Skimmers - specifically HOT/HOB

[mikelaubach]

So I'm looking for a "decent" skimmer that I can hang on the back of a QT-style setup.

I've been reading in the "lighting and filtration" forum and trying to figure out the myriad of opinions and blind support for different units (there are those dead set against the Remora and those that rve about it). It seems two skimmers come to the top pretty quickly with not one bad thing said about them. The ATB cone multi, and the SWC extreme HOT. I'm not up for spending $350 for the SWC, and the ATB multi (although good that it can do HOT as well as in-sump) is just so far out of my league at $650 that it is not even funny! :eek1:

I hate the Remora on the Lutz tank as it just doesn't seem to do anything (though it might just be that there is no load either), although that seems to be about my price range. I've asked a few here that had Remoras for sale, but they were already gone by the time I asked (timing IS everything). I have an EV-120 being driven by a MAG-5 for the main display, but would like to move up in the world from that as well with one of the newer, lower power skimmers.

My thought was to get a decent HOT/HOB skimmer that I could then also hang off the sump in the new tank setup. The problem with the new setup is that the stand space is limited due to having drawers. So the EV-120 is not really going to work out for that. So if I had a decent HOT/HOB skimmer, I could use that on the new setup hanging off the sump, instead of the power hungry Aqua-C. It's a case of trying to do too much with too little I think. No way I'll have a setup like John/ICF with his monster skimmer in "the bathtub under his stairs" any time soon.

For those using hang-on-tank/hang-on-back skimmers, what are you using, and more importantly, how well does it work?

--MIKE--

 

[MADtanks]

from my experience, i have always ended up with Deltecs MCE600 or even the MCE300 both performed very well for me! Since you are looking to upgrade later on i would honestly go with MCE600. They can be had on here for about 300 sometimes a lot less!! and it would serve a good 100G system full of SPS. I used an MCE300 on a 30G system with great results, but quickly went up to an MCE600. So rather than do that I would say just got straight to the MCE600!!

hope that helps.

 

[fishkid6692]

i have the MCE300 and i hate it. the pump it came with is AWFUL! it's a maxijet.

 

[DLANDINO]

I have the MCE600 and it is great! New cost me 469.00 but I had seen them used on RC for about 250. The only problem that I found on rc is that the person selling them always made some kind of "mod" that made me nervous to shell out the money for product that may leak because of alterations.

 

[SleepyJ]

I have the Remora Pro and like it. I have a Rio 2500 on it. I have heard others like the Mag3 with the Remora Pro as well.

When I was looking into HOB skimmers, Deltec was always near the top though expensive and near impossible to repair from the posts. The Octopus skimmers seem to be a favorite for cheaper alternatives, especially the 800S.

 

[Rwinfrey]

know you want one:lolspin:
it's only money

 

[Rwinfrey]

you could also run an skimmer like the lifereef vs24 or a bullet skimmer above the tank if you think you will do a sump later in life

 

[mikelaubach]

So I was out last night for dog food and picked up an Oceanic BioCube skimmer for the 14 and 29. It's a small air-driven thing, and great for my QT situation. I put it on last night, and by this morning, there was a small amount of wet, but "less than pleasant" smelling skimate. I paid more than I would have online, but the convenience of easy pickup has some value.

I also have a line on one, possibly two, Deltec MCE600 skimmers for $250 (the second was a gent who saw I was looking for one and offered me his at the same rate instead of the higher rate he had it listed for). I only need one of course, but it's nice to know if one falls through, there is another one ready to ship to me. So it looks like that is the direction I'm going to go since the price is not that much higher than I was looking to spend but I get the much higher quality.

 

[DLANDINO]

So I was out last night for dog food and picked up an Oceanic BioCube skimmer for the 14 and 29. It's a small air-driven thing, and great for my QT situation. I put it on last night, and by this morning, there was a small amount of wet, but "less than pleasant" smelling skimate. I paid more than I would have online, but the convenience of easy pickup has some value.

I also have a line on one, possibly two, Deltec MCE600 skimmers for $250 (the second was a gent who saw I was looking for one and offered me his at the same rate instead of the higher rate he had it listed for). I only need one of course, but it's nice to know if one falls through, there is another one ready to ship to me. So it looks like that is the direction I'm going to go since the price is not that much higher than I was looking to spend but I get the much higher quality.

Mike if you want to see one in action feel free to pm me. I am close to your house.

Dave

 

[mikelaubach]

My Deltec MCE600 arrived today. Already installed it and have it running.

Only problem in shipping was the the overflow from the collection cup broke off, but it is a neat clean break, so no big deal - an easy fix to do and hide.

It does not have the stock fanned output to spread the bubbles, but instead uses PVC that the seller stated was a Deltec designed/sold mod.

I have it on my 10G holding tank (boy does it look funny), and since the skimmer holds 1.5 Gallons of water, I got a 15% increase in water volume. Seems quiet, but I think I'll be building a muffler for the intake as I want things to be as silent as possible since it will be in my office.

It has not yet pushed anything up in the to collection cup area, but it's only been running about 10 minutes. hahahahaha

 

[element11]

mce600

mce600

is the other one still available, my skimmer just crapped out. i always wanted one but never wanted to pay 500 for it. please let me know

 

[mikelaubach]

Never heard back from the first guy on it. It was in the used equipment forum, but he never responded, so I went with the second guy.

Dave (ldandino) said that he can't empty the collection with his wife in the house, and wow, does it stink!! That is some nasty stuff. I've never gotten it out this nasty with any other skimmer before, even the EV-120. Needless to say, I'm a converted man!

 

[element11]

lol thanks. im glad your happy with your purchase, ill have to check the bst!

 

[Gillundr]

I used Remoras as my first skimmers and I liked them. I have different skimmers now just because I got two with my new CAD system that are really nice. The one they offered with the system normally and a new one that they are going to offer in the next month or two that they asked me to test out for them.
The Remora skimmers did great for me. I have both still one is the hang on the other is in sump. I could let you try one out if you want, mine are just sitting there right now, I hadn't decided if I should sell them or hang on to them as a just in case thing. Although I have 3 skimmers sitting around for just in case lol. But the Remora is easy to set up and I never had an issue with it. At least if you ran one on your tank you could see what you think and not have to drop the couple hundred bucks to see lol. Give me a holler if you want.