Please vote for my new skimmer.

[Reggae Fish]

Ok. I don't know how start a poll and still elaborate on why I narrowed it down to these so I'll just post a thread.

I've narrowed my skimmer search down to 5...I'm trying to stay between $200-$400 new or used.

Here is my opinion. Please vote on what YOU think.

Euro-Reef RS-180
Good product, decent price.
Too new to buy used. Uses the Gen-X 4100 pump

ASM G4 Plus
Can't go with the DX due to the height. Great price especially used...Comes with the sedra 9000...Lot of upsides to this skimmer

Bubble Master 200
$529 is more than I want to spend but after reading literally 86 pages of feedback, this would be a great buy

H&S 150-F2001
Good product. Can find used for around $400. Trying to find the upsides on this vs. the Euro-Reef

Deltec AP600
Can't afford to go with a larger Deltec model which is probably nicer but this of all of them seems to have the least value for the dollars. Can pick this up used for around $450.


Please let me know what you think and why you chose what you chose.

Vote here

 

[Letmegrow]

Euro-Reef RS-180 and Mod the pump to Mesh Wheel.

Infact ANY skimmer body and mod the pump to a mesh wheel.

 

[Reggae Fish]

So, why the Euro-Reef rather than the ASM and modding the pump to the mesh wheel?

The cost is quite a bit less. Just curious?

 

[sirreal63]

The ER is prettier. lol

 

[Letmegrow]

I like the ER collection cup and how the body sits in the sump vs the GX4+ we have.

It pulls out more jumk but that might be the gatevalve mod on the ER and no mod on the ASM.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Is that the G4X or the G4?

 

[kentrob11]

Straight out of the box, I would say the ER would be the best buy. Have you thought about the Reef Octopus NW200? At $379 it's a pretty good bang for the buck, especially when for another $5 you could meshwheel mod it and it would skim extremely well. Something else worth mentioning is that it's already got the ball valve mod and it's already recirculating....

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_35&products_id=74

 

[Reggae Fish]

I've looked at them but the problem I have is I don't have enough long term feedback on the skimmer/pump to really justify going with that.

Now if someone HERE has had personal experience with them, I'd be more inclined to listen.

I know this sounds stupid but what pump would I attach to the recirc. part. The recirc. pump does not have to be submersed, correct? Wouldn't it be pretty loud?

From looking around most places charge quite a bit for recirc. mods that really only increase the production only up to 20% and that is with IDEAL settings (mainly figuring out the pump is the tricky part)

Not to mention, the regular 200 is only $209...Meaning they are charging $170 for the recirc. mod??? Also, why is the Turbine 3000 pump showing it is pulling 65 watts on the regular 200 and 90 on the recirc???

 

[Reggae Fish]

Plus, it does not include the gate valve mod. So, I'm over $400 even if I do that mod myself.

I can find a G4 for $225-300 with the gate valve. I'm just trying to find the value in the octopus

 

[kentrob11]

Recirculating models give you the chance to put a higher density of air into the skimmer body while still giving you complete control over flow through rates, not to mention virtually eliminating the chance of flood on various situations. The skimmer comes with the recirculating pump and it simply mounts to the body with unions. I can tell you that when it comes to most of the bargain skimmers out there, there really isn't much to understand other than a quick analysis of the proportion of fine air bubbles to the diameter and size of the reaction chamber. The best way to determine performance capability is to compare Air pull numbers and chamber sizes with the likes of Deltec since in my experience, they have put the most research into matching them up perfectly. I have learned in my skimmer building experiences that their numbers are spot on! I haven't owned an OTP skimmer but I do know that they are made of cell cast acrylic and the pumps are very similar to Oceanrunners. People are getting Deltec like numbers out of the recirculating NW200 making it equivalent to a $1600 skimmer! FWIW, there isn't much more available out there for the bubble masters....

 

[MperRluvR]

ur link was dead

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_35&products_id=74

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8672311#post8672311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kentrob11
Recirculating models give you the chance to put a higher density of air into the skimmer body while still giving you complete control over flow through rates, not to mention virtually eliminating the chance of flood on various situations. The skimmer comes with the recirculating pump and it simply mounts to the body with unions. I can tell you that when it comes to most of the bargain skimmers out there, there really isn't much to understand other than a quick analysis of the proportion of fine air bubbles to the diameter and size of the reaction chamber. The best way to determine performance capability is to compare Air pull numbers and chamber sizes with the likes of Deltec since in my experience, they have put the most research into matching them up perfectly. I have learned in my skimmer building experiences that their numbers are spot on! I haven't owned an OTP skimmer but I do know that they are made of cell cast acrylic and the pumps are very similar to Oceanrunners. People are getting Deltec like numbers out of the recirculating NW200 making it equivalent to a $1600 skimmer! FWIW, there isn't much more available out there for the bubble masters....

Thank you for your imput. I truly appreciate it since I am new and don't have the experience others have.
So, you would say the octopus over the euroreef or asm for the dollars? Do you think it would be more cost effective to go with the regular and do the mod myself for $170?

 

[kentrob11]

Thanks Mper- The 'gatevalve mod" is actually done with a high quality ball valve shown in the picture. One thing to remember about the gate valve mod is that is will never make you skimmer pull more from your reef tank. All it does is gives you more control over how much water is pulled out with your fish crap...Now if you are leaning towards the G4, you can make it into a formidable foe by doing the recirc mod as well as the meshwheel mod. One thing to remember is that you will always need a sump big enough to house the ASM- They can't be run outside....

 

[kentrob11]

I'm totally about going with the less expensive model and modding it! The problem is, a lot of people don't have the experience to drill holes in acrylic tubes and whatnot, making the more expensive model the safer one. It's really up to you...

 

[Reggae Fish]

I was referring to the recirc. mod.

The price on the 200 is $209 and the Recirc. 200 is $379
Is that price worth it?

Also, why is the 200 saying it draws only 65 watts when the same pump on the recirc. says it draws 90???

 

[kentrob11]

I'm not sure on the wattage- That big of a difference seems a little odd....

 

[Reggae Fish]

I just realized why I took this one off my list. The footprint on the recirc. was 9x21

 

[kentrob11]

Ahhhh...That could be a buzz kill. Well, the best combination of performance and quality would prolly be the ER but if build quality isn't an issue (It's not like we're playing football with these things anyway) get the ASM and do gatevalve, recirc and meshwheel mods on it.....

 

[Reggae Fish]

I appreciate all your help kentrob!!!

I personally don't care exactly how it's made. It's all about results. So, I think I'm going to narrow my stuff to the ASM and the Euro-Reef because I personally don't want to spend that much on a BM, the deltec I don't think is a good buy. And, unless someone has a good point AND PRICE on the H&S I can't do it.

 

[kentrob11]

No problem...The Deltec and H&S are definately top notch and definately lead in the industry IMO but I think that if you could accomplish a skimmer that equalled the performance of a larger Deltec model for much less than the price of the smallest Deltec available, I say go for it