High Performance Skimmer for SPS

[Travis]

I've used a couple different MRC becketts in the past. One was a MR-2 fed by an Iwaki 70 and the other was an MR-6 fed by a Sequence 3200. I now run a Bubble King 400 Internal and I will never look back. Far superior to any beckett skimmer, IMO and IME. Becketts are good performance for the price but have 2 major downfalls.
1)They require a pressure rated pump which means heat in the tank and extra electrical consumption at the meter.
2)Way to finicky for me. I'm glad my days with beckett skimmers overflowing all the time are finally over.

 

[Travis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7189496#post7189496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackson6745
DAS EX3

Haven't heard of this one yet. Any links and/or pics?

 

[Travis]

And just for fun, I don't think you will find a higher performance skimmer than this one that Bill Wann is currently building. It will use 2 RK2 pumps (similar to Sequence Darts) modified with custom needlewheel impellers, along with a diffuser like the BK's use.
<img src=http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/spazz129/acrylic%20stuff/1b727999.jpg>

 

[Leopardshark]

LOL, now THAT IS A SKIMMER!!!

 

[asnatlas]

Bubble King then an H&S

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7190607#post7190607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis
I've used a couple different MRC becketts in the past. One was a MR-2 fed by an Iwaki 70 and the other was an MR-6 fed by a Sequence 3200. I now run a Bubble King 400 Internal and I will never look back. Far superior to any beckett skimmer, IMO and IME. Becketts are good performance for the price but have 2 major downfalls.
1)They require a pressure rated pump which means heat in the tank and extra electrical consumption at the meter.
2)Way to finicky for me. I'm glad my days with beckett skimmers overflowing all the time are finally over.

You bring up electricity as a concern, and a reason for the BK, but you'll NEVER make up the initial purchase cost in electricity. Its a non issue.

 

[jackson6745]

This might help
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/8625-skimmer-thread.html

 

[Travis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7191735#post7191735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
You bring up electricity as a concern, and a reason for the BK, but you'll NEVER make up the initial purchase cost in electricity. Its a non issue.

Nope, never said it was a reason for purchasing the BK. Just stated that is one of the downfalls of a Beckett skimmer. I don't upgrade skimmers with the sole reason that the new skimmer is going to be cheaper to run electrically. That may be a "perk" but I usually upgrade skimmers to get a better skimmer and better performance, which is what I got with the BK. And it may take a long time to make up the costs in electricity but it is not as long as one may think. There is more to it than just figuring the monthly cost difference for each skimmer but you also have to take into consideration the amount of heat that is added to the water from the pump. Changing from the Sequence 3200 driving my beckett to the RD driving my BK lowered my water temperature 2 degrees. This means that my 13 amp chiller almost never kicks on whereas it ran a lot before. So that is another cost saving factor to take into consideration. But like I said, I didn't buy the BK just for reduced electrical consumption anyways, so it is a moot point.

 

[toothman]

I have a bubble king skimmer and can recommend them, they are bubble machines. I might recommend the deltec because you can get a automatic cleaner. A clean skimmer is much more efficient than a dirty one. In any case I would recommend needle wheel skimmers. quiet low energy.

 

[kimoyo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7190607#post7190607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis
I've used a couple different MRC becketts in the past. One was a MR-2 fed by an Iwaki 70 and the other was an MR-6 fed by a Sequence 3200. I now run a Bubble King 400 Internal and I will never look back. Far superior to any beckett skimmer, IMO and IME. Becketts are good performance for the price but have 2 major downfalls.
1)They require a pressure rated pump which means heat in the tank and extra electrical consumption at the meter.
2)Way to finicky for me. I'm glad my days with beckett skimmers overflowing all the time are finally over.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7192270#post7192270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackson6745
This might help
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/8625-skimmer-thread.html

You should really read the link that jackson6745 just posted. BK's aren't superior to every beckett skimmer. There are better becketts just like there are better needle wheels. If your going to compare the BK with a beckett it might be fairer if you compared it with a barr for example. Few people can say they've ran a BK and beckett on the same system at the same time.

With better pumps coming out, like the tunze recirculation pumps, that have lower wattage usage and pusher harder electrical consumption isn't as much of an issue.

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7192720#post7192720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by toothman
In any case I would recommend needle wheel skimmers. quiet low energy.

I agree 110%... NW all the way...

 

[DirtySouth056]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7192270#post7192270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jackson6745
This might help
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/8625-skimmer-thread.html

Great Post! :rollface:

 

[Travis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7192826#post7192826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kimoyo
You should really read the link that jackson6745 just posted. BK's aren't superior to every beckett skimmer. There are better becketts just like there are better needle wheels. If your going to compare the BK with a beckett it might be fairer if you compared it with a barr for example. Few people can say they've ran a BK and beckett on the same system at the same time.

With better pumps coming out, like the tunze recirculation pumps, that have lower wattage usage and pusher harder electrical consumption isn't as much of an issue.

I am reading through that thread but it is taking a while as it is very loooooooong. Just don't tell my boss that I havent' gotten anything done today.:lol: That is a good point, I should not have compared the BK to "all" becketts. I guess I was just comparing them to the only brand of becketts that I've used, which is MRC (poor quality and service). I have heard great things about the Barr but am still doubtful that it will pull better than a BK. I have gotten to the part in that thread where cali reef has posted comparisons between his skimmers but this has only been after a short time. I will have to wait and read more to see his long term results.

 

[shelburn61]

I've never understood what everyone likes so much about the becketts?

For the most part, it just boils down to getting the most and smallest bubbles into the reaction chamber. With the right needlewheel pump you can inject just as much air with much less power consumption.

 

[ClownReef®]

Where do they sell bubble kings?..I like the name..LOL

 

[Wiskey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7195268#post7195268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shelburn61
I've never understood what everyone likes so much about the becketts?

For the most part, it just boils down to getting the most and smallest bubbles into the reaction chamber. With the right needlewheel pump you can inject just as much air with much less power consumption.

Yes, but my SMALL bekett (MRC MR-2) is fed by a pump that pumps 1140 GPH, after headloss I am probably running 800-900 gph through my skimmer. What is the flow rate through a comprable needelwheel?

Beketts not only combine the water with air under high pressure, and alow you to run your skimmer super wet to do water changes through it (arguably a more effectiave way of removing waist from your system than a normal water change), but they process far more water faster.

This is why they are perticularly perfered by us BB folks, get the waist out fast is my motto.

IMHO, and that is why I am willing to spend the power
Whiskey

 

[jsweir]

Actually, I think it is better to have a balance of water flow and air bubble contact time. If you just shove a bunch of water through air quickly, some stuff comes out, some stuff stays in. If you push too little water, much comes out, but the majority of your water is not making it through the skimmer. Each has pros and cons. I'm hooked on the more air contact time side with my H&S. No problems so far.

 

[jackson6745]

I am a big fan of becketts because the inital cost is low, it produces a tower filled with tiny bubbles when powered right, and it is very easy to adjust foam types.
At the same time I don't like becketts because of the noise, maintence with keeping injectors clean, and the heat + noise associated with the large pumps to run it.

I do like NW like deltecs very much but they cost too much. I can't see spending $1700 on a Deltec ap702 when a beckett 1/3 the cost will do the same job.

Anyway, now that I discovered DAS skimmers, which are basically deltec skimmers at less than 1/2 the cost, my decision was easy to make. A few local guys have DAS skimmers and they rock! Looks just like a deltec when running.....tiny bubbles all the way up the neck.

Here is a pic of the 3 pump in sump DAS BX3. Each pump sucks 10L of air per min!

 

[redwinger02]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7195691#post7195691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
Yes, but my SMALL bekett (MRC MR-2) is fed by a pump that pumps 1140 GPH, after headloss I am probably running 800-900 gph through my skimmer. What is the flow rate through a comprable needelwheel?

Beketts not only combine the water with air under high pressure, and alow you to run your skimmer super wet to do water changes through it (arguably a more effectiave way of removing waist from your system than a normal water change), but they process far more water faster.

This is why they are perticularly perfered by us BB folks, get the waist out fast is my motto.

IMHO, and that is why I am willing to spend the power
Whiskey

Here we go again. You will see the light someday.

300-400gph here. You have seen mine wet as wet can get and you have seen the water change through a needlewheel. I could run 5000gph through the skimmer if I wanted to but as I have stated before "do it right the first time and you won't need to process thousands of gallons per hour"

I am a BB folk and I subscribe to "get the waste out the first time. "


Back on topic any good recirc needlewheel will do just fine. Deltec, reefmania.net, aquatic acrylics, H&S, euro-reef, bubble king.

 

[redwinger02]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7190631#post7190631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis
And just for fun, I don't think you will find a higher performance skimmer than this one that Bill Wann is currently building. It will use 2 RK2 pumps (similar to Sequence Darts) modified with custom needlewheel impellers, along with a diffuser like the BK's use.
<img src=http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/spazz129/acrylic%20stuff/1b727999.jpg>

And for crying out loud someone help spazz lift that darn thing he looks spent!