Modified ASM G3 vs. BM250

[africangrey]

Just want to get comparison on meshwheel, gate valve and recirculation modified ASM G3 skimmer vs. a stock BM250, I have done all the mods on my G3, but the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I really don't mind spending $760 if BM250 is perform much much better than a G3.

Is this question fair or it's like comparing apple and orange, your feedback is much appreciated!

 

[David Grigor]

Since you already have the G3, for sure use it and see what happens. I personally wouldn't get caught up in the grass is greener if the G3 ends up doing the job adequately, I really could care less what others think

 

[RichConley]

Completely agree with David.

I dont think your G3 will ever pull as much air as a BM250, but if its doing the job, who cares.

 

[skwirl]

i still think a d.a.s. ex3 would outperform and bm250, but the bm250 would kill the g3 at least twice the production.

 

[mg426]

I got to agree also, If its working I would use the $$ on something else.

 

[heuerfan]

I was running a modded G2 on my 125 reef tank. I had mesh, recirc and gate mod on the G2, sedra 3500 pump. I got decent skimate. I upgraded to bm200 and i noticed a very big difference. Very happy with my bm200, extremely quiet and skimming well.

 

[TwistedTiger]

Re: Modified ASM G3 vs. BM250

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9962204#post9962204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by africangrey
Just want to get comparison on meshwheel, gate valve and recirculation modified ASM G3 skimmer vs. a stock BM250, I have done all the mods on my G3, but the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I really don't mind spending $760 if BM250 is perform much much better than a G3.

Is this question fair or it's like comparing apple and orange, your feedback is much appreciated!

I had a fully modded G3 and it can't hold a candle to the BM200 much less the BM250. No it's not a fair question and yes it is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Rhodesholar]

I don't see how you can even compare these two. The ASM G3 (at least mine) was $239. A BM 250 is $750.

I would hope a skimmer 3 times the price works 3 times better.

 

[africangrey]

Does a BM250 perform 3 times better? There is guy selling a Deltec 902 in my area for $1200, don't know if it performs 4x better then a G3. but I am entertained to go to that route as well. But how do quanitify the skimmer performce, by color of skimmate (subjective), or bubble size (subjective) or lpm.

 

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9970181#post9970181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rhodesholar
I don't see how you can even compare these two. The ASM G3 (at least mine) was $239. A BM 250 is $750.

I would hope a skimmer 3 times the price works 3 times better.

An ASM G3 with recirc mod and gate valve mod will cost you close to $400. The BM 200 at $550 will work 3 times better than the G3 with mods.

 

[Rhodesholar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9970329#post9970329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TwistedTiger
An ASM G3 with recirc mod and gate valve mod will cost you close to $400. The BM 200 at $550 will work 3 times better than the G3 with mods.

I am talking stock. The only mod I would do is the mesh mod for the exact reason you mentioned, if your gonna sink that money into it buy something else.

 

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9970311#post9970311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by africangrey
Does a BM250 perform 3 times better? There is guy selling a Deltec 902 in my area for $1200, don't know if it performs 4x better then a G3. but I am entertained to go to that route as well. But how do quanitify the skimmer performce, by color of skimmate (subjective), or bubble size (subjective) or lpm.

A Deltec 902 will absolutely blow the doors off of an ASM G3. Bubble size and the amount of air the skimmer will pull are very important but not nearly the only things that tell you how a skimmer will perform.

Hopefully your looking for a skimmer that matches your tank needs and not shopping around before you decide what would work best for your setup.

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

I have a G3 and I love it, I would spend the money on some thing else.
If your tank seems happy then stick with it.

 

[xreefermadnessx]

the BM250, while pricey, I think outperforms the modded G3. But as said before, if its working, spend the money on something else

 

[klam114]

africangrey - do you need a BM250? for sure the BM200 will outdo your G3 modded, but do you even need a BM200? if your skimmer is working great for you, doing what you expect it to do, no need to make any changes. if you're unhappy, then what you need depends on your tank/sump size & bioload. but if you just want a trade up, both the BM200 and BM250 will be a trade up and give you much better performance than the modded G3.

you should give Ed a call, he's the dealer that helped our local area do a group buy on Rod's frozen reef food. i have heard him say quite often that the single most common skimmer that reefers trade up on is the ASM G3, then next is ER 6" & 8" sizes. he's a straight shooter and can tell you whether you're getting what you should be.

 

[Rhodesholar]

I love my G3 too. I don't see where everyone has these problems with them or why they are considerd a POS. I see no reason for that "gate valve mod". You want the water higher, you pull the outlflow tube up, lower, down. No big deal. It's a very straight to the point skimmer and it's very easy to clean.

I paid $239 for mine a year and half ago shipped.

I will be doing the mesh mod as soon as I can find some Ekamat because I have heard of good results and it's easy and cheap but all the other mods "to me" seem overkill. Basically if a skimmer isn't getting the gig done and you have to do all these mods to get it to work in your application you bought to small of a skimmer.

I can see how they are no longer a value today against what's out there now but to call it a POS I think is unfair and I definetly don't see it that way.

 

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9984934#post9984934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rhodesholar
I love my G3 too. I see no reason for that "gate valve mod". You want the water higher, you pull the outlflow tube up, lower, down. No big deal.

The gate valve mod keeps your hands from getting wet and lets you point the output where it makes less splash.