Skimmer for a 180?

I'll be honest I got hooked into the Deltecs and
never even took a serious look at the other skimmers.

I'm almost tempted to buy another Deltec, but wonder if there
is something better or just as good for the price or cheaper.

I'll proabably sell my MCE600 as I won't have a use
for it, so that will drefray some of the cost.
 
I agree with many of your points, Scott, but I've never been one to dismiss a design simply because it's dated (take airstone driven CC skimmers, for example). Less power consumption can be a good thing.
Better plastic is always...well... better plastic :D



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14165511#post14165511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
I have not seen his.
pix of cullys aquarium here. Note: pix not nearly as nice as seeing it in person:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1525889
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14165825#post14165825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
I'm almost tempted to buy another Deltec, but wonder if there
is something better or just as good for the price or cheaper.
for what you want to accomplish I think the answer has already been stated in this thread.
 
I've got no problem with an air powered CC, By design they are the best. But who has room for a 6ft tall skimmer in their house? I thought many times about building a giant Alita powered beast.

I'm only making the comments of the design being dated because you can get better for the same price. The ASM was great 4 years ago. But today you can get a better NW or Threadwheel skimmer that will do all the things that the ASM will do and more. Thats why most online places simply stopped carrying them.
 
Its hard to beat Deltec for quality. They are after all a high end skimmer manufactuer. Their craftsmanship is solid.

For the price I think the only thing that will be far better is a cone skimmer. Whether it be MSX, Warner Marine, ATB, or even KZ. The Bubbleking Supermarines are cream of the crop. But they are ultra expensive. As for something that is just as good for less money I would say any of the Sicce or Askoll powered Octo Extremes would do a nice job.

BTW all the skimmers that I listed are hand made with Cell Cast acrylics, so they will be of similar quality. That being said the Chinese stuff (Octo, MSX, ASM) will be of slightly less quality than the US and Euro made stuff.
 
What Model would be best?

MSX250?


How does it honestly stack up against
something like a Deltec APF600?


And if I'm mostly concerned with Softies
and LPS do I really want my water that clean?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14166147#post14166147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
if I'm mostly concerned with Softies
and LPS do I really want my water that clean?
no-

but make sure to read the skimmer efficiency article I linked to on page one of this thread.

I remain unphased by the $1,000 skimmer.
Apparently, I'm in very good company.
 
By that "No" I take I really dont want to go that clean.

Yes, I did read it (well heavy skimmed it).


That would lead me to think I would want to go to something like
the MX200 or MX250 (even if I ever want to go Heavy stocked?).
 
$850 for that tank is a little much. The plain old MSX250 is pretty cheap. And will do the job. As for comparison to the Deltec I would say that they will perform about equal. I prefer the design of the MSX which places a Bubble plate diffuser in a lower section of the body to make more use of the body space for reaction.

As for the $1k skimmer they list in that article, really they could have picked a better "High end" skimmer. And again why not a single cone design? The cones coming out seem to have the best skimate production of any skimmer. Not a single one of those uses a high flow, low pressure frontside venturi or even a Threadwheel for that matter. While I do appreciate someone trying to cut through the marketing BS I would appreciate them including the "Big Boy's" for some good baseline comparison.

I've got some links to good articles but can I link to Zeovit.com on RC?
 
The MSX200 would work fine for you application however going with the MSX250 for $100 more is cheap insurance. To put it into perspective the retail price of the extra pump on the MSX250 is more than $100.


Edit- One thing i just thought of is that the APF600 is a recirulating design, the MSX is not. While this isn't a big deal one nice feature that a recirc allows is that you can set the water going through the skimmer seperate than the pump thats providing the mixing. I personally use a recirc so that I can keep my water throughput at the holygrail line of 1.5x total system volume. This gives you the obtain exposure time to get the maximum effect. Do you really need all that?....Well I like it. Plenty of people use traditional insump skimmers without a problem.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14166224#post14166224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
Yes, I did read it (well heavy skimmed it).
pun intended? :D

Look man...
I don't know you or your budget. I've seen enough reef aquariums to know that you don't need a state of the art or super expensive skimmer to accomplish what you want. Just trying to stay real here... my suggestion would be to purchase a low power consumption skimmer at the right price.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14166309#post14166309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
pun intended? :D

Look man...
I don't know you or your budget. I've seen enough reef aquariums to know that you don't need a state of the art or super expensive skimmer to accomplish what you want. Just trying to stay real here... my suggestion would be to purchase a low power consumption skimmer at the right price.

I dont think you'll get much cheaper than an MSX

MSX200 $280
MSX250 $380

Deltec APF600 $778
 
Deltec is $698 our dollar is a lil stronger now, but still it is a big differance.

I plan to keep the system up for a while (years),
but There is no reson to just "Wiz" away cash either.

I like to have quality items that will last, so it the quality
of the MSX250 is up there than it is a good investment.


I like to buy once :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14166309#post14166309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
pun intended? :D

......


Actually not, I just caught that one (It's been a long year already)...

:)
 
Ok to get this straight ......

The suggestion is for the MSX250 at $380

Best for in sump, and the livestock I'm interested in.


BTW: My old tank sprung a leak on 12/30/08 and I have
been just blowing cash ever since, so whats a lil more :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14166471#post14166471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
Ok to get this straight ......

The suggestion is for the MSX250 at $380

Best for in sump, and the livestock I'm interested in.


BTW: My old tank sprung a leak on 12/30/08 and I have
been just blowing cash ever since, so whats a lil more :)

Thats my recommendation. It leaves room to grow and will give you clean water. You could get away with the 200 and be fine if you want to save a bit though.
 
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