orca skimmers

[skwirl]

who me? no i didnt get a bermuda. i was considering them as well, but the one i think i would need to compete with the others im considering would cost quite a bit more than the $350 i can afford.
i didnt like the beckett because for a while i had a euroreef next to it. it did not perform anywhere near the mr2, but it was consistent without me touching it. i needed to adjust my mr2 at least once a week, and alot of times twice a week to keep it skimming like that. i dont expect a nw skimmer to perform like that. i dont see how one could. there is so much air thought the beckett. they are a lil loud as well if you run em wide open like i did. so the ae400 is it?

 

[skwirl]

hey eagles.... how did you like the bermuda stuff?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Best venturi skimmers i've ever used...second best would be a Schuran Jetskim 200 with an Eheim 1260.
My feelings: (this is for an sps with med.-heavy bioload)
Arch. - up to 75g
3C - up to 125g
5C - up to 200g
8C - up to 350/400g

 

[skwirl]

best venturi? ok i have to be getting on your nerves by now, but rate skimmers for me. on skimming ability, silence, and set it and forget it factor for my setup and price range $350>

 

[steve the plumb]

Hey EAGLES what made you decide to buy a skimmer from Shawn.He is a very nice guy.He is in the process of building me a skimmer with the dart NW pump.This skimmer will be a beast.When you order a skimmer from ORCA you get great service plus he asked you questions about your system to figure out what your tank needs.You use the epumps that you want plus he can mesh mod them for you.I can't wait to get my skimmer from him.I don't think his build quality will compare to other builders.I don't know about MR 2 because I have heard they have a good build but they also don't make NW style skimmers.I do know that Shawn will take the time and build you a good quality skimmer that is made in the U.S.A not china or korea.His prices are very fair and I think you do get alot more from him than you would buying a mass produced skimmer off the shelf.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9620606#post9620606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steve the plumb
I don't think his build quality will compare to other builders.

??

 

[hahnmeister]

Just reading before... Those Gen-X 2400 pumps on the AE 400 only produce about 450lph each... so that 400 has a total throughput of around 1350lph. A single eheim 1262 could do that. Or, buy the body and retrofit it with the Tunze hydrofoamer/ATI threadwheel pumps for 1000lph each. But those AE pumps are no super performers. FWIW, while the larger 4200 and 6000 series Gen-X pumps have great reputations for mesh-mods, the 2400 doesnt. Ill see what I can do with them, but I bet at some point Ill be tossing these pumps and putting on an eheim or two (recirc 265).

As far as the ORCA goes, I have a couple questions. Two things that I want to do with my next skimmer are a wetneck, and bubble plate. Can he do these? I can mod the ehiem 1262s I have to be the mixing pumps, so leave those out, but as far as the actual skimmer goes, I know Im making an oddball.

 

[kodyboy]

hahn
do you think a genx6000 could run a becket skimmer?

 

[steve the plumb]

I meant that his quality is by far better and you can't compare his skimmers to others.Han I would e-mail shawn and sak him what you want.If you have a specific desighn in mind I don't see why he couldn't build it.His specialty is building custom skimmers for clients.He will answer any questions you have.I am wondering if he will be able to build me a wet neck aswell.It wouldn't be a bad feture to have.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

hahn..what steve said...he will do it.
Can you explain the benefit of the WN?

steve...ahh, i thought that's maybe what you meant to type

 

[hahnmeister]

 

[steve the plumb]

Hahn just e-mail Shawn and you can give him your info.He will call you to ask questions and give feedback.If he can't build it I am sure he will tell you so.

 

[Zoos]

Hahn who makes skimmers with WN already?

 

[hahnmeister]

Spazz... thats about it.

 

[steve the plumb]

Next time I speak with Shawn I will ask him about a wet neck.Seems like a good feature to have

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Do the ORCA pumps have anything to do with the needlewheel ReefFlo Dart pumps (which go by the name of Orca)? I am wondering this because I have yet to find a skimmer that uses them.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...&Product_Code=SQ-NPACK&Category_Code=Sequence

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Yup...he told me a little bit about them and there is someone getting a skimmer built by him that will be using an orca dart nw.

 

[hahnmeister]

Okay, need to clarify here...

The ReefFlo DART Needlewheel, AKA 'ORCA' is one thing, and the ORCA protein skimmers are another. ORCA protein skimmers looks like they use Gen-X, or whatever other pump you want I suppose... so an ORCA skimmer can use an ORCA needlewheel pump (if large enough), but its not one and the same.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

correct...he will use whatever pump you want that he can get or you want to send him.

 

[hahnmeister]

In my case, I figured out how to machine the 1" outlets into the 1262 eheim (like H&S or deltec... YAY!!! 1800lph of air/pump, here I come!), and how to DIY a meshwheel for cheap& slick... so I would have him use a couple of those for sure.