out about the swc 120 and 160... footprint would work for my tank... are these the same as reef octopus extreme? I've searched for an answer and can't seem to find a definitive one...

 

[travis442]

I love the aquascape its awesome!!

I currently have the Octo NWB 110 and love it, I have a pretty light bioload but haven't had any complaints at all with it. If you are wanting to read a little bit more about it there is a good thread.....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1638272

 

[salsipuedes]

I love the aquascape its awesome!!

I currently have the Octo NWB 110 and love it, I have a pretty light bioload but haven't had any complaints at all with it. If you are wanting to read a little bit more about it there is a good thread.....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1638272

I checked it out as well as the eshopps skimmer thread... but still no definitive answer as to which performs better for size & price, or who is happier with what. seems like each person has just got a reef octopus or the eshopps and is happy with it but has nothing else to compare it to... oh boyy... looks like its more research time for me. Any additional input would be greatly appreciated

 

[travis442]

I checked it out as well as the eshopps skimmer thread... but still no definitive answer as to which performs better for size & price, or who is happier with what. seems like each person has just got a reef octopus or the eshopps and is happy with it but has nothing else to compare it to... oh boyy... looks like its more research time for me. Any additional input would be greatly appreciated

Unfortunately you are right, I don't really have a lot to compare it to. Since it looks like you don't plan to have a very heavy bio-load though I think it would probably work well.

If you were to put much more in it though I think it would probably be pushing the limits of what the skimmer could handle.

 

[salsipuedes]

Unfortunately you are right, I don't really have a lot to compare it to. Since it looks like you don't plan to have a very heavy bio-load though I think it would probably work well.

If you were to put much more in it though I think it would probably be pushing the limits of what the skimmer could handle.

the more I think about it, the more I am thinking of plumbing in a rubbermaid trashcan to sit the skimmer in. Otherwise, it looks like I am spending 120 or so just for a small acrylic compartment to pipe into my sump/refugium. Dont suppose you or anyone else knows of a place selling cheap acrylic boxes?

the pic with the red outline of what i want to do will go from the drain, to the skimmer, to the return, by passing the refugium. I think this will help decrease flow in the refugium slightly... and I will be putting a ball valve or a gate valve on the seperate skimmer compartment to help control the flow. the water level in the skimmer compartment will match that of the return sump area, unless i move that bulkhead up... say to 7 inches or so, so that the skimmer would constantly operate in 7 inches of water no matter what. 0 fluctuation in level. Any thoughts? Oh and I threw in a few more pics of the rockwork just cause the original one looks kinda flat. Hard to get good pics with a curved front.

 

[dh350twin]

Did you glue any of that rock?

 

[BlueStag]

The SWC Extreme 120 Cone and the SWC Extreme 160 Cone have extremely small footprints and are getting good reviews. They just came out. I'm looking into gettting the 160 Cone for my 90 gallon project. :beer:

SWC has NO affiliation with Octopus. They had one a few years ago, but they have parted ways, and no longer do business together. They have both gone on to distribute some very well liked skimmers.

 

[salsipuedes]

The SWC Extreme 120 Cone and the SWC Extreme 160 Cone have extremely small footprints and are getting good reviews. They just came out. I'm looking into gettting the 160 Cone for my 90 gallon project. :beer:

SWC has NO affiliation with Octopus. They had one a few years ago, but they have parted ways, and no longer do business together. They have both gone on to distribute some very well liked skimmers.

Actually, i just went to homedepot and bought a rubbermaid trashcan to plumb into the refugium as a separate compartment for a swc skimmer. I was thinking of eshopps but I hear of too many people complaining about pump problems. The container I bought has a footprint of 12x8 so now I can easily put a swc 120 or 160 in there no problem. Should I do a vinegar rinse of the container? Something about oils or whatever getting into the system... I know people do it on new skimmers so I thought, why not a new trash bin being plumbed into the sump, right?

And then I though hmm... well now I can fit a reef octopus nwb-150, and its cheaper then a swc 160. So here is my new question... Which one is a better skimmer?

 

[salsipuedes]

The SWC Extreme 120 Cone and the SWC Extreme 160 Cone have extremely small footprints and are getting good reviews. They just came out. I'm looking into gettting the 160 Cone for my 90 gallon project. :beer:

SWC has NO affiliation with Octopus. They had one a few years ago, but they have parted ways, and no longer do business together. They have both gone on to distribute some very well liked skimmers.

Actually, i just went to homedepot and bought a rubbermaid trashcan to plumb into the refugium as a separate compartment for a swc skimmer. I was thinking of eshopps but I hear of too many people complaining about pump problems. The container I bought has a footprint of 12x8 so now I can easily put a swc 120 or 160 in there no problem. Should I do a vinegar rinse of the container? Something about oils or whatever getting into the system... I know people do it on new skimmers so I thought, why not a new trash bin being plumbed into the sump, right?

And then I though hmm... well now I can fit a reef octopus nwb-150, and its cheaper then a swc 160. So here is my new question... Which one is a better skimmer?

 

[hipower]

Back from the dead, the eshopps skimmers now are using the sicce pump