chasekwe
New member
Thanks a lot mojo~, heard anything yet on how this new skimmer (the SSS1000) stacks up in the noise department? Silence is essential...
Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
Thanks a lot mojo~, heard anything yet on how this new skimmer (the SSS1000) stacks up in the noise department? Silence is essential...
Hi mojo,
I really need a quiet skimmer because my 50 gallon tank is in my living room. I have a 20 tall sump which I run the skimmer in. I have a new Reef Octopus 150 and it is WAY too loud for this application. I got some suggestions from other members, and besides a bubble king mini, have you listened to any of these following skimmers run and would they be silent inside a cabinet below my tank, sitting in my living room?:
SWC 160
Bubble Magnus NAC6
I really need a quiet skimmer because my 50 gallon tank is in my living room. I have a 20 tall sump which I run the skimmer in. I have a new Reef Octopus 150 and it is WAY too loud for this application. I got some suggestions from other members, and besides a bubble king mini, have you listened to any of these following skimmers run and would they be silent inside a cabinet below my tank, sitting in my living room?:
SWC 160
Bubble Magnus NAC6
Rich123
New member
Sorry to be a bother but about to hit the order button on the SWC 160. Just want that last warm fuzzy before I do.
You dont think the SWC 160 will be to much for my 55gal med-heavy bio load tank?
Do you feel the SWC 160 would be a better buy for my setup over the BM NAC6?
Thanks again for your help...
Rich123
New member
Do you ever get tired of ppl "Q"ing you all the time about skimmers?
160 cone better than NAC6. Is it $80 better?
And 160 or the NAC6 isnt to large for that 55 gal tank?
Once again, thanks
The Escaped Ape
In The Canopy
Dang, I thought I had my mind straight on the skimmer issue. I'd decided to go for a Vertex 180 internal pinwheel skimmer on my new 68g tank. Then a friend highly recommended the Bubble Magus Skimmers and I found a local supplier (I'm in Japan). Which led me to do some research on both to see what the difference was. Which then led me to the threads on here with complaints for both about dial-in, unreliable stock pumps etc.
I had originally intended to order from the US. But if I do this, it only really makes sense to order most of my equipment from the US in one go, to reduce shipping costs and make life easier in terms of number of vendors to deal with.
My criteria (in order of importance) for trying to choose a skimmer are:
Ease of use - plug and play with no need for modifications to make it work well (I'm not technically minded). A lit bit of fiddling with knobs - fine, but anything that requires me to use the sort of plumbing commonly available in a US hardware store is not good (I can speak Japanese, but have no idea where I'd get some of the stuff I see people using on here).
Reliability - particularly if I order it from the US, I don't want to have to ship it back to get it fixed! Also quality of workmanship so I can use this for a long time. I don't want to feel like I want to replace it in a couple of years. The quieter the better!
Effectiveness - obviously I want something that removes as much gunk as possible. The only reason this point isn't first is because my planned tank will not be mainly SPS. I'm planning mainly softies, LPS and a few SPS, with maybe an anemone. Neither will I have lots of messy, large fish. So clean is still very important, but it doesn't have to be grossly overpowered.
Footprint - smaller the better. I have an old drop-in refugium that I stupidly didn't put in my sump before I filled the display tank last time and therefore never used (no way of getting it in the sump after that). I want to use it if I can this time, so want some space and the sump will not be huge (maybe 24"x15x15"?)
So, on my short list now are:
Vertex VX IN-180 Internal Pinwheel Skimmer (US) - $285 (but would need a better pump bought at same time?)
Octopus Extreme 160 - $289
Bubble Magus NAC6A (I'd buy it in Japan - the US vendors I'm considering using don't stock it) but prices here are much higher - so about $348 (also heard bad things about the Atman pump it comes with here)
Octopus Super Reef Space Saver 3000SSS - $430
Vertex/RE A170 Cone - $780
Bubble King Mini 160 - $880
You know I'm sorely tempted to go for the BK Mini, even though it's the priciest option. I've read bad things already about the Vertex IN-180, Bubble Magus and Vertex/RE Alpha Cone. I assume I could find similar about the others. But people seem pretty pleased with their BKs.
What would your advice be Mojo (or anyone else for that matter if Mojo's typed his fingerprints off replying to clueless people like me)?
I had originally intended to order from the US. But if I do this, it only really makes sense to order most of my equipment from the US in one go, to reduce shipping costs and make life easier in terms of number of vendors to deal with.
My criteria (in order of importance) for trying to choose a skimmer are:
Ease of use - plug and play with no need for modifications to make it work well (I'm not technically minded). A lit bit of fiddling with knobs - fine, but anything that requires me to use the sort of plumbing commonly available in a US hardware store is not good (I can speak Japanese, but have no idea where I'd get some of the stuff I see people using on here).
Reliability - particularly if I order it from the US, I don't want to have to ship it back to get it fixed! Also quality of workmanship so I can use this for a long time. I don't want to feel like I want to replace it in a couple of years. The quieter the better!
Effectiveness - obviously I want something that removes as much gunk as possible. The only reason this point isn't first is because my planned tank will not be mainly SPS. I'm planning mainly softies, LPS and a few SPS, with maybe an anemone. Neither will I have lots of messy, large fish. So clean is still very important, but it doesn't have to be grossly overpowered.
Footprint - smaller the better. I have an old drop-in refugium that I stupidly didn't put in my sump before I filled the display tank last time and therefore never used (no way of getting it in the sump after that). I want to use it if I can this time, so want some space and the sump will not be huge (maybe 24"x15x15"?)
So, on my short list now are:
Vertex VX IN-180 Internal Pinwheel Skimmer (US) - $285 (but would need a better pump bought at same time?)
Octopus Extreme 160 - $289
Bubble Magus NAC6A (I'd buy it in Japan - the US vendors I'm considering using don't stock it) but prices here are much higher - so about $348 (also heard bad things about the Atman pump it comes with here)
Octopus Super Reef Space Saver 3000SSS - $430
Vertex/RE A170 Cone - $780
Bubble King Mini 160 - $880
You know I'm sorely tempted to go for the BK Mini, even though it's the priciest option. I've read bad things already about the Vertex IN-180, Bubble Magus and Vertex/RE Alpha Cone. I assume I could find similar about the others. But people seem pretty pleased with their BKs.
What would your advice be Mojo (or anyone else for that matter if Mojo's typed his fingerprints off replying to clueless people like me)?
Stickboy97
Member
Mojo, I did a search and it seems you highly recommend the H2 HOB skimmer. I wasn't looking to spend quite that much for a skimmer. What else would you recommend?
I have been looking at the Octopus BH 2000 & the Eshopps PSK100H. Which would you recommend? or another that is under $200? Along with how well it skims I need it to be quiet. Or is the H2 that much better?
I have a 75g FOWLR in my office with a dwarf lion & a juv majestic angel on the way. I may add a small tang in the future. Don't worry the angel & tang will only be in this tank for a year or so, then they get to go into the new 180g at home.
I have been looking at the Octopus BH 2000 & the Eshopps PSK100H. Which would you recommend? or another that is under $200? Along with how well it skims I need it to be quiet. Or is the H2 that much better?
I have a 75g FOWLR in my office with a dwarf lion & a juv majestic angel on the way. I may add a small tang in the future. Don't worry the angel & tang will only be in this tank for a year or so, then they get to go into the new 180g at home.
legolas100
New member
Im using a Reef Octopus NW-110 Skimmer
still cycling my tank and just turned the skimmer on and the collection cup fileld up in a mater of seconds with water, then i asked on here and got told to lower the water exit pipe, did that and it worked, kinda
now the collection cup fills up in about 2 hours, exit pipe is down all the way, what am i doing wrong?
still cycling my tank and just turned the skimmer on and the collection cup fileld up in a mater of seconds with water, then i asked on here and got told to lower the water exit pipe, did that and it worked, kinda
now the collection cup fills up in about 2 hours, exit pipe is down all the way, what am i doing wrong?
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Going by your list the bk is the best at meeting the needs you posted. yes it is expensive. Keep an eye out for a used one.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
well if it is cycling the tank might have some conditioners in the water with all the new salt ect... simply put a small stand under the skimmer for a while and this will help. Stack up some egg crate. its about $6 a sheet at lowes. cut it to size and go.
how deep is the skimmer now?
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
oh i almost forgot.tHE nw pump came with some rubber seals. Make sure there is NOT one in the venturi, where the air water goes in. This will block the air and cause the pump to pull too much water and overflow as well. Check that out. un screw the inlet of the pump. should be grey. with a threaded collar.
Mojo~
The Escaped Ape
In The Canopy
Thanks Mojo and apologies for my very long-winded post!
Hello everyone, thought i would try here first instead of starting a new thread.
Iv had a Warner Marine Hx2 HoB skimmer on my tank for around 2 months now, it works great and i couldnt of been happier with my choice until about a week or so ago when i started getting TONS of micro bubbles. I know micro bubbles are a usual thing for a new skimmer, but i didnt have any problems for the first 2 months of it being on there, and i dont think they take that long to break in anyway?
The only thing iv done to the skimmer was put a bit of foam in the return overflow to keep big bubbles from entering the tank, which works well. I did this long before the micro bubbles started showing up though so i dont think its the problem, and it doesnt get any better when i take it out.
I know i should expect some micro bubbles from any HoB skimmer, but its getting to the point where im just not happy looking at the tank anymore, they are just EVERYWHERE!
So please help me find the problem, i dont understand what would cause them to become so bad all of the sudden like they have.
Lemme know if you need anymore info about the tank to figure this out.
Thanks
Iv had a Warner Marine Hx2 HoB skimmer on my tank for around 2 months now, it works great and i couldnt of been happier with my choice until about a week or so ago when i started getting TONS of micro bubbles. I know micro bubbles are a usual thing for a new skimmer, but i didnt have any problems for the first 2 months of it being on there, and i dont think they take that long to break in anyway?
The only thing iv done to the skimmer was put a bit of foam in the return overflow to keep big bubbles from entering the tank, which works well. I did this long before the micro bubbles started showing up though so i dont think its the problem, and it doesnt get any better when i take it out.
I know i should expect some micro bubbles from any HoB skimmer, but its getting to the point where im just not happy looking at the tank anymore, they are just EVERYWHERE!
So please help me find the problem, i dont understand what would cause them to become so bad all of the sudden like they have.
Lemme know if you need anymore info about the tank to figure this out.
Thanks
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