Need advice on a new skimmer...

jbrunken

jbrunken

New member
I'm in the process of doing some major upgrades to my tank... Here's what I'm up to.

  • Building a custom stand and tall open top canopy.
  • Replacing my standard 125G tank and CPR overflow with a All-Glass reef ready tank.
  • Replacing my Orbit 6x96w PC Light fixture with a 3 250W PFO Mini HQI pendants (14K) on IceCap Electronic ballasts and 4x39w T5 actinics (TEK retrofits)
  • Upgrading my refugium from 20G to 40G
  • Replacing my Pro-Clear Wet/Dry with a 30G sump
  • Adding an AC Jr.
  • Moving my sump and refugium from under the tank to a seperate room behind the tank.

The last thing major thing that I'm still trying to decide on is what to do about the protien skimmer. The Pro-Clear Wet/Dry that I'm currently using as a sump has a built in skimmer that I'm positive is not the best performing skimmer in the world.

Right now I'm leaning towards one of the Octopus skimmers, but I can't decide between the Recirc Needlewheel 150 and the Needlewheel 200.

Right now none of this new stuff is plumbed at all, so I have a completely clean slate. I know that it's recommended that the return feed from the tank feed the protien skimmer.

Anyone have any thoughts on which one I should go with? What are the pros & cons of the recirc vs the normal skimmer?

Thanks

-JB
 
Well from the get go I think you'd be happier with 250 SE MH's instead of the DE. They tend to give a better light spread, bulbs are easier to deal with, and maintainence is easier. As for the skimmer I would say either octopus would blow your mind. I just ordered a pacific coast pc-3000 which from what I can tell is just an octopus nw-200 with a much larger nw pump. The octo 200 has a 250 gal pump and this skimmer has a 750 gal nw pump. I'm impressed, it was easy to set-up, easy to clean, and easy to adjust. As for the nw VS recirc, I think it would mainly be a size issue, most of the nw have an 8 inch body and the recirc's have a 5 inch body. HTH Jason
 
Yes, my original plan was to go with SE bulbs, but I got a great deal on a couple of the pendants in the For Sale forum so I decided to go that route. I've heard so many differing opinions on DE vs SE that I think no matter what I'll be happy.

Where did you order the skimmer from? I see a "ps-3000" for $234 on one site. Do you know what the wattage is on that pump?

Thanks for the input

-JB
 
I got mine from reef tank supply dot com, Gal is alittle slower in the communication/shipping but the prices are always good, I'm not sure what the wattage is I can look tomorrow when I check my tank. It's a really nice skimmer, if you'd like to come check it out feel free it's hard to pick a skimmer when you look at pics of them online. My original thought was to get the pacific coast recirc but decided I would rather have the 8 inch body rather than the 5, and with the nw you dont have to feed the skimmer with a separate pump which takes up more space and more energy.
 
I got mine from Reef Tank too. I didn't like them ^^same reason slow service.

The recirc is real nice. You can use it externally and it can be plumbed from the overflow which feeds it with the dirtiest water its a big plus in my book. The insump ones are more plug and play though.
 
I had real good luck with Aquacave. He matched the Marine Solutions price, shipped this 49# behemoth for $20, and it arrived at my house the day after I ordered it. He also called yesterday to make sure I had received it and that everything was ok with it.

I was impressed.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9088156#post9088156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thugmebaby
Heres mine
http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/c....html?osCsid=c79b3b84d1ee6f91a486739da1201873

Damn great quality and great service from Aqua Cave. BTW they lowererd the price Billy to match Marine Solutions
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was lowered on the website when I ordered mine. The thing that really impressed me is the fact that he called after he had gotten the notificatioin from UPS that it had arrived to make sure everything was ok with it and there were no problems.

The fact that I had it withing 26 hours of placing my order was pretty cool as well.

The thing is a monster isn't it?
 
I just bought the Octopus NW 150 from Marine Solutions and it arrived today. I ordered it Wednesday so I consider that pretty fast shipping. I don't have a new sump yet (anybody know of one out there, 36" or so?) but it's a beauty in my eyes, especially compared to my old one. I can't wait to get it going!
 
Ok, right now I'm leaning towards the NW200 over the PC-3000 only because I'm hesitant to add another 90W of constant power drain to my electric bill.

Do you all run your skimmers 24/7?

-JB
 
Got mine today. Dang this thing is HUGE..... should perform well. Heres some pics
skim.jpg


skim1.jpg


skim2.jpg
 
I like the fact that I have to mix water up before I can add this thing to the system. Another 5 gallons of system capacity is good right.
 
lol so true.... looks like iam going to feed mine with a rio2500 tell i get a different pump to feed it. I will take a picture of my jimmy rigging lol to get it work.

Industrial shelf putting it above my refugium and lettting it dump into the fuge.. being fed from tank....ugh

Anyways cant wait to see how it goes.
 
jb 24/7

thug I can't remember what the rio does off the top of my head but if it is over the suggested rat you won't get jack for skim.
 
according to the website for the rios.... its only 350gallons at 6' head. Its ruynning from my sump to a back room... then up 4' approx. I have probably close to 8' oh hose running to it. I am approx 400 gallons MAX
 
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