Euro Reef Skimmer vs. ?????

[yacn]

My info: 150 gallon reef tank - 40 gallon sump - fish & various corals (med/heavy stock).

I don't have a ton of room for skimmer footprint maybe 10x12

I own 10 year old Euro Reef RS 100 Skimmer. My model has single PVC tube coming out of acrylic body that curves straight up before dumping water into sump and has sponge to help with micro bubbles along with PVC riser tube that moves up and down to adjust skimmer. I'm curious if the newer skimmers available today are that much better than mine.

First I want to say I am not interested in spending over $500 for a skimmer so I am not interested in Deltec, Life Reef, Bubble King, ATB, etc. I'm sure they are the best skimmers money can buy!

I am interested in hearing more about your experiences with NYOS, Aquamax, Reef Octopus, Vertex, Bubble Magnus etc. vs Euro Reef if you have owned both. And if not your experiences with the above skimmers both good and bad so I can make an educated decision on whether to buy one or keep what I have. ASM looks exactly like my skimmer so I don't see any advantage of buying their brand over what I already own.

Another option I would like to consider is to modify my current skimmer to help it perform better. Like adding a gate valve mod or recirculating mod. This would be my first choice since it won't cost a lot of money. But I'm not sure these mods will help my skimmer out perform the above skimmers...or cause me more headaches with constant adjustments.

Most of the skimmers look exactly alike in that they all have a motor either housed inside the acrylic tube or just outside the tube, and they all have a bubble plate. Is there a difference in performance or function where the motor is housed?

I'd like to know how finicky they are to maintain proper skimming as I don't want to constantly adjust things. How easy are they to clean. Quality of construction. Seems like there are more parts to break (bubble plate, etc) while cleaning. Replacement costs (DC motor will be very expensive to replace vs standard needle wheel motor).

These newer skimmers don't seem all that different from mine to justify spending another $300-$500. The only difference I can see is a bubble plate and on some skimmers a gate valve. Maybe their motors are better than my Sedra 3500 too.

 

[moondoggy4]

I would look into the Vertex 180with the pump inside the body of the skimmer. I have the Vertex 150 on my 120.

I would also look into the Aqua Maxx EM300 pump inside the body as well.

One thing to consider is what depth is your sump at for a new skimmer. I pretty sure the ER likes about 7 1/2'' depth so that will be a consideration as well. HTH

 

[yacn]

thank you!

I'm not too concerned with depth of water the skimmer needs as I can adjust that rather easily with my top off float valve by re-positioning it or by placing something underneath the skimmer like egg crate box to raise it up if necessary

Any reason or performance change by choosing pump inside skimmer rather than outside of skimmer other than it taking up less space?

 

[Drae]

I've ran euro reef/reef dynamics and I've ran aquamaxx. No comparison imo. Even with one of the euro reefs having the eheim pump still no comparison. Aquamaxx just do what they're supposed to do. They're quiet and pumps and parts are easily obtained. Jmo and experience btw, people will claim contact time in a non space saving skimmer is a big deal but it isn't. We're talking such a minute difference I've never noticed ever! And I ran ajns sk2 and an aquamaxx em200 (same pump and essential the same skimmer) one is a non cone space saver and one is a cone non space saver... both worked the exact same.

 

[yacn]

thanks Drae!

noise isn't an issue for me since my sump is in basement but my footprint for skimmer is limited. I'll definitely look into Aquamaxx and was hoping for more experiences from others that have owned both skimmers like you have.

 

[moondoggy4]

The Aqua Maxx EM200 is not being made anymore it is a Q series not as good as the EM series.

Welcome back Drae!

 

[yacn]

so can I assume from the responses thus far that the bubble plate in the newer skimmers makes a big difference over my old skimmer?

And modifying my skimmer still won't make it as good as the skimmers with the bubble plate?

If that's the case then I should shop around and find a bubble plate skimmer that will fit best into my sump area, and is rated for my needs?

 

[Drae]

The Aqua Maxx EM200 is not being made anymore it is a Q series not as good as the EM series.

Welcome back Drae!

Haven't seen a q in action I jus figured with their track record they'd be good. That's unfortunate to hear. It wasn't broke so they shouldn't have "fixed" it. And thank you... it's great to be back on the forums.