Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15210882#post15210882 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rroselavy
iTech 100 is on my mind...the iTech 200 should be included on people's minds as well.

No, its just a garage copy of other skimmers out there. Ok skimmers but everyone I talk to was rude. Not really any cheaper than a Really nice ATB. If I was really on a budget I would pick up a vertex in series without a doubt.

 

[rroselavy]

Wow,

I talked to John just over a week ago about a iTech 100. He was responsive and courteous. Offered to make a minor mod to the skimmer at no charge to make it work in my sump. The iTech 100 is $450 with the Tunze Hydrofoamer pump. I was very close to buying a ATB Multi until they jacked the forecasted price of $499 to $650 - without explanation. The iTech bodies also dissasemble for cleaning, which is not something the ATB Econo does for $650.

Garage copy. Harsh... They are making batches of 30 of each model at a time with CNC parts. I could not do that in my garage (perhaps I could at work - ). Sure they use less expensive material where it doesn't matter (clear PVC body w. seam IIRC), and John seems to have carefully mated ("detuned") the Tunze Hydrofoamer to the body - so there is some careful attention to cost effectiveness and performance behind this. I do not need my skimmer to be ATB, WM or BK sexy with overbuilt parts and gobs of hype. I just need it to work extremely well for a price that is not inflated. If Jon Warner used his considerable CNC prowess to make a sub-$500 mini-cone, I would have bought that already. Perhaps he will...

BTW: Isn't the Vertex just a simple marriage of ER and WM design features???

I do not mean to be argumentative. You obviously know far more about skimmers than I do - I just saw an exclusion (that represents good value and domestic product for those of us stateside) and decided to point it out.

 

[mojo~]

sorry if I am a bit harsh towards itech. Seems that many owners and friends of the manufacturer feel the need to pop in all my threads and advertise their product. Its not my website so they can do what they like. I have never said the itech didnt work. I think the100 is a bit small. but the 200 does compare to the atb 840.
The itech took a couple skimmers and made it into theirs. The iar silincer came from vertex and the basic design is an atb.
The new ATB's will be able to come apart totally.
Yes the vertex is basically the new euroreef.
They work very well for a cheap price. Thats why I am a fan. Being I have used all the popular skimmers on the market I can compare it to many higher priced units.

Just to clear things up as well. I do not get the skimmers I test for free. I have bought all the skimmers out of my own $$ and tested them. Stupid yes. but I can give you a unbiased review that way too. I was able to test and return ( i paid shipping back) two skimmers The alpha 250 and the MSX MiniS. Both of which I wasnt a big fan. Both worked ok. Just not as well as some of the competion. I am not a vendor. I make absolutely nothing off reffering someone to one skimmer or another.

I just refer them to a product I think they will be happy with long term as it is an investment. A small one compaired to what you can spend in coral and other livestock.

rroselavy, I am sorry if I came back harsh. Nothing personal and I appreciate your input. What kinda of mods did john do for you. And do you have any pics? also what does the 200 run now with pump?

 

[thorsky]

Mojo, the i-tech 200 is $587 with the Tunze right now.

I have an ATB 840 on the way and I'm on the list for an i-tech 200. I have a couple systems in process and will run both for a while. Once I get familiar with them I'll post some comparisons.

 

[mojo~]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15212191#post15212191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thorsky
Mojo, the i-tech 200 is $587 with the Tunze right now.

I have an ATB 840 on the way and I'm on the list for an i-tech 200. I have a couple systems in process and will run both for a while. Once I get familiar with them I'll post some comparisons.

So the itech 200 isnt that much less than an ATB. Both are 8 inch base and similar size. The only problem with the tunze pump , And I don't know if its a problem as much as inconvenience, is that you cant change the pinwheel. only get parts from tunze. Tunze does make nice stuff though.

 

[mojo~]

Post some pics too.

mojo~

 

[thorsky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15212333#post15212333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mojo~
So the itech 200 isnt that much less than an ATB. Both are 8 inch base and similar size. The only problem with the tunze pump , And I don't know if its a problem as much as inconvenience, is that you cant change the pinwheel. only get parts from tunze. Tunze does make nice stuff though.

Yep, I look forward to playing with the Tunze. They make great products and the support is second to none. I'll give some detailed reviews and pics on each of the skimmers once I get a feel for them. They are close enough in capacity and price that they warrant a comparison. Hmmm hope I dont get beat up like you for even mentioning a skimmer comparison.

 

[rroselavy]

Mojo-

Sorry, I was comparing the iTech 100 to the ATB Multi because those are the two skimmers that would work in my setup. The Econo comparison was just to underscore disassembly (not performance) capabilities relative to price - but it sounds as if you are saying that the Econo will soon be able to do this as well?

I have not yet purchased an iTech 100. I merely researched them and inquired about the 100 and whether the pump input could be relocated to the opposite side of the outlet in order to make the footprint narrower. I know - not much of a mod, but I was pleased that John offered to do it for free and gave me the exact dimensions that would be the result.

Again, I am not entwined with iTech. For my purposes it has received a lot of praise and comes in much less (for the iTech 100) than the alternative cone skimmers.

Interesting what you wrote about Vertex being "today's Euro-Reef". I thought the same thing: "What if Euro-Reef added a bubble plate and a wider neck..." I had an interesting exchange with Jeff of ER about the pros and cons of bubble plates and other recent developments. I basically asked him why ER is so conservative. He gave interesting answers, as well as revealed more tangible details about the forthcoming meshwheel:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=15153944#post15153944

If you have a chance, let me know what you think about his answers, because it sort of flies in the face of many skimmer design features that are ATB, WM, BK hallmarks.



thorsky-

Your ATB/iTech comparison will be interesting. There is already someone on the iTech forum who has an ATB Medium and an iTech 100 (IIRC) in the same sump, running at the same time. It would be more interesting to have a level comparison such as yours.

 

[rroselavy]

BTW: Where do you find a price of $665 for the Econo 840? The cheapest I've found is $739...

 

[mojo~]

That atb is not a medium it was a atb nano. A old design. He was mislead on the size.

Euroreef makes a lot of good points. There are a lot of me too skimmer brands. I ran a WM s 150 which has no bubble plate and I thought it was one of the nicest running skimmer s I had used. I think the use of a bubble plate on some allows the use of more of the chamber. But it is restrictive on the pumps. So it is a balance of design and pump. with the air and water input closely matched to the body and neck.

I also agree if it isnt broke dont fix it type mentality.
good info thanks for sharing.

 

[mojo~]

reefspecialty
http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protei...B-Econo-840-Protein-Skimmer/product_info.html

 

[rsellers]

Hello Everyone,
I have spent the last couple of days reading this thread and it has some great information. I am getting ready to upgrade my Aquarium Life Support V22 skimmer that came with the aquarium package. I have very limited space (9x9.5) in my sump and would like to try to stay under $400. I have a 90g tank that has a medium bio load and I am planning on adding some SP in the near future. I was leaning toward an AquaC EV-180 because of the small footprint and being able to place the pump outside the SUMP. But I wanted to see if you think this is a good skimmer for me or if I should consider something else?

Thanks,
Ronnie

 

[mojo~]

the AquaC is a good skimmer. But its loud and uses much larger pump than the pinwheel skimmers.
The ocean force series by mrc is a good skimmer. with a small footpront you are looking for.

 

[rroselavy]

If I may add, I looked into the MRC Ocean Force skimmers a while back, and the manufacturers advertised footprint dimensions were not correct. In fact, MRC's stats on their website are still not correct! I believe the overall footprints should be closer to the following (including output pipe):

OF 100 - 7x7
OF 200 - 9 x 8.25
OF 300 - 12 x 10

refer to this thread: http://www.reefcentral.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=13634731#post13634731

Looks like you could still fit the OF 200 though...

 

[ichthyman]

Harsh is an understatement. They verge on slander.

“Ok skimmers but everyone I talk to was rude.”

I am the owner and solely authorized to speak for i-Tech. I have no recollection or record of us ever conversing. I would very much like to investigate you claim. Could you please provide me with more information via email or PM.

“Seems that many owners and friends of the manufacturer feel the need to pop in all my threads and advertise their product.”

If you have evidence of shill-like activities please immediately forward it to the mods and myself. If an employee of mine is responsible the situation will be swiftly resolved. I don’t tolerate shills. However, customers I have no control over and no problem with them posting their experience as long as the UA is followed. Sorry, you feel intruded upon.

“That atb is not a medium it was a atb nano. A old design. He was mislead on the size.”

Mislead? Do you have a copy of his receipt? I do.

“No, its just a garage copy of other skimmers out there.”

Yes, a garage with over $250,000+ of plastic fabrication machinery.

A simple genealogy of a similar style non-cone skimmer, DelTec beget H&S beget EuroReef beget ASM, AquaEuro, Octopus, WM and Vertex........ On and on and on.

 

[new2u]

I think Mojo has admitted he might have just had a bad experience, but lets not attack him too much.

Perhaps if you'd like a better review you'd think about sending him a temporary iTech to test for a couple of months? Otherwise I think hes been quite clear that hes not the biggest fan.

PS Slander is spoken, Libel is written.

 

[ichthyman]

Am I pleased by his words no but there was no attack. You're correct libelous not slander.

"sending him a temporary iTech to test for a couple of months?" Sorry but no.

 

[rroselavy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15216138#post15216138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ichthyman
“No, its just a garage copy of other skimmers out there.”

Yes, a garage with over $250,000+ of plastic fabrication machinery.

Wow. $250k. In that case, I do not think I could produce your volume at my workplace (if I had the wherewithal) using our small $10k CNC rig...

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15216138#post15216138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ichthyman


Do you have a copy of his receipt? I do.

You do?

Why?


BTW John we had Chris measure his skimmer and take the pump out he has a Gen1 small (same as mine) with the Eheim 1250 pump(not the current pump). it is not a medium.

 

[mojo~]

Anyone with skimmer Questions?

I can find many posts to show where itech was advertised. Not a big deal. I did report it. I was reminded in some words I wasn't happy with,basically this isn't my site, and grow a thicker skin. So I have turned the other cheek and moved on.
Its all a matter of opinion. I refer people to products that I know works and are worth their hard earned money.

On a positive not for itech. I sometimes think I could build a better product in my garage with $5000 worth of tool compared to some of the really cheap stuff I have seen in the market place.

I think the itech 200 has the making of a really good skimmer. Just not as much as a value as it once was as the prices of the competition have come down a great deal.

I called whoever is on the other line of the itech number several months back. . And was asked to call back because they had a customer. Whoever it was, was kinda short and I felt like it could of been handled differently. like can I call you back, or can you hold for a minute or something.

Sometimes these things happen. I have had similar situations happen with places I still order from today. It all good. I have still tossed the idea around of buying one and trying it out. It just so seems that everytime I start to get over someone posting in a atb review, vertex review MSX review, it happens again.

So let me just set the record straight. I have nothing against the Itech skimmer itself. As it is pretty good copy of other popular skimmers on the market. with his own tweaks to it sort of speak. I think the 100 model is pretty small and has been over rated on overall system volume. But it does work.

I do applaud him for giving people another option to buy something made here in the US. I think that should be more important in todays economic crunch.

Any skimmer questions?

Good Day
Mojo~