hob skimmer recommendations
- Thread starter doox00
- Start date
Aqua-C Remora, Coralife Superskimmer 65 and Deltec MCE300. The Deltec is <1 month old but from the user review I have read, it kicks MAJOR arse (and this is in a league of good/great skimmers like the coralife and remora). IT IS A DELTEC 
. But that means $$$$. Best bang for the buck is probably the Coralife, but it isn't the most graceful HOB out there. My CSS65 is <2 weeks old so the verdict is still out for me. Had great skimmate early on...not so much now but we'll see.
. But that means $$$$. Best bang for the buck is probably the Coralife, but it isn't the most graceful HOB out there. My CSS65 is <2 weeks old so the verdict is still out for me. Had great skimmate early on...not so much now but we'll see.Yes...they are hang on back as well. I have mine setup as a hang on sump (it just plane won't fit...1/2 the sump is a fuge+heater and the other half has the return pump+media reactor+skimmer). I don't think my setup is a problem (been tweaking a few things)-having a stable water level is key with venturi driven skimmers.. A new skimmer (bought mine used 1 month) comes with a bubble trap/diffuser so running HOB isn't a problem, at least with microbubbles. The pump hangs in the water so can be unsightly.
yes...the pumps are about the same size I believe (b/n the CSS65 and the remora)....the remora uses a maxijet 1200 with a venturi adapter, which may be a tad smaller. I ran a similar pump (MJ 600) on an in-sump DIY remora....they can pump some serious bubbles (the skimmer design wasn't QUITE right, and I didn't feel like building another one so I sprung for a used CSS65 $80 shipped). Lots of user info comparing the remora and the CSS.
The Deltec is in another league performance wise and price wise.
The Deltec is in another league performance wise and price wise.
pjf
Premium Member
Yes, the Remora's pump and skimmer box take up space in your aquarium.
I am no protein skimmer expert but I’ve purchased two protein skimmers in the last 2 years and have done quite a bit of research before purchasing them. Here is what I suggest if you want a HOB/HOT skimmer that does not take up a lot of space in your display tank:
• Deltec MCE300 ($279 from www.deltecusa.us)
• Octopus HB-100F ($150 from www.aquacave.com)
Both of these skimmers have pumps that are housed within the skimmer’s body and not within your tank. I have seen the Deltec MCE300 prototype in action at Atlantis Aquariums but I have not seen the Octopus HB-100F.
There are is a skimmer mentioned earlier in this thread that I have owned and would not recommend to anyone. Without naming this skimmer, I'd like to simply suggest that you stick to needle-wheel technology when it comes to small HOB skimmers.
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