Help me buy a Skimmer

[Danzig]

Hi guys, i have a 90 gallon tank not setup yet, but i want to get everything im going to need for it. Im looking for a Hang-On-Back protein skimmer thats of good quality and a good price.

1. Is a skimmer rated at 75 gallons enough for a 90 gallon tank? Ive heard that Live rock is a pretty good filter by itself so would a 75gal skimmer on a tank with live rock be enough?

2.Is this a good skimmer and a good price? http://www.amazon.com/AquaMaxx-HOB-...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1321840478&sr=1-1

3. i want a good skimmer but im not sure of any quality HOB brands besides aquamaxx and super reef octopus.

4. Does a skimmer also act as a powerhead?

 

[SkullV]

The Aquamaxx is pretty good. I am very partial to Bubble Magus products though. Check out the Bubble Magus NAC5E.

 

[Danzig]

The Aquamaxx is pretty good. I am very partial to Bubble Magus products though. Check out the Bubble Magus NAC5E.

Thanks for your reply, i really appreciate it! I checked into those a bit and it doesn't look like they have any HOB's and also its a little bit out of my price range maybe.

 

[Bredfan]

Hey Danzig - I just spent a ridiculous amount of time researching HOB skimmers... You have a much bigger tank than I do, so keeping that in mind... I settled on the AquaC Remora HOB SKimmer. I based this decision off of a few considerations including (in no particular order): size/profile, reported skimming action (by various reviewers), noise level, pump options, ease in cleaning, presence of a drain fitting, and (for me) ability to use if when I upgrade.

The Remora is only rated to 75 Gallons, but the Remora Pro is rated to 120. You can get the skimmer, pump and pre-skimmer for under 220 - I think a pretty good deal. Maybe even watch for one on ebay if you're on a budget.

Please note - I can only vouch for this equipment in terms of my shopping evaluation. Mine should arrive UPS on Tuesday 11/22 - after that, I can provide a real review...

Good luck!

 

[Danzig]

Hey Danzig - I just spent a ridiculous amount of time researching HOB skimmers... You have a much bigger tank than I do, so keeping that in mind... I settled on the AquaC Remora HOB SKimmer. I based this decision off of a few considerations including (in no particular order): size/profile, reported skimming action (by various reviewers), noise level, pump options, ease in cleaning, presence of a drain fitting, and (for me) ability to use if when I upgrade.

The Remora is only rated to 75 Gallons, but the Remora Pro is rated to 120. You can get the skimmer, pump and pre-skimmer for under 220 - I think a pretty good deal. Maybe even watch for one on ebay if you're on a budget.

Please note - I can only vouch for this equipment in terms of my shopping evaluation. Mine should arrive UPS on Tuesday 11/22 - after that, I can provide a real review...

Good luck!

Thanks for dropping by! I will have a look, btw what is a pre-skimmer? and could someone answer some of my questions in the original post?

 

[Bredfan]

1. Is a skimmer rated at 75 gallons enough for a 90 gallon tank? Ive heard that Live rock is a pretty good filter by itself so would a 75gal skimmer on a tank with live rock be enough?

No, I would not use a skimmer rated for 75 on a 90. From what I understand, skimming is an important part of your water health. Err on the side of bigger.

Might LR keep your tank running fine by itself? Maybe. I have read stories of people just leaving their tanks alone (no mechanical or chemical filtration) but to do so successfully would be a big time exception. For a couple hundred bucks - or less - it's totally worth having to help keep a healthy tank.

4. Does a skimmer also act as a powerhead?

No. The HOB skimmer works like this: A pump hangs into the tank and draws water up into the body of the skimmer. From there, there is some device that causes the water to bubble and foam up. In the case of the AquaC Remora, it is a spray jet - water is sprayed down into the water reservoir and it makes bubbles. The bubbles are captured in a cup and the settled water is then pushed back into the tank. Your question (I'm guessing) comes from the use of the pump - also called a powerhead. Powerheads are most often referred to pumps used to create current in the tank. In this case, the pump is used to pull water from the tank into the skimmer.

what is a pre-skimmer?

This is a part that got mixed reviews with the Remora. It is essentially a box that you hang the pump into - this way, you don't see the pump hanging into the tank - it is hanging into a black box inside the tank. The box is lowered into the tank and kept with it's top edge right at water level, so water flows over the edge. In this way, the pump is pulling water off the very top of the tank. The box (preskimmer) can serve another purpose too...you can drop a bag of filter media in it if you need to for some reason.

I have read a few reviews that said the preskimmer for this unit is hard to get the pump down into and also that it does not stay affixed to the tank easily. Be that as it may, I opted to get it - If it is a hassle or doesn't perform, I'll ditch it...

 

[Danzig]

No, I would not use a skimmer rated for 75 on a 90. From what I understand, skimming is an important part of your water health. Err on the side of bigger.

Might LR keep your tank running fine by itself? Maybe. I have read stories of people just leaving their tanks alone (no mechanical or chemical filtration) but to do so successfully would be a big time exception. For a couple hundred bucks - or less - it's totally worth having to help keep a healthy tank.



No. The HOB skimmer works like this: A pump hangs into the tank and draws water up into the body of the skimmer. From there, there is some device that causes the water to bubble and foam up. In the case of the AquaC Remora, it is a spray jet - water is sprayed down into the water reservoir and it makes bubbles. The bubbles are captured in a cup and the settled water is then pushed back into the tank. Your question (I'm guessing) comes from the use of the pump - also called a powerhead. Powerheads are most often referred to pumps used to create current in the tank. In this case, the pump is used to pull water from the tank into the skimmer.



This is a part that got mixed reviews with the Remora. It is essentially a box that you hang the pump into - this way, you don't see the pump hanging into the tank - it is hanging into a black box inside the tank. The box is lowered into the tank and kept with it's top edge right at water level, so water flows over the edge. In this way, the pump is pulling water off the very top of the tank. The box (preskimmer) can serve another purpose too...you can drop a bag of filter media in it if you need to for some reason.

I have read a few reviews that said the preskimmer for this unit is hard to get the pump down into and also that it does not stay affixed to the tank easily. Be that as it may, I opted to get it - If it is a hassle or doesn't perform, I'll ditch it...

Ok thanks bredfan you cleared up alot of questions. Could someone help me find a good skimmer for a 90 gallon? i like the SRO ones but cant seem to find one for a 90 gal. I need a HOB because i dont have room for a sump.

 

[Danzig]

Ok guys so i found 2 nice reef octopus models i really like and are a good price with really good reviews. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-octopus-hang-on-the-back-1000-oct-bh1000.html and http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-octopus-hang-on-the-back-2000-oct-bh2000.html

The only real difference i noticed besides the obvious extra extra 25 gallons the 2000 can supports, is that the 2000 has an extra blue sponge that the 1000 doesnt seem to come with, does anyone know what that is for? and which of these models would you recommend for a 90 gallon? I dont want to spend the extra money for the 2000 if its not going to do much more good.

 

[SkullV]

Thanks for your reply, i really appreciate it! I checked into those a bit and it doesn't look like they have any HOB's and also its a little bit out of my price range maybe.

Here is the NAC5E:

http://bubble-magus.com/en/productShow.asp?id=968

Needlewheel protein skimmer (external type)
BM-NAC5E
Capability : 300L-500L (80G-135G)
pump:atman ph2000
Pump power: 28W, 220V 50Hz /110V 60Hz
air intake : 450L/H
Dimensions:300*160*520mm ( 11.8" * 6.3" * 20.5 ")
cylinder: 5"​

Use Model : Hang External skimmer

Price is very affordable for the performance ($159):

http://socaltropicalfishoutlet.com/catalog/bubble-magus-nac5e-p-383.html

This is my NAC8 after only 24 hours of break in:

 

[Danzig]

Here is the NAC5E:

http://bubble-magus.com/en/productShow.asp?id=968

Needlewheel protein skimmer (external type)
BM-NAC5E
Capability : 300L-500L (80G-135G)
pump:atman ph2000
Pump power: 28W, 220V 50Hz /110V 60Hz
air intake : 450L/H
Dimensions:300*160*520mm ( 11.8" * 6.3" * 20.5 ")
cylinder: 5"​

Use Model : Hang External skimmer

Price is very affordable for the performance ($159):

http://socaltropicalfishoutlet.com/catalog/bubble-magus-nac5e-p-383.html

This is my NAC8 after only 24 hours of break in:

Nice thanks for the post, i think im going to go with the SRO though. This hobby is going to be expensive.. $500 just for t5ho lights/sro skimmer alone. not even including the LR and other gadgets i will need damn

 

[reefernutz]

I have still not seen an HOB skimmer that can beat the Deltec MCE600. I had one running on my 90g with 40g sump and it was fantastic. As for hang ons, you can't get any better. You can probably find a used one for a good price.

 

[cassell19]

+1 on Bubble Magus skimmers. My NAC 3+ is a great little unit when space is limited in a sump.

 

[reeftivo]

I have still not seen an HOB skimmer that can beat the Deltec MCE600. I had one running on my 90g with 40g sump and it was fantastic. As for hang ons, you can't get any better. You can probably find a used one for a good price.

Gave mine away to a fellow reefer in need. Kind of regret it now as I could have given him my NAC6, swc or a few others and kept the deltec for back up. I just felt bad and knew that the MCE600 would work well for him.

I loved mine but got rid of it primarily because of the small collection cup and the aquabee. Darn aquabee had re-start issues and the air intake needed weekly cleaning. The air intake issue was mostly from running high Ca and Mg though , but all in all it is a really good skimmer that puts out some nasty smelling skimmate.

 

[rjcranor]

From what Ive been told you need a skimmer rated for more than the size tank you have.I have a reef octopus skimmer.