Please recommend me a skimmer

[Kyuss]

Wasn't happy at all with the SRO3000 I had, but apparently I may have had one of the early versions (It sat in the box for about 2 years before I got the tank wet.) Pump lasted about 21 months, and this is what the skimmer body itself looked like and was continually getting worse.

Other things, like needing to clean the venturi at least every other weekend, the venturi falling apart while the skimmer was sitting in the sump untouched for about a week, the pump being flakey long before it totally died etc. I was happy the day I tossed it in the trash.

 

[slief]

Wasn't happy at all with the SRO3000 I had, but apparently I may have had one of the early versions (It sat in the box for about 2 years before I got the tank wet.) Pump lasted about 21 months, and this is what the skimmer body itself looked like and was continually getting worse.

Other things, like needing to clean the venturi at least every other weekend, the venturi falling apart while the skimmer was sitting in the sump untouched for about a week, the pump being flakey long before it totally died etc. I was happy the day I tossed it in the trash.

Sadly, crazing like that is really common with many Chinese made and cheaper skimmers. There is often a very good reason why some skimmers are more expensive than others beyond just the pumps they use. There are different types of acrylic and some acxrylics tend to craze more than others while others will never craze at all. There are also differences in the way the skimmer bodies are made. Some are extruded while others are cast. The same can be said about acrylic tanks. Those made with good quality acrylic will never craze while cheaply made acrylic tanks will craze after just a few years. My tank is 20 years old and has no signs of crazing. I've had skimmers including an RO that did the same thing after a few years although not as bad. On the oher hands, the high end skimmmer I have run have never shown any signs of crazing even after several years of use.

Often inexpensive or cheap means sacrifices in material quality and this is a prime example of just that. As they say, you get what you pay for and this may just be a good example of that although your case is a bit on the bad side for such a short amount of time in use.

 

[ArmanS]

I have both the Omega 150 and Omega 180i but am now getting the DC 180 RD3. I would get the Omega 180i for your tank. The 150 is good but the 180i is slightly larger for you and a smaller footprint.

 

[Nrupaw]

How do folks feel about the reef octopus regal 200 sss (8" diameter) w/dc pump

I can get my hands on that from a local reefer

 

[Kyuss]

Sadly, crazing like that is really common with many Chinese made and cheaper skimmers. There is often a very good reason why some skimmers are more expensive than others beyond just the pumps they use. There are different types of acrylic and some acxrylics tend to craze more than others while others will never craze at all. There are also differences in the way the skimmer bodies are made. Some are extruded while others are cast. The same can be said about acrylic tanks. Those made with good quality acrylic will never craze while cheaply made acrylic tanks will craze after just a few years. My tank is 20 years old and has no signs of crazing. I've had skimmers including an RO that did the same thing after a few years although not as bad. On the oher hands, the high end skimmmer I have run have never shown any signs of crazing even after several years of use.

Often inexpensive or cheap means sacrifices in material quality and this is a prime example of just that. As they say, you get what you pay for and this may just be a good example of that although your case is a bit on the bad side for such a short amount of time in use.

Ironically enough, Coralvue insists they aren't cheap acrylic when I said the very same thing. It definitely wasn't cheap price wise heh, I paid right around $500 for it at the time.

 

[bazzar1986]

How do folks feel about the reef octopus regal 200 sss (8" diameter) w/dc pump

I can get my hands on that from a local reefer

Should be a good skimmer but too big for your tank imo.