Quiet Skimmer ???

[aab3rd]

Alright everyone, I am looking for some opinions.

I am looking for a QUIET skimmer for my 90g that I am currently redoing as a FOWLR. The skimmer I have now came with the sump/tank etc. when I bought it many years ago from Kermit's. It is a counter current with a Rio 2500 pump. The pump is getting a little loud and instead of replacing the pump or impeller I thought this might be a good time to maybe get a new skimmer. The system is now in my living room and my wife is requiring it to be SUPER QUIET. If not, I am going to have to get rid of this tank.

Without any "my skimmer is better than your skimmer bashing" :hammer:
I would like to get some opinions on good, quiet skimmers with a price tag at not much more than $200 to $250 or so.

Thanks in advance!

Austin

 

[Cabin3tGuy]

Tunze DOC 9010 is in the 350-400 range but they run super quiet and are very powerful skimmers ... I dont use anything but on the 9005 on my smaller systems

those warner marine skimmer have sedra pumps which are nice too but I think are still in the low 300's to start

ASM skimmers are solid and in your price range for that size tank as well

 

[aab3rd]

Thanks for the info. I may have to adjust my skimmer $$$ up a little to about 300-350.

Any other suggestions out there?

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

What is loud on your skimmer,the pump,or where it is sucking air,or water splashing from overflow.

 

[aab3rd]

honestly, a little bit of all of the above. The pump is a little loud now but the new impellers for the RIO 2500 are around $32...steep. I have been thinking about replacing it with a mag 5 with a needle wheel set up and vinturi. The rio has the vinturi after the pump so it does not provide as good a bubble mix to the clynder of the skimmer. There is a very small amount of splash from the output but I have that about as good as I can get it with it almost in the water and a sponge filter such as comes with a mag pump on it to help difuse the water. I have a little noise coming from my drain line from my tank and would love to hear some suggestions about making that set up more quite. I already have a modified Durso set up on the line but the noise is comming from the water entering the sump. The end of the line IS below the water line but there is still some noise comming from the line itself. I thought about using several 45s back to back to keep it from a 26" or so straight drop. Has anyone ever done that. The line is 1" and it is only draining about 350-400 gph which is a lot less than the 600 gph that a 1" line is
usually rated at.

Anyway, I still don't know about replacing the pump with a needle wheel or just replace the entire skimmer. I have seen a couple of new cone skimmers that are anywhere from $300-$400 that look pretty promissing. I also have looked at an Octo 150, a vertex 180 and have seen some others on line that are less that $250 such as a Bubble Magus and some MSX skimmers.

Still looking for suggestions based on experience.

Keep the replies comming.

Thanks!

Austin

 

[ColoReeferJeff]

Well, I'm a newbie to RC...but here's a Craigslisting for you to take a peek at.
The seller is near me in Denver, and I can check it out for you if you'd like.

He has a LifeReef skimmer - AWESOME skimmers - simply awesome.
This is a $400+ skimmer without the pump - at $140 it's a steal if he still has it.

http://denver.craigslist.org/for/1479725700.html

Best of luck with your search!