Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Just wanted to bring this back up. I found that with all the power factor buzz going around I had to check into it a little further. The alpha 170 I am testing has been getting better every day. I can say I wasnt sure how it would perform but it is doing a good job. The water level has to be run a little higher in the skimmer than I normally would run a skimmer but other than that it is working fine.
the power factor I was talking about, I checked this to the pump on the Bk mini 180 gen 2 to see if it was much different. As these have been around for a little while now with no issues I have heard of.
Here is what I have found
Alpha 170 rated at 1000lph of air 1800lph water
Pulls 37 watts at a pf .29
BK mini 180 (same motor block different volute,venturi ect...)
Rated at 1200 lph of air and 2000 lph of water
pulls 32 watts and a pf of .27
So they were both tested with the same equipment as far as the watts and pf go. I just thought I would share. No real data on the results of the lower PF. Time will tell.
I ll be honest. after the alpha 250 i was losing some faith in the RE products. I have regained some respect with the 170. Lots of good choices around the the $650 range. ATB, Alpha 170, the k2 isnt far off as well.
Mojo~
the power factor I was talking about, I checked this to the pump on the Bk mini 180 gen 2 to see if it was much different. As these have been around for a little while now with no issues I have heard of.
Here is what I have found
Alpha 170 rated at 1000lph of air 1800lph water
Pulls 37 watts at a pf .29
BK mini 180 (same motor block different volute,venturi ect...)
Rated at 1200 lph of air and 2000 lph of water
pulls 32 watts and a pf of .27
So they were both tested with the same equipment as far as the watts and pf go. I just thought I would share. No real data on the results of the lower PF. Time will tell.
I ll be honest. after the alpha 250 i was losing some faith in the RE products. I have regained some respect with the 170. Lots of good choices around the the $650 range. ATB, Alpha 170, the k2 isnt far off as well.
Mojo~
vanillagorila
It stings the nostrils
mojo, you still have a 170? I thought you sold it?
vanillagorila
It stings the nostrils
sorry guys, I can' t do any askoll testing on my K2. I sold it. 
edsbeaker
Member
Hi Mojo,
I'll be setting up a 180G with softies and medium bio-load. With the sump I will have about 220G. I've read through all 28 pages tonight and have narrowed it down to what I hope are my two choices. I do not turn my skimmer off during feeding, so I don't think the Sicce pump running backwards will be an issue.
1. MSX 250
2 Vertex in 280
Do you think it would be a better choice to move up to the MSX250A or would this be overkill.
Thanks
I'll be setting up a 180G with softies and medium bio-load. With the sump I will have about 220G. I've read through all 28 pages tonight and have narrowed it down to what I hope are my two choices. I do not turn my skimmer off during feeding, so I don't think the Sicce pump running backwards will be an issue.
1. MSX 250
2 Vertex in 280
Do you think it would be a better choice to move up to the MSX250A or would this be overkill.
Thanks
vanillagorila
It stings the nostrils
it should work great for that size tank.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Both of those would work great. The 250A would be really nice as well but does raise the price some.
Basically the msx uses 2 pumps and the vertex uses one. I found that the ratinf were very conservative on the two vertex models I had. THe 100 was rated at 420 lph and pull about 700 and the 180 model rated at 720 actually pulled about 1000 lph.
Either way you go you will be happy I am sure.
Mojo~
evergreenreeftank
New member
Hey mojo, which brand is best or are they all truly the same: MSX, Reef Octopus Extreme, SWC or Vertex? I am looking at the 200 for my 120 reeftank and want to make sure I get the right one.
They all sure look the same to me.................................
They all sure look the same to me.................................
forrestcook
New member
Mojo - Im having trouble with the search function and ive gone through pages and pages of threads with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Im setting up my first FOWLR tank (which will turn into a reef down the road). It's a 40 breeder drilled for a sump. I'm planning on re-purposing a 20 Gallon Long tank as a sump. I'm trying to peg down what skimmer would work best for my particular setup. When I do go reef, itll be softies if that matters... I much prefer an in-sump skimmer as the 20 gallon sump will fill the bottom of my cabinet and leave very little other room.
Thanks for your time, I'm sure this question gets asked hundreds of times for various situations...
Im setting up my first FOWLR tank (which will turn into a reef down the road). It's a 40 breeder drilled for a sump. I'm planning on re-purposing a 20 Gallon Long tank as a sump. I'm trying to peg down what skimmer would work best for my particular setup. When I do go reef, itll be softies if that matters... I much prefer an in-sump skimmer as the 20 gallon sump will fill the bottom of my cabinet and leave very little other room.
Thanks for your time, I'm sure this question gets asked hundreds of times for various situations...
aquaboy620
New member
I was wondering if I put my chemi pure elite in my euroreef rs 250 chamber would this work or not. I have seen that some skimmers have it all one. has anyone tried to do this and if so what were your results. I just feel that I don't have a place where the flow is good enough to really get the most out of the carbon. I was just wondering if this would actually work or would it just restrict my skimmer. thanks for your input in advance.
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