Skimmer Q&A Thread

Those are nice skimmers. Thanks guys. There is also a used Deltec MCE600 for sale in the used equipment forum. It is about the same price. Would you buy the Deltec used over one of those new?

-Matt
 
i have a 120g sps tank with 30g sump, and possibly a 40g frag tank in the future. Would you recommend the warner k2 or the atb econo 840. right now, I am running a msx200 with pinwheel. Any improvement if I switch to the atb large pin wheel? Thanks
 
You would gain a little air and water. Not really enough to justify the cost. Why do you want to upgrade. Are there things you dont like about the msx 200? the two skimmer mentioned are great. And will be more efficient in producing skimate. The k2 has a gate valve and will pull a little more air on a larger skimmer body. The ATB has a custom volute on the pump that I really like and the skimmer runs really well too. Its kinda like the old battle of camaro vs a mustang. They are not the same although they have a lot of the same things to offer.
Cone shape
sicce based pump
great customer service from them both.

The ATB I feel runs just a little more quiet. Not that the K2 is loud at all. I am being really picky in saying these things so dont go off on a tangent. The K2 is made of all acrylic and uses a gate valve. Has a stepless neck and bubble ring. All things that are new and only on the WM series skimmer. The ATB uses acrylic and pvc and a wedge pipe.
The atb is pulling about 700 lph of air where the K2 is about 900. Does that mean it skims better. no, its just means it is balanced for the size of the cone and the neck of the skimmer. Everone wants me to always say which one is better. And again it just a a matter of preference. room in sump what design you think is better ect... I really like them both.
 
I'm setting up a 90g with a 100g rubbermaid sump in my basement. I'm going to have a medium stocking of fish, and heavy on lps. I don't even know where to start looking at skimmers but I know my budget was set to $250, what would you guys recommend me to look at?
 
I currently have a AquaC Urchin Pro with a Mag 3 for a pump. My setup is currently at 125gal and 30gal sump. The skimmer is rated for 120gallons is this enough skimmer for the tank? I have about 150lbs of LR in the tank and about 3in sandbed. My friend josh is telling me i should upgrade what do you think?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14873137#post14873137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by okkiedokki
I'm setting up a 90g with a 100g rubbermaid sump in my basement. I'm going to have a medium stocking of fish, and heavy on lps. I don't even know where to start looking at skimmers but I know my budget was set to $250, what would you guys recommend me to look at?

Look for a used msx 200 or octo extreme. Or if you could find a vertex in 180 used you would be good to go.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14873553#post14873553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gooyferret
I currently have a AquaC Urchin Pro with a Mag 3 for a pump. My setup is currently at 125gal and 30gal sump. The skimmer is rated for 120gallons is this enough skimmer for the tank? I have about 150lbs of LR in the tank and about 3in sandbed. My friend josh is telling me i should upgrade what do you think?

I think you could do better. THe urchin is a good small footprint skimmer but just not up to par with what else is out there anymore. just let me know what kinda budget you have and your stock and ill see if I can suggest some things.
 
well not really set on a budget just wanna make sure i have a good quality skimmer! I can sell my urchin to recoup some of the new ones cost. I have heard from numberous people that the urchin pro is supose to handle 120gal reef fully loaded you think thats true? I would like to keep the skimmer in or around $300 area.
 
Hmm dont find really any of those skimmers on ebay at all!? haha trying to see if theres cheaper places to buy them.. Do you know which has been rated the best?
 
Who would rate them? Other than myself and those retailers who sell them. I dont know anyone else who has put forth the $$ and time to evaluate them all.
I dont think there is a top ten list sort of speak. When I get some more time I will do my best to maybe bunch some together. What I would suggest for tank size and loads, budget as well. I have some ideas of what I am going to do. But I need to get through this semester at school as well. Work full time, father of a 11 and 12 yr old, school to finish my degree. I stay pretty busy.lol

Mojo~
 
Is $300 not enough to buy a quality skimmer? My friend Josh has never even heard of MSX or Vertex?? I was looking at MSX and searching the web and seen some videos on youtube, and some people saying they work awesome on forums.....Just looking for more info before i make a big purchase!? Thanks
 
Can you reccomend me a skimmer for my 24 gallon Aquapod HQI?

I'm debating between a Tunze 9002 nano doc and a saphire ap24 skimmer.

If you can recommend one of these over the other or tell me about another skimmer to try, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14871033#post14871033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jmatt567
Those are nice skimmers. Thanks guys. There is also a used Deltec MCE600 for sale in the used equipment forum. It is about the same price. Would you buy the Deltec used over one of those new?

-Matt

I will never use another HOB other than my Deltec MCE600. I've owned a bakpak and a remora before it and they're like fisher price toys compared to it. I have it on a 65 gallon mixed and it pulls out green pea soup like a champ. I have to clean out the collection cup every 2 to 3 days because the gunk is so thick. I also like the fact that the pump resides inside the skimmer, so there's very little intrusion into the display tank. The media chamber is a nice feature too. I run Purigen on mine and my SPS are very happy. It is worth every over-priced penny, imho.
 
Mojo, do you have any experience with the Vertex IN-280? I'm trying to choose between it and an MSX-250 but finding it difficult to get much info on the Vertex pump and pinwheel combo they provide.

The dual-pump MSX looks like the better producer of the two on the surface but that could be deceiving. Thoughts?

BTW - Thanks for being such a fantastic resource on RC! We all appreciate your time, effort and financial contributions so we can make better buying decisions for ourselves.
 
I have the MSK-250 on my 180 and it really works well.

I had a deltec MCE600 on my old smaller tank and it worked great
(I still have the MCE sitting in my fish room in the basement).


Coming from the Deltec to the MSX I had pretty
big performance expectations for the MSX.

The MSX250 works extremely well for me.
 
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