Good Ole Hang on Skimmers

[tprize]

I currently have the best skimmer ever made, the Sea clone and I am definitely looking to upgrade. I am currently looking at the Red Sea Prizm skimmer deluxe, with the upgrade pack to help skim off the surface. So my question is does anyone use this skimmer and what do they think. Also if there are better suggestions for a hang on skimmer for a 29 Gallon.

Also micro bubbles are a concern, so let me know if this is a problem with the skimmer.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

I am in the exact situation you are, same size tank and same "crappy" skimmer. In fact my Seaclone just acted up again leaking everywhere...for the second and LAST time. I have put an Aqua C Remora w/MJ1200 pump on my Christmas list as most people recognize this as the best HOB skimmer for the money on tanks 55 gallons and below. I haven't heard much about the Red Sea skimmers but what I have heard is they aren't that great.

 

[McCrary]

The Red Sea Prizm is a downgrade from a Seaclone, which is tough to do. The Remora would be a good choice for your size tank, but there have been consistency issues as they are hand made.

 

[bpd964]

if you are gonna go crappy skimmer.. at least get a prizm.. Even better, try the aqua c. Your fish will thank you..

 

[joeychitwood]

I've used both a Remora and a Remora Pro with very good results.

 

[Keiths_Reefs]

I have the prizm and used it on a 30 gal (now sitting in the closet since the 30 gal is no longer up). It's not nearly as bad as most people say. I will say that they "over rate" how big a tank it can be used on. Those that rip it tend to A.) never have used it or B.) used it on a larger tank.

With that said, 1.) you do get a lot of micro bubbles from it and 2.) The Aqua C Remora is a far better choice.

 

[celano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8629701#post8629701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpd964
if you are gonna go crappy skimmer.. at least get a prizm.. Even better, try the aqua c. Your fish will thank you..

Sorry read your post wrong....nvm.

 

[tprize]

Alright looked up the Aqua C and ya it looks really nice. A little more then I wanted to spend, but I am looking for quality not crap. I also like that I can get a skimmer box for it this is a hugh plus, since that is the reason I was looking at the prizm.

 

[CB1]

Get the AquaC remora. I bought one from a fellow reefer here on RC, in the used equipment forum. It needed a new o-ring. I e-mailed AquaC and their customer service was great. They sent me two new ones free of charge.

 

[ACBlinky]

Skip the Prizm and get a Remora. My Prizm wasn't bad -- it pulled some pretty nasty skimmate once I got it tuned in, but they're made of thin plastic that cracks easily (I cracked mine tightening the screw that secures it to the tank) and the collection cup needs to be wiggled to get it off. Every day when I cleaned the Prizm I worried that would be the day the neck decided to crack. Remoras are made from plexi; they're just about indestructable. You can upgrade or replace the pump easily (you can run it with a MaxiJet or other PH), whereas with a Prizm you have to buy their pump (it's set up like a HOB filter). I also like that the collection cup lifts out easily, you don't have to push, pull or wiggle it. Lastly, I get better performance out of the Remora and it's quieter than the Prizm.

 

[Paliya]

This is what I'm getting if my home-brew HOB skimmer turns out crappy: http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1013

Pump in chamber, surface skimmer attachment, and Octopus skimmers have a good rep. Not to mention the $150 price tag... seems like 'the one' to me.

-P

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8629670#post8629670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Saltwater Kid
I am in the exact situation you are, same size tank and same "crappy" skimmer. In fact my Seaclone just acted up again leaking everywhere...for the second and LAST time. I have put an Aqua C Remora w/MJ1200 pump on my Christmas list as most people recognize this as the best HOB skimmer for the money on tanks 55 gallons and below. I haven't heard much about the Red Sea skimmers but what I have heard is they aren't that great.

Didnt we just go over this in the equipment forum last week?

The remora is an overprice piece of antiquated junk. It was a decent skimmer, 5 years ago, but as it is now, the remora pro is a $250 skimmer that can't compete with some of the <$100 HOB skimmers.


If you have questions like this, you really should go to the equipment forum. Theres a lot more people who have used a multitude of skimmers, and many of them will tell you that the remora's price is disproportionate with its performance.


A CSS 65 will hang with/outpace a remora pro, and is 25% of the price. A CSS 125 will destroy a Remora pro, for 50% of the price, and for 80% of the price, the CSS220 will do things to the remora pro that aren't legal in some states.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630079#post8630079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by p-deezy
This is what I'm getting if my home-brew HOB skimmer turns out crappy: http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1013

Pump in chamber, surface skimmer attachment, and Octopus skimmers have a good rep. Not to mention the $150 price tag... seems like 'the one' to me.

-P

The octopus in-sumps are great. I'd stay away from that..its really no different than a CPR backpack.

 

[Goodwood]

For the money the Remora is good, been using one for a while now, silent after a papertowel mod, no microbubbles, and is productive so I can't complain. Like ACBlinky said pretty much unbreakable. Price-wise Remora is the way to go.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630185#post8630185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwood
For the money the Remora is good, been using one for a while now, silent after a papertowel mod, no microbubbles, and is productive so I can't complain. Like ACBlinky said pretty much unbreakable. Price-wise Remora is the way to go.

The remora is $150+. The Pro is $200+

Both would have trouble keeping up with a $59 CSS65, and be trounced by a $110 CSS 125. How is that "good for the money?"



Seriously, spray injection is inneficient, and doesnt perform well. Needlwheels are much better technology.

 

[Goodwood]

The CSS 65 is a better skimmer in my opinion, the ones i have used were impressive, but my experience with CSS 220 was that it was just a huge skimmer that for its size did not do much. Anyways i guess the 220 is irelavent of the topic anyway. I have heard many complaints of overlowing issues with the CSS line and if its on the back of the tank that could be an issue. For peace of mind the Remora might let you sleep a little easier.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630264#post8630264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwood
The CSS 65 is a better skimmer in my opinion, the ones i have used were impressive, but my experience with CSS 220 was that it was just a huge skimmer that for its size did not do much. Anyways i guess the 220 is irelavent of the topic anyway. I have heard many complaints of overlowing issues with the CSS line and if its on the back of the tank that could be an issue. For peace of mind the Remora might let you sleep a little easier.

The remora doesnt overflow because it doesnt pull enough air to.

While the CSS is irrelevant, you have to remember, its a much more powerfull skimmer, and costs less, so IMO, it is relevant.


Any skimmer that works well, you have to keep an eye on, and has to be tuned properly. Most people just arent used to that, becuase they've been running these crappy HOBs (like the remora) that simply can't pull enough air to be a problem.










If the CSS65 is a better skimmer, why are you reccomending one that doesnt perform as well, and costs 4 times more?

 

[Tomasa]

Re: Good Ole Hang on Skimmers

Hey Guys , How about Deltec Mec 600 this is HOB and i see no coments on this one it 300! L/air/hr quiet and many people like it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8629583#post8629583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tprize
I currently have the best skimmer ever made, the Sea clone and I am definitely looking to upgrade. I am currently looking at the Red Sea Prizm skimmer deluxe, with the upgrade pack to help skim off the surface. So my question is does anyone use this skimmer and what do they think. Also if there are better suggestions for a hang on skimmer for a 29 Gallon.

Also micro bubbles are a concern, so let me know if this is a problem with the skimmer.

 

[weekf]

Don't get the Prizm, they always need tuning and making too much noise and after all that it doesn't skim much at all.

Just my personal experience though.

 

[Paliya]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630172#post8630172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
The octopus in-sumps are great. I'd stay away from that..its really no different than a CPR backpack.

... Do you mean performance-wise? If you know of anyone who has reviewed this skimmer please show me the link. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I promise. I would genuinely like to see a real review of this skimmer. You could be right, its performance could suck... but if it's on par with the CSS 65, I'm getting one.

Design-wise, they are different...with the Octo, the pump is hidden away in the skimmer itself. I have the remora pro and the css 65, and having the pump in the display tank is a major eye sore. The MCE 300 & 600 have the pump in the skimmer itself also, but they're much more expensive.

-P