Skimmer Education Please!!!

[GinMartini]

I have been researching skimmers for about two weeks now and am about to blow my top filtering through all the junk! I am planning a 180-225 gal display with a total water volume of around 300 gal. Right now I am running a CSS 125 on my 65. I would like to get something a little more fancy and reliable. On my list are:

1. MRC MR-2R
2. Geo
3. ASM GX4
4. Octoups

I don't have a clue when it comes to Beckett style skimmers, or for that matter which one will last the longest and give me the least amount of headaches. Also on the MRC can I tee the waterflow off from the main return pump or will I have to dedicate a high power( more electricity) pump on it's own.

Please Help
Thanks in advance

 

[Hop]

I ran an MR3 for about a year. Just switched to a custom GEO... and all can say is WOW! I missed out for nearly a year, the GEO rocks!

 

[GinMartini]

What would you say was the major diffference between the two.

 

[RichConley]

1. MRC MR-2R
2. Geo
3. ASM GX4
4. Octoups

I'd personally take the ASM out of there, it really doesnt bring anythign to the table that the Octopus NW200 doesnt, and is more expensive, and not as well built.

What that leaves is
1. Beckett : Great performance, expensive to run
2. GEO: High end needlewheel
3. ReefOctopus:Bargain needlewheel

Other than that, it purely comes out to what you find importatn.

 

[Greg 45]

I would not trade my MTC for any of them. Tryed MRC and stayed with my MTC Hsa 1000. I would put it up against any of them. Price is reasonable.

 

[GinMartini]

What makes a "beckett" a Beckett. I have heard nothing but great things about Geo, but it is hard to get an impartial description of what makes one better than the other.

 

[GinMartini]

MTC???

 

[RichConley]

A Beckett uses a Beckett injector. Its a very restrictive venturi that sucks in a large air/water ratio. They require huge amounts of pressure (and big pumps) but pull in huge amounts of air.

Because of the high flow/high air design, some people find them hard to work with.

 

[RichConley]

Becketts in generally tend to have none of the "engineered" solutions that the needlewheel skimmers have (such as curved neck/body transitions) in favor of a more brute force approach.

 

[GinMartini]

So Rich, how do you feel about the Beckett style skimmers. Would you recomend going the Geo route above the MRC.

 

[ridetheducati]

The decision tree looks like this:

1. How much money do I want to spend
2. Beckett or Needlewheel
2a. Beckett requires periodic tweeks, power hungry
2b. Needlewheel set and forget, efficient
3. Internal skimmer vs. External
4. Reevaluate number 1 above
5. Make a decision and live with it (avoid buyers remorse)

Sounds like you done some research, you can not go wrong with any other these:

In no particular order

GEO, MRC, H&S, Deltec, BubbleKing, Octopus, Euro Reef or ASM.

The truth is ... what ever you decide, it will not be the last skimmer you purchase.

 

[sjm817]

I did my research and decided on a Euro-Reef RS250 for the 180 I'm setting up. That should also be on your list of candidates.

 

[ridetheducati]

ER is fine also.

 

[Hop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8172720#post8172720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GinMartini
What would you say was the major diffference between the two.

Well the MRC required a few months of figuring, a few upgrades and constant adjustment. At least one adjustment per day. It was also rated at 500 gallons as-is, but required $300 in upgrades, making it suitable for about 700 gallons to effectively skim my lightly populated 450 gallons. I will admit that my pump was a little underpowered for the set-up, but I didn't want 200+ watts going all the time.

I picked the GEO based on performance vs. price. After getting it tuned in after the first few days, I have yet to have to adjust anything. I just clean it out once a week. So the maintenance is great. The custom I have is rated for about 800 gallons and it pulls out some nasty smelling funk. The MRC skimmate never really smelled horrible, but this stuff is rank

So I would not talk down about any of the skimmers, that's not my intent. All and all I was dissatisfied with the beckett, but not because it didn't work, I just didn't want to add more watts to the system and refused to get a bigger pump. The Geo met my price range and the performance I was looking for. The other skimmers I was looking at were H&S, Deltec and ER... I just didn't think they were going to skim $1000-2000 better than the Geo.

Just my $.02

 

[cybertec69]

go with a Lifereef Skimmer, to me nothing comes close to efficiency and maintenance, www.lifereef.com , Jeff is a great guy to deal with.

 

[cybertec69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8178675#post8178675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ridetheducati
The decision tree looks like this:

1. How much money do I want to spend
2. Beckett or Needlewheel
2a. Beckett requires periodic tweeks, power hungry
2b. Needlewheel set and forget, efficient
3. Internal skimmer vs. External
4. Reevaluate number 1 above
5. Make a decision and live with it (avoid buyers remorse)

Sounds like you done some research, you can not go wrong with any other these:

In no particular order

GEO, MRC, H&S, Deltec, BubbleKing, Octopus, Euro Reef or ASM.

The truth is ... what ever you decide, it will not be the last skimmer you purchase.

unless it's a lifereef skimmer.

 

[GinMartini]

Man I can't believe I now have to add another Skimmer to my list of research. That Lifereef looks fantastic, and the price is very reasonable compared to some of the others I have seen. What are the pumps that they run on. I saw the one with the mag, but I don't know what the other pump is.