Red Sea Prizm skimmer WARNING!!!!

[the other tang]

This is the absolute worst piece of equipment I have bought for an aquarium in 15+ years. Not only does it not skim but it overflows the cup when it feels like it. I tried some simple mods like a valve to control the air/ bubbles, nothing worked. It is simply lack of engineering and a poor design. I bought this for my sons FOWLR tank unfortunately it was upstairs. The last straw was when it overflowed and the water saturated the carpet, and damaged the ceiling downstairs but thats the good part. Some of the overflowing water made it's way into a $200.00 surge protector downstairs for a TV, it shorted out and caught fire before it tripped. Ruined the carpet, and a brand new entertainment center, and smoked up the entire room. The room literally looked like I had been mining coal in there and took 2 weeks to re-paint and clean up. If you are looking for a good skimmer, please do yourself a favor look elsewhere.

 

[DBA]

I have one of these and I agree junk, unfortunatly it is my only option I have no sump and do not want a large pump in my tank. I cut a hole in the side of the collection cup and put a plumbing angle on it so when it overflows (which it has done) it goes back into the tank.

 

[the other tang]

I was going to do that before the catastrophe, but mount it as low in the cup as possible and run a 3/8 tube down to a jug for skim collection. I would suggest you check out a remora skimmer, they are fantastic for their size" same as a prizm", I have a custom on my tanks but the remora is almost as good. It is just not as adjustable. As for commercial hob skimmers, I think the remora tops the list.

 

[salty3]

I have a prizim deluxe and think it dose a fine job,for a cheap skimmer. It tried to over flow the first day I hooked it up but the air hose attatches to the collection cup so it could'nt, it just sucked the bad water back into the skimmer. Now it skimms pretty good and every 5 days or so I have to empty it.

 

[mistermikev]

hmm never had this prob... do you have the pro or the deluxe? Mine stays pretty constant but I use it on a 46bow. Have had some issues with seal between unit and cup though. It collects about 1/4 in of skimmate in the cup a day for me. Not great but good for a 46.

 

[jmchzn]

yeah we all know. You should have been researching this site before the purchase. In my pre sump days I used the PM HOT-1
great great skimmer hard to believe it hangs on the back. You could also put it on the floor w/ some extra tubing.

 

[the other tang]

I HAD the delux. I tried everything to amke it work including calling red sea, it was a waste of time. Either way I have great skimmers now, no worries.