The MSX MiniS skimmer Review

[mojo~]

Ok well things have been pretty quiet for me the last couple weeks. I have just recieved the tracking # on the next skimmer up for review. The MSX MiniS should be at my house tomorrow via fedex from Marine Solutions. This will be the 4th Cone skimmer I will have had to review. For those of you that havent read my previous reviews. I have reviewed the Warner Marine K2, The ATB 840, and the Vertex Alpha 250. Well so what cone better to try out than the one brought to us by Marine Solutions.

Now to be honest I have only seen pictures of the unit and videos of the one running on their website. So just some of my thoughts of what to expect. I have had both the MSX 160 and 200 skimmer in the past and I would expect the MiniS to perform as well or better than the 200 model. It appears that the base of the cone is around 9 inches and the pump is mounted underneath the skimmer base. So we will see when I get it. I dont think this will really be a "Mini" skimmer sort of speak but a rather nice sized skimmer with a smaller foot print.

So stayed tuned as I should have this to play with all weekend.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

The MSX MiniS Arrived today just as scheduled. Now I know when I here mini I think small skimmer. Not so much the case here. It is really similar in size to the MSX 200. With one Sicce pump and the base diameter of the cone is 9 inches. That puts the size of this cone actually larger than the ATB 840. The first thing I looked at was the air line. IT seems silly but hom many MSX/octo X owners had to replace the stock airline that came with your skimmer because it was so flimsy. No longer the case with these units. IT has a really nice silicone type hose found on your higher end skimmers. I have the skimmer hooked up and breaking in. Here are some of the pictures of what you would expect if you ordered one.

 

[mojo~]

 

[mojo~]

The skimmer is pretty much what I expected to get only a little bigger.

 

[mojo~]

ill most likely get some action shots up on monday. I wont be home much tomorrow and so it will be breaking in. More to come.

Mojo~

 

[sjm817]

Mojo, nice start on the review. Looking forward to the rest of it. The skimmer looks very nicely built like the it's big brother, the 1A. This may be a nice option for people with a limited sump space and budget. $499 is pretty inexpensive for a cone skimmer. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the ATB 840 which you think so highly of.

 

[mojo~]

IT is bigger than the 840 thats for sure. I had the skimmer running wide open the first night like I do with all of them. Just let them break in nice and easy. I made a little adjustment to the skimmer this morning to bring the water level up just below the neck.
The skimmer is built pretty well and is what I expected. The skimmer is sturdy and I cant find anything that I dont like about the build quality. Parts of the skimmer have pretty thick material. Like the neck and the cone. and the lid and the other round plates of the skimmer are thinner than one that it competes with. Not a big issue just some things I notice. The cone body is the same body as the 1A cone. but the bottom is basically removed and mounted to the base of the skimmer. Thus far its doing ok. Its pretty quite. Not as quite as per say the atb or BK. But its breaking in yet and Ill give it some time. I ll get some action shots and a video of what I have going on here tonight or tomorrow.
And Scott, you are right what other cone out there can you get for $499. THe eshopps is around $650. For that you can get an ATB 840 ($665) Not sure but my crystal ball shows the skimmer market prices changing a lot over the next year.
Have a great holiday everyone. More to come...

Mojo~

 

[Creetin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15067184#post15067184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mojo~
IT is bigger than the 840 thats for sure. I had the skimmer running wide open the first night like I do with all of them. Just let them break in nice and easy. I made a little adjustment to the skimmer this morning to bring the water level up just below the neck.
And Scott, you are right what other cone out there can you get for $499. THe eshopps is around $650. For that you can get an ATB 840 ($665) Not sure but my crystal ball shows the skimmer market prices changing a lot over the next year.
Have a great holiday everyone. More to come...

Mojo~

Actually you can get a nice Itech for that price too.
Back to your regular programming.

 

[mojo~]

WEll I could go on and on with a list of skimmers you could get for that price but is that what this thread is about? I was actually trying to compare it to a skimmer everyone knows, skims well and is one of the most sought after skimmers on the market. Its not matter of what you can get as much as it is do you want to get it and is it worth the money.
Mojo~

 

[nebraskareef]

Mojo, Great start to the thread. I eagerly await some pics of it running.

Thanks again for your hard work with these review threads!

 

[spsfarmer09]

are thay loud. i have a 60 gallon next to my bad and would it be too loud

 

[cwegescheide]

If any of you would like to see an ATB skimmer running side by side with an I-Tech 100 (right now ~450.00 USD w/Tunze pump) you can go to www.i-techskimmers.com. I purchased the ATB (European model) about a year and a half ago. Got the I-Tech for the 80 total gallon frag tank I have and I'm amazed how well it performs. Draws 9w of power with the Aquabee and 13w with the Tunze 9410 and is dead silent. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Chris

 

[nikon187]

This thread is about the MSX mini cone, not an ATB. I'm sure there are many threads on the ATB and I tech cones where there is lots of info. I look forward to some shots Mojo of the SWC in action

 

[mojo~]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15068937#post15068937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cwegescheide
If any of you would like to see an ATB skimmer running side by side with an I-Tech 100 (right now ~450.00 USD w/Tunze pump) you can go to I purchased the ATB (European model) about a year and a half ago. Got the I-Tech for the 80 total gallon frag tank I have and I'm amazed how well it performs. Draws 9w of power with the Aquabee and 13w with the Tunze 9410 and is dead silent. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Chris

I cant believe RC even allows these folks to keep butting in every post and advertising the product here when they are not even an RC sponsor. THis is the main reason I dont care to deal with that skimmer line. The people involved just dont play nice sort of speak


So on with the review. The skimmer is breaking in. I ahve been out all day with family. If it was next to my bed I dont think I would be running a stock sicce pump. The quite but not the most quiet. But the skimmers seems to be doing ok. I ll get some shots up here soon. got to go grill out now.

 

[cwegescheide]

Sorry Mojo. A guy a few posts up mentioned the I-Tech and several have brought up the ATB you liked so well. That's why I mentioned the I-Tech running next to the ATB. No biggie. Just ignore it then.

On with the MSX skimmer review.

 

[mojo~]

thanks for your permission. I like many skimmers and if you all most know here is a list of the skimmers I like
ATB
Warner Marine
MSX
Bermuda
Vertex
Tunze
Bubble King
ETSS
MRC

um a few others I am sure but well they all have skimmers I like. they all have there place.

I am just tired of the ITech folk bumping in to all the skimmer threads pushing there product. And the itech 100 is smaller than the atb 840 the itech 200 is the same size of the atb 840 you are talking about. So to compare that would be a better comparison. But you have to buy a pump from someone else and well I can go all day on a tangent.
Anyways the skimmer review is on the MiniS
I upload some pics later tonight or tomorrow.
Thanks
Mojo~

 

[cwegescheide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15069696#post15069696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mojo~
And the itech 100 is smaller than the atb 840 the itech 200 is the same size of the atb 840 you are talking about. So to compare that would be a better comparison. But you have to buy a pump from someone else and well I can go all day on a tangent.

Its not my product, I don't have anything to do with I-Tech other than buying one and very happy with it.

OK I will not but in your thread. I appreciate you reviewing all these skimmers and giving your unbiased opinion on them. There is a lot of guys in my neck of the woods with the I-Tech 200. Maybe I can talk one of them into letting me borrow it for a few weeks so we can see what happens running next to the ATB.

And for the record the I-Tech skimmers comes with the Tunze skimmer pump. No need to go somewhere else for another pump unless you so choose.

Chris

 

[spsfarmer09]

so would the msx skimmers be quiet enought to put in my 60 next to my bed?

 

[Rwinfrey]

mojo--- I think you are going to have to start over they are not getting the hint.This isn't a battle field it's a review so let the guy do his reveiw.

 

[mojo~]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15069918#post15069918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rwinfrey
mojo--- I think you are going to have to start over they are not getting the hint.This isn't a battle field it's a review so let the guy do his reveiw.

Thanks